Open rates are calculated by how many people open an email and display its images (this is the default behavior).
Email clients don't send any information when an email is opened, so all email marketing services (like Kit) embed a tiny 1 px transparent image that is unique to every email.
Once that image is loaded, the email is considered opened.
NOTE: If someone has images blocked, the email will not be considered "opened."
FAQs
Does clicking a link also count as the email being opened?
Yes!
If the same person opens an email more than once, does it count as multiple opens?
No, the tracking is unique to each email and can register as only one open!
How is the open rate calculated?
The number you see as "Open Rate" in your reports is based on emails opened divided by total sent.
For how long will email opens be tracked?
There is no time limit on how long we'll track email opens for. However, we no longer update email data for emails sent before Aug 1, 2023.