What’s the difference between global and per-recipient reputation?

Global reputation is your overall trust score as a sender, calculated across all recipients at a given mailbox provider. It determines baseline filtering decisions for everyone.

Per-recipient reputation personalizes those decisions based on how individual users interact with your mail. If a specific recipient consistently opens your emails, moves them from spam to inbox, or adds you to contacts, that user may see your mail in their inbox even if your global reputation is mediocre.

Conversely, a recipient who repeatedly ignores or deletes your messages may see them filtered more aggressively, even if your global reputation is strong.

Global reputation is like a ship's general inspection rating. Per-recipient reputation is each port official's personal experience with that particular captain. Both matter, but the personal relationship can override the general assessment.