Test sends help you preview campaigns before going live. Omnisend applies different limits for Email, SMS, and Push notifications based on your plan and channel.
Learn how many tests you can send, what restrictions apply, and how to troubleshoot delivery issues.
Why Test Sending Limits Exist
Test emails can be sent to any email address, even contacts not on your subscriber list. To prevent abuse (e.g., spammers using test sends to reach non-subscribed recipients), Omnisend applies daily sending limits per account.
Key details:
Limits are store-wide, not per campaign or per user.
Each recipient email address counts as one test email. For example, sending one test to 5 addresses counts as 5 test emails.
Different channels (Email, SMS, Push) have different limits.
Test Sending Limits
Test Emails in Campaigns
Test email limits depend on your pricing plan:
Plan | Daily Limit | Additional Restrictions |
Free | 100 test emails per 24 hours | 50 test emails per rolling 3-hour window |
Standard | Unlimited | None |
Pro | Unlimited | None |
Important details:
Daily limits reset at UTC midnight (not 24 hours from your first test send).
You can send to a maximum of 5 email addresses per test send. Sending to 5 addresses counts as 5 test emails.
Limits are store-wide, not per campaign or user.
💡 Free plan users: If you hit the 3-hour window limit (50 tests), wait for the window to roll over or use the Preview feature in the email editor to check email rendering without sending a test.
Test Emails in Automation
All plans: 50 test emails per 24 hours.
Important details:
This limit resets at UTC midnight.
The limit is global per store and does not vary by pricing plan.
The same 5-recipient maximum per test send applies.
SMS & Push Notification Test Sending
SMS Campaigns: There are no hard limits on test SMS sends. However, test SMS sends are not exempt from contact-level frequency limits and quiet hours. If a contact has already reached their daily SMS limit (default: 3 per day), they won't receive your test SMS. Learn more about SMS limits.
SMS Automations: Test SMS functionality is not available for Automation Workflows.
Push Notifications (Campaigns & Automations): Unlimited test sends. Push tests are processed locally in your browser and only appear on your own device (the browser where you clicked "Send test"). They are not delivered to any contacts.
What to Do If You Reach Your Limit
Email Campaigns (Free Plan Only)
If you've reached your test email limit, use the Preview feature in the campaign editor:
In the campaign editor, click Preview (next to "Send test")
Toggle between Desktop and Mobile views to see how your email renders on different devices
The Preview feature does not count toward your test email limit.
Email Automation Workflows (All Plans)
If you've reached the 50-test limit for automations:
Wait until UTC midnight for the limit to reset, or
Use the email preview feature in the workflow editor, or
Create a test segment with your own contact and activate the workflow to trigger a live send
Troubleshoot Test Email Delivery
If you test email didn't arrtive, first, check your spam and promotions folders. Test emails are sent through Omnisend's shared test infrastructure and include [Preview] in the subject line, which some email clients flag as spam.
Common causes:
Sender email domain mismatch: If you use a custom sender domain (e.g., @yourstore.com) and send a test to the same domain, delivery may fail.
Solution: Send the test to a different domain (e.g., Gmail, Yahoo).Free email provider restrictions: Gmail, Yahoo, and Outlook may block test emails sent from default Omnisend sender addresses.
Solution: Use a verified custom sender domain instead of a free email provider address.Test email limit reached: You've hit your daily or 3-hour window limit (Free plan only).
Solution: Wait for the limit to reset at UTC midnight, or use the Preview feature.Reached 5-recipient maximum: You tried to send a test to more than 5 email addresses at once.
Solution: Split recipients into multiple test sends (max 5 per send).
FAQ
Can I send test emails to contacts not on my list?
Yes. Test emails can be sent to any email address, even if it's not in your Audience. This is why daily limits exist.
Do test emails count toward my monthly email sending limit?
No. Test emails do not deduct from your email credits.
Why can't I send a test to more than 5 email addresses at once?
Omnisend limits each test send to 5 recipients to prevent abuse and ensure test infrastructure remains fast and reliable. If you need to test with more addresses, send multiple tests.
Why does my Free plan limit reset in the middle of the day?
Email test limits reset at UTC midnight, not 24 hours from your first test. For example, if you send tests at 11 PM UTC, your limit resets in 1 hour (not 24 hours later).
Does the 3-hour window limit on Free plans apply to paid plans?
No. Standard and Pro plans have no hourly or daily test email limits; both are unlimited.
Can I request a test email limit increase on the Free plan?
No. Limits are fixed by plan. If you need to test more frequently, consider upgrading to the Standard or Pro plan (both offer unlimited test emails) or use the Preview feature.
Why is there a 50-test limit for Email Automations even on paid plans?
The 50-test limit for automations applies globally to all accounts regardless of plan. This is a separate system from Email Campaign testing. If you need to test automations extensively, use the preview feature or create a test segment for live sends.
Do SMS test sends count toward my SMS credits?
No. Test SMS sends do not deduct from your SMS credit balance.
Why didn't my test SMS arrive?
Test SMS sends are subject to the same frequency limits and quiet hours rules as live campaigns. If your contact has already received the daily SMS limit (default: 3 per day), the test won't send. Check your settings in Store Settings → SMS. Learn more .
Can I test SMS in Automation Workflows?
No. Test SMS functionality is not available for SMS Automation. To preview SMS content in automations, review the message editor or send a live automation to a test segment containing only your own contact.
Can I test push notifications on a different device?
No. Push test sends only appear in the browser where you clicked "Send test." To test delivery to actual devices, create a segment with your test contact and send a live push campaign.
Are there limits on push notification test sends?
No. Push notification test sends are unlimited for all plans. They are processed locally in your browser and do not involve Omnisend's backend, so there are no quotas.
Contact our Support Team via in-app chat or at [email protected] if you need any assistance.