Email Clicks with no Opens

Why an Email Can Have Clicks Without Opens

When reviewing your email campaign analytics, you may sometimes notice a scenario where a message shows no opens but at least one click. While this may seem confusing, it’s actually a common occurrence and relates to how open and click tracking work differently.

How Opens Are Tracked

Email opens are typically tracked by placing a tiny invisible image (a “tracking pixel”) inside your email. When the recipient’s email client loads that image, the system records an open.

However, opens may not be tracked if:

• The recipient’s email client blocks images by default.

• The recipient reads only the plain-text version of the email (which doesn’t include the tracking pixel).

• Privacy features like Apple Mail Privacy Protection or Gmail image caching prevent the pixel from firing.

How Clicks Are Tracked

Click tracking works differently. Each link in your email is rewritten to pass through a tracking link server before redirecting to the final destination. When a recipient clicks the link, the tracking server records the click event—no images required.

This means clicks can be measured even if images are disabled or the tracking pixel isn’t triggered.

Why Clicks Without Opens Happen

You may see clicks without opens in your reports due to:

• Images turned off: The recipient didn’t load images, so no open was recorded, but they still clicked a link.

• Privacy protections: Some email clients mask or block open tracking while still allowing links to be clicked.

• Plain text emails: Opens can’t be tracked in plain text, but clicks still can.

• Forwards: If someone forwards your email, the recipient of the forward can click links, but the original open may never be logged.

Clients/Services that block or mitigate open tracking

1. Mozilla Thunderbird

   • Thunderbird by default “does not load remote content automatically” and will show a notification for blocked content.

   • This means tracking pixels (which rely on remote image loads) are less likely to trigger.

2. eM Client

   • eM Client offers explicit options to block email-tracking pixels. It can detect them and then block external image load unless you allow it.

3. HEY (by Basecamp)

   • HEY advertises blocking of tracking pixels and informs the recipient when a message includes tracking.

4. DuckDuckGo Email Protection

   • While not exactly a full client, this email-forwarding service strips out tracking technologies embedded in emails.

   • If you use it as part of your workflow (forwarding into your main inbox) it adds a layer of protection.

5. ProtonMail

   • Proton mails by default have “enhanced tracking protection” (blocks trackers, hides your IP, loads images via proxy) enabled.

   • Strong privacy focus.

Key Takeaway

Clicks are always a stronger signal of engagement than opens. While open tracking can sometimes fail due to technical limitations, a click confirms that the recipient actively interacted with your message.

Tip: For the most accurate measure of engagement, rely on click rates rather than open rates, especially as privacy protections continue to limit the reliability of open tracking.