Skip to content
The Madison Avenue Field GuideA field guide to marketing & advertising, by Brandon Mina

GlossaryEmail & LifecycleOpen Rate

Email & Lifecycle

Open Rate

The percentage of delivered emails that were opened, now less reliable because privacy features inflate tracked opens.

By Brandon MinaCEO, BrandPilot AIUpdated November 2026

Short answer

Open rate is the percentage of delivered emails that were opened. It is now less reliable because privacy features, such as Apple Mail Privacy Protection, can inflate tracked opens. Marketers still use it as a directional signal for subject lines and engagement, but increasingly rely on clicks and conversions for performance decisions.