# ZeroBounce alternative See why an address was flagged. Compare a verifier’s status with simpler syntax and DNS signals. Our two requests returned different labels for the same reserved example address. One reserved example address, two checks. No email was sent. Provider in the worked example: Hunter and 2s. Price shown for this route: 0.8¢ per address. ## Compare verification with lighter checks. ZeroBounce is a direct verification option. TaskFuel provides the tested Hunter verifier and a separate syntax/DNS check. Their status fields have different meanings. Prices checked on 5 November 2026. | Option | Price and billing | Strength | Good to know | Available through TaskFuel | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | ZeroBounce (Direct provider account) | $39 / 2,000 credits. Prepaid provider credits. One credit per validation; unknown results are not charged. 100 monthly credits on a free account. | Verification statuses include valid, invalid, catch-all and unknown, with detailed sub-statuses. | Unknown results are not charged. An account has 100 free monthly credits; a paid top-up starts at 2,000. | No | | Hunter (Through TaskFuel) | $0.008 / address. Per request from your TaskFuel balance. One address checked for verification status and mail-server signals. | Returned a verification status, confidence score and SMTP/MX flags in our test. | Hunter classified the example domain as disposable. This test does not compare real-inbox accuracy. | Yes | | 2s (Through TaskFuel) | $0.0025 / address. Per request from your TaskFuel balance. One address checked for syntax and domain mail records. | Returned syntax, disposable/role flags and the domain’s mail-record presence. | These are syntax and DNS signals, rather than an SMTP deliverability or mailbox-existence test. | Yes | - [ZeroBounce: provider reference](https://www.zerobounce.net/docs/frequently-asked-questions/billing-and-payments/how-is-pricing-determined-for-email-verification). Checked 2026-11-05. - [Hunter: provider reference](https://hunter.io/api/email-verifier). Checked 2026-11-05. - [2s: provider reference](https://2s.io). Checked 2026-11-05. ## What it can do ### Read a verification verdict Hunter returned disposable status and a score of 0. Its syntax flag was true, while MX and SMTP checks were false. Price: $0.008 / address. ### Read syntax and DNS signals 2s returned valid syntax and no MX records. Its disposable flag was false for the same input. Price: $0.0025 / address. ## A real example Tested on 2026-11-05 through Hunter and 2s. Hunter returned disposable status with score 0. 2s returned valid syntax and no mail records, with a different disposable flag. Your agent asked: Compare verification signals for one reserved example address Returned in this test: - Input domain: Reserved example.com domain - Hunter: Status disposable; score 0; MX records false; SMTP check false - 2s: Syntax valid; MX records false; disposable false - Test scope: One synthetic address; no email sent Charged in this test: $0.0105. One reserved address. The returned labels do not establish comparative real-inbox accuracy. ## Try the API request Use your TaskFuel API key as TASKFUEL_API_KEY in your terminal or server. Keep it out of browser code. ### 1. Check the price This request checks the price without paying. Exact verification request; the displayed address is an IANA-reserved example, not a personal contact. ```sh curl --fail-with-body https://app.taskfuel.ai/v1/call \ -H "Authorization: Bearer $TASKFUEL_API_KEY" \ -H 'Content-Type: application/json' \ --data-binary @- <<'TASKFUEL_REQUEST' { "url": "https://hunter.mpp.paywithlocus.com/hunter/email-verifier", "method": "POST", "body": { "email": "test@example.com" }, "dryRun": true } TASKFUEL_REQUEST ``` ### 2. Run the request Review amount_usd in the quote. To pay and run, change dryRun to false and add maxAmountUsd with that approved amount inside the same JSON object. Keep the inputs unchanged; this limit applies to one call. ### 3. Read the result Read data.data.status and score, plus the separate mx_records, smtp_check and disposable flags. [Setup and API reference](https://taskfuel.ai/docs/) · [Job polling and timeout recovery](https://app.taskfuel.ai/using.md) ## Connect your agent Read the [setup guide](https://taskfuel.ai/docs/setup/) and choose the connection your agent supports. Use one TaskFuel account and prepaid balance. Inspect the provider and request quote before a paid call, then review the returned response and recorded charge. ## When to use it ### Inspect the verification verdict. Your agent reads Hunter’s status and confidence score before a separate sending step. ### Read syntax and mail records. Your agent uses the lighter check for syntax and DNS signals when a mailbox verdict is not required. ### Keep the signals separate. Your agent reports the different flags returned by the two providers, as in our reserved-domain test. ## Questions ### Do I need a Hunter or 2s account? No. Your agent pays from your TaskFuel balance, so there is nothing else to sign up for. ### What did the checks cost? Hunter cost $0.008 and 2s cost $0.0025 on 5 November 2026. Your agent shows the price for your own request before it pays. ### Does ZeroBounce require a subscription? No. ZeroBounce offers prepaid credits as well as subscriptions. Its published minimum top-up is $39 for 2,000 credits, and a free account includes 100 monthly credits. ### Are these equivalent verification services? Hunter returns a verification verdict. The 2s operation reports syntax, heuristics and mail-record presence. It does not establish mailbox existence. ### Why did the disposable flags differ? The providers returned different labels for the same reserved domain. We report those labels separately; this one synthetic input does not establish which provider is more accurate. ### Can a valid status guarantee delivery? Delivery also depends on the receiving system and the message. These requests returned verification signals and sent no message. ## Related tool guides - [Read the email-verification guide](https://taskfuel.ai/tools/verify-email-addresses/) - [Find a work email first](https://taskfuel.ai/tools/email-finder-api/) - [Research the company behind an address](https://taskfuel.ai/tools/company-enrichment/) ## Reference - [Read this guide on the website](https://taskfuel.ai/tools/zerobounce-alternative/). - [Browse providers and capabilities](https://taskfuel.ai/catalog/). - [Pricing](https://taskfuel.ai/pricing/). - [Agent instructions](https://taskfuel.ai/llms.txt).