Source we aggregate
isMalicious + Spamhaus
DNS blocklists and threat data. isMalicious consumes this source and correlates it with others. Here is what that adds, and when to go direct.
Spamhaus is one of the sources isMalicious aggregates
We do not replace Spamhaus. Rows where isMalicious shows a capability Spamhaus lacks mostly come from the aggregation layer; for Spamhaus’s core use case, use Spamhaus directly.
Quick verdict
Choose Spamhaus for proven DNS blocklists at the mail gateway or DNS layer. Choose isMalicious for multi-indicator enrichment by API, STIX/TAXII, and CVE and ransomware context.
isMalicious
Threat intelligence API with multi-source correlation, CVE data and ransomware leak-site tracking.
Best for: Automated threat intelligence at scale
Spamhaus
Spamhaus operates widely used DNS blocklists (DROP, EDROP, SBL) for spam and malicious IP blocking. It is a reference for mail and network blocking, not an enrichment API.
Best for: DNS blocklist (DNSBL) email and network filtering
Feature comparison
| Feature | isMalicious | Spamhaus |
|---|---|---|
| IP blocklist / DNSBL | ||
| REST reputation API | Partial | |
| Domain reputation API | Partial | |
| URL scanner | ||
| Multi-source confidence scoring | ||
| STIX/TAXII export | Partial | |
| Ransomware leak-site tracking | ||
| CVE intelligence (CVSS, EPSS, KEV) | ||
| Bulk API | Limited | |
| Free tier available | Partial |
Check this table against your own indicators.
Run a free reportSpamhaus: strengths and limitations
- Industry-standard DNS blocklists
- Strong spam and botnet IP coverage
- DROP/EDROP for firewall import
- Long track record
- DNSBL model — not a REST enrichment API
- Limited domain/URL/hash API surface
- No CVE, EPSS, or KEV intelligence
- No ransomware group tracking
- Commercial licensing for high-volume use
- No unified report page for analysts
Pricing
isMalicious
Free: website lookups with no monthly cap and 250 API calls a month. Pro from €99/month. Enterprise custom pricing.
View pricing →Spamhaus
Free for low volume; commercial datafeed licensing for production
Frequently asked questions
Can isMalicious replace Spamhaus DROP?
Does isMalicious use Spamhaus data?
Which is better for email security teams?
Other comparisons
Decide with your own data
Don't take our word over Spamhaus's. Check something real.
Paste an IP, domain or URL: reputation, WHOIS, DNS, ransomware signals and an AI-generated assessment. Free, no signup.
- 250 free API calls/month
- No credit card required
- API key in under 2 minutes