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Setting up the right filters ensures only newsletters reach your Summate inbox, not your personal emails. Here are proven filtering strategies:

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Filter Strategies

Platform-Specific Filters

Newsletter Platforms:
  • Substack: from:substack.com
  • Beehiiv: from:beehiiv.com
  • ConvertKit: from:convertkit.com
  • Ghost: from:ghost.io
  • Mailchimp: from:mailchimp.com
These filters catch all newsletters from major platforms.

Smart Keyword Filters

Combine multiple criteria for accuracy:
  • from:newsletter AND has:unsubscribe
  • subject:"weekly" OR subject:"daily" OR subject:"digest"
  • from:noreply AND has:unsubscribe
More specific = fewer false positives.

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Universal “Unsubscribe” Filter

Use with caution: The “has the words: unsubscribe” filter catches most newsletters but may also forward:
  • Order confirmations
  • Service notifications
  • Marketing emails
  • Account updates
For best results, combine with sender filters or use more specific criteria.

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Best Practices

Follow these guidelines for better filtering:
  1. Start specific - Begin with known newsletter senders
  2. Test first - Apply filters to existing emails before enabling forwarding
  3. Refine regularly - Review what’s being forwarded weekly
  4. Use labels - Mark forwarded emails in your main inbox for easy tracking

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Example Filter Combinations

Here are some example filter combinations that work well:

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Gmail Syntax

from:(substack.com OR beehiiv.com OR ghost.io) has:unsubscribe

subject:(newsletter OR digest OR weekly OR daily) has:unsubscribe

from:noreply has:unsubscribe -is:chat

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Outlook Syntax

  • From contains: substack.com OR beehiiv.com
  • Body contains: unsubscribe

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Advanced: List-Id Header (Fastmail/ProtonMail)

The most accurate way to identify newsletters is using the List-Id header, which is specifically designed for mailing lists: 
List-Id exists
This catches legitimate newsletters while avoiding promotional emails.

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Provider-Specific Tips

  • Use the search bar to test filters before creating them
  • Apply filters to existing emails to see what would be caught
  • Combine multiple conditions with AND/OR operators
  • Use - (minus) to exclude certain criteria
  • Create multiple simple rules rather than one complex rule
  • Test rules on existing emails first
  • Use “Mark as read” to keep your inbox clean
  • Consider using categories for better organization
  • Use Sieve filters for maximum flexibility
  • Check “List-Id” header for most accurate filtering
  • Use “Send a copy to” instead of “Forward” for better deliverability
  • Test with “discard” action first to see what would match
  • Combine multiple conditions for accuracy
  • Use “From contains” for newsletter platforms
  • Test with a single newsletter first
  • Review forwarded emails regularly to refine rules

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Troubleshooting

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Too Many Emails Being Forwarded

If you’re forwarding too many non-newsletter emails:
  1. Add more specific conditions - Use sender domains or subject keywords
  2. Exclude certain senders - Add exceptions for transactional emails
  3. Review forwarded emails - Check what’s being caught and adjust
  4. Use List-Id - If your provider supports it (most accurate)

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Missing Newsletters

If newsletters aren’t being forwarded:
  1. Check if they match your filter - Test with the email in question
  2. Look for the sender domain - Some newsletters come from unexpected domains
  3. Check your spam folder - Filters don’t apply to spam
  4. Verify forwarding is enabled - Ensure your Summate inbox is verified

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Next Steps

Gmail Setup

Apply these filters in Gmail

Outlook Setup

Apply these filters in Outlook

Fastmail Setup

Use Sieve filters in Fastmail

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