# Subscriber Preview, test sends and Litmus previews

*Marketing Cloud Engagement Foundations Study Guide · Email Sending and Journeys · Last updated November 3, 2026 · https://www.certifyforce.com/study-guide/marketing-cloud-engagement-foundations/email-sending-and-journeys/subscriber-preview-test-sends-and-litmus-previews*

How to check an email before it goes live: Subscriber Preview for one subscriber's personalization, test sends to real inboxes with three personalization options and send thresholds, and Litmus previews for rendering across many browsers, devices and clients.

- Certification: Salesforce Marketing Cloud Engagement Foundations
- Exam section: Email Sending and Journeys
- Study guide: https://www.certifyforce.com/study-guide/marketing-cloud-engagement-foundations

**Official exam objective:**

> Given a scenario, identify how to accomplish content rendering validation.

## What the exam expects

- Choose between Subscriber Preview, a test send and Litmus previews for a given validation need.
- Prepare a data extension so Subscriber Preview can use its rows.
- Pick the test-send personalization option that gives each reviewer the right version.
- Predict what a test send costs and when it isn't delivered.
- Key terms: **Subscriber Preview** (a rendering of the email as one selected subscriber would see it); **test send** (a real send to a test audience before the live send); **Litmus previews** (renderings across many browsers, devices and clients inside Content Builder); **recipient test data extension** (a data extension of test recipients whose own data personalizes each copy).

## Key facts

| Fact | Detail | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Preview sends nothing | Subscriber data only renders personalization | [Subscriber Preview and Test Send](https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=mktg.mc_es_subscriber_preview_test_send.htm&type=5&language=en_US) |
| Previewable data extension | Email address field, or linked by Subscriber ID or Key | [Subscriber Preview and Test Send](https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=mktg.mc_es_subscriber_preview_test_send.htm&type=5&language=en_US) |
| Preview attribute edits | Apply permanently to the subscriber | [Subscriber Preview and Test Send](https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=mktg.mc_es_subscriber_preview_test_send.htm&type=5&language=en_US) |
| Test recipients | Up to five addresses, or a test data extension | [Perform a Subscriber Preview and Test Send](https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=mktg.mc_es_perform_subscriber_preview_test_send.htm&type=5&language=en_US) |
| Maximum Threshold | Can't be bypassed | [Perform a Subscriber Preview and Test Send](https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=mktg.mc_es_perform_subscriber_preview_test_send.htm&type=5&language=en_US) |
| Test send cost | Counts against the purchased threshold | [Subscriber Preview and Test Send](https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=mktg.mc_es_subscriber_preview_test_send.htm&type=5&language=en_US) |
| Litmus coverage | 90+ browsers, devices and clients | [Litmus Email Previews in Content Builder](https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=mktg.mc_es_litmus_email_previews_in_email_studio.htm&type=5&language=en_US) |
| Send Preview modes | Desktop View and Mobile View | [Perform Send Preview](https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=mktg.mc_es_send_preview.htm&type=5&language=en_US) |

## Check yourself

- Why might a test sent from Content Builder be missing from the Send Log data extension?
- When can a marketer go ahead despite a threshold notice in the Test Send Summary?
- Why can't two marketers share one Litmus login to view previews?
- Which two preview modes does Email Studio's Send Preview offer?

## Sources

- [Subscriber Preview and Test Send](https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=mktg.mc_es_subscriber_preview_test_send.htm&type=5&language=en_US)
- [Perform a Subscriber Preview and Test Send](https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=mktg.mc_es_perform_subscriber_preview_test_send.htm&type=5&language=en_US)
- [Litmus Email Previews in Content Builder](https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=mktg.mc_es_litmus_email_previews_in_email_studio.htm&type=5&language=en_US)
- [Can I Preview Email Personalization in Litmus?](https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=mktg.mc_es_litmus_and_email_personalization.htm&type=5&language=en_US)
- [Litmus Email Previews Frequently Asked Questions](https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=mktg.mc_es_litmus_email_previews_in_email_studio_faq.htm&type=5&language=en_US)
- [Perform Send Preview](https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=mktg.mc_es_send_preview.htm&type=5&language=en_US)
- [Improve Email Campaigns with Effective Testing and Sending (Trailhead)](https://trailhead.salesforce.com/content/learn/modules/email-creation-and-sending/test-and-send-emails)
- [Preview, Test and Send Your Email (Trailhead)](https://trailhead.salesforce.com/content/learn/modules/quick-start-create-and-send-an-email-with-marketing-cloud/preview-test-and-send-your-email)

## About the full unit

The "Core concepts", "Exam traps" and "Worked scenario" sections of this unit, its 5 linked practice questions, and unlimited timed mock exams are included with the Marketing Cloud Engagement Foundations pack (USD $19): https://www.certifyforce.com/practice-exams