Mailgun Alternatives: Top Email Service Providers in 2023
So, you need to send transactional and marketing email for your business, app, or SaaS, and Mailgun looks pretty good—but you need to know what Mailgun alternatives are out there.
You also want to know how those Mailgun alternatives add up in terms of both transactional emails and email marketing automation, as well as other features.
In this article, we'll take a closer look at Mailgun to discuss its strengths and weaknesses. We'll also introduce you to some of the best old and new alternatives to Mailgun that you might want to consider as your go-to transactional email and email marketing software solution.
You're in the right place, and you'll soon discover where Mailgun excels and where it fails, as you join us in counting down our top Mailgun alternatives, saving the best for last.
Why not send transactional emails from Gmail?
Good question. The fact is, Gmail is simply not a transactional or marketing email service provider, with Gmail messages more likely to end up in spam folders than the inboxes where you'd like them to be.
What's more, Gmail has a 500-email-per-day send limit via email API (which is where most devs handle their transactional messaging tasks), and that's just not tenable for growing businesses that are hoping for way more than 500 customer actions per day to respond to.
If not Gmail, what type of email provider do I need?
As a business with a website and an application and the need to not only send transactional emails in response to client actions and transactions (like account deposits, shipped orders, purchases, refund requests, etc) but also automated marketing emails and action-timed drip sequences, you need a transactional email and marketing automation solution combined.
The fact is, many transactional email providers don't offer marketing automation and, when they do, they offer plans at a premium, but we've found six solid alternatives that offer a bit of both, one of which is both comprehensive and highly affordable—but you'll have to wait to the last listing to learn more about that!
What are the pros and cons of Mailgun?
Like any other email delivery service on our list, this service has its pros and cons.
Pros
Easy to send large volumes of transactional messages
Marketing and transactional messaging functionality
Reliable heavy-duty and scalable email delivery service
Mailgun is able to handle millions of emails per day without any issues
Real-time analytics, which can help you track the performance of your email marketing campaigns and optimize them for better results.
Cons
Can be quite complex to set up and use compared to other email delivery services, especially for those who are not familiar with email API and transactional email infrastructure
Beginners may find the documentation overwhelming, which could create difficulties in getting started with the platform
The pricing for the mid-tier plan is becoming increasingly expensive, well exceeding the price per email of its competitors.
Ideal for: designed with developers in mind; great for tech-savvy operators.
Price: $35 per month with 50,000 emails included.
6 top transactional email service providers in 2023
1. Mailchimp
When looking for Mailgun alternatives, there are several options available. One popular choice is Mailchimp, which is a user-friendly alternative that has a variety of templates to choose from.
As with the other alternatives on our list, it covers transactional emails and marketing automation tools as well.
They also have a paid plan and a free plan for up to 2,000 subscribers, which makes them an attractive option for anyone with a small business.
Mailchimp is known for both its custom plan and access to its free plan, but it lacks the scalability required for growing businesses and medium/large enterprises.
Pros
Variety of templates to choose from
Offers transactional and marketing email automation
Handy customer journey builder for drip sequencing
Free plan for up to 2,000 subscribers, making them a great option for small businesses
Spam reports.
Cons
Not great for high-volume senders
Lack of customization options compared to some competitors
Limited data retention.
Ideal for: business owners who aren’t tech-savvy.
Price: $350 per month with 10,000 contacts.
2. Amazon SES
Another alternative is Amazon SES or Amazon Web Services Simple Email Service.
Amazon SES is a powerful tool for email marketing, offering robust features for businesses and email programs of all sizes. They also have a pay-as-you-go pricing model, which can be more cost-effective than Mailgun for those customers who send fewer emails.
Pros
Highly scalable and can handle large volumes of transactional emails
Built on Amazon's highly reliable infrastructure and backed by their industry-leading security protocols
With industry-leading deliverability
Offers a variety of integrations with other Amazon Web Services, making it easy to set up and use for businesses that already use AWS.
Cons
May require some technical knowledge to set up and use, which could be a challenge for beginners or non-dev marketing professionals
It’s got the most extensive free plan, but there are catches like cost/GB attachments and the fact that there simply aren’t as many user-friendly features as other options
The user interface is not as user-friendly as some of its competitors
Customer support can be slow to respond to issues or questions, with a lack of phone support.
Ideal for: customers of AWS.
Price: free up to 62,000 emails per month; emails above 62,000 per month are charged at a rate of $0.10 per 1000 emails. Dedicated IPs start at $24.95 per month.
3. SMTP2Go
SMTP2Go is an alternative to Mailgun that is worth considering. They offer a simple and intuitive interface for sending emails, as well as other features such as 24/7 customer support.
SMTP2Go also has a strong focus on deliverability, which can help ensure that your emails reach their intended recipients.
Pros
Offers a simple and intuitive user interface
Provides 24/7 customer support, with responsive and helpful support staff
Has a strong focus on deliverability, which can help ensure that your emails reach their intended recipients
Supports a variety of email clients and platforms, making it a flexible option for businesses with diverse email needs.
Cons
May not be as scalable as some of its competitors, which could be a limiting factor for businesses with rapidly growing email lists
Can be more expensive than some other email service providers, particularly for businesses that send large volumes of emails
Some users have reported issues with its email marketing, though this seems to be a relatively rare occurrence.
Ideal for: With 24/7 customer support, SMTP2Go is ideal for those looking for reliable service.
Price: Plans start at $15 per month with 40,000 emails.
4. SendGrid
Twilio SendGrid is another popular email service provider that offers a variety of features for both email marketing campaigns and transactional emails. They have a user-friendly interface and offer real-time analytics, as well as a variety of integrations with popular marketing tools.
Pros
Offers a user-friendly interface that is easy to navigate and use
Provides real-time analytics, allowing you to track the performance of your email campaigns in real-time
Supports a variety of email clients and platforms, making it a flexible option for businesses with diverse email needs
Has a strong focus on deliverability, which can help ensure that your emails reach their intended recipients.
Cons
May not be as cost-effective as some of its competitors, particularly for businesses that send large volumes of emails
Focuses on enterprise customers so smaller users may get lost in the noise
The customer success team can be slow to respond to issues or questions, which could be a challenge for businesses with urgent needs or tight deadlines.
Ideal for: businesses looking to engage with their customers through email and SMS channels.
Price: Pricing starts at $19.95 per month with 50,000 emails.
6. SendinBlue
SendinBlue is a good email delivery service and a great Mailgun alternative that offers a variety of features for businesses of all sizes.
They have a drag-and-drop editor and offer a variety of email templates to choose from. They have paid plans but also have a free plan for up to 300 emails per day, which can be a great option for any user with a small company.
Pros
Offers a drag-and-drop editor that is easy to navigate and use
Provides a variety of templates to choose from, making it easy to create professional-looking email campaigns
Offers a free plan for up to 300 emails per day, making it a great option for small businesses or those on a tight budget
Provides real-time analytics, allowing you to track the performance of your email campaigns in real-time.
Cons
May not be as scalable as some of its competitors, which could be a limiting factor for businesses with rapidly growing email lists
Customer support can be slow to respond to issues or questions, which could be a challenge for businesses with urgent needs or tight deadlines
Some users have reported occasional issues with email deliverability, particularly for emails sent to Microsoft domains like Hotmail and Outlook.
Ideal for: SMBs looking for an affordable email marketing solution with additional features such as automation and CRM.
Price: $25 per month.
5. MailerToGo
Transactional email services are usually only accessible to developers, who process and manage transactional email from email API and SMTP systems, automating messages that get sent out in response to specific customer actions, all from the backend of your app or SaaS.
We've got news for you though, as there's one new option that offers this developer email functionality along with an intuitive interface and easy automation tools that marketing professionals can make the most of too—it's Mailer To Go, and it's number one on our list.
Mailer To Go is more affordable too (i.e. at transactional email provider rates instead of at marketing email solution rates), and it offers a workflow/journey/drip messaging functionality that is, quite simply, much harder to manage with other email platforms.
Mailer To Go also helps users avoid deliverability issues and blocklists, by providing powerful SMTP server infrastructure and email validation tools. As an SMTP relay service, Mailer To Go allows you to send bulk email and manage complex unsubscribe and opt-out requirements.
This email marketing software and transactional email solution has been built from the ground up to send your bulk email marketing messages at a low cost while still offering full transactional email and email marketing automation services, additional email program features, reliable service, and customer support.
Pros
Easy to use, lean, and intuitive user interface
Allows you to send emails from inside your apps
Dev-friendly transactional email handling
Has email receiving capabilities too
Drip/journey sequence functionality
Marketer-friendly, comprehensive email marketing solution
Jam-packed with email and campaign analytics features
Email marketing automation and segmentation tools to tailor your campaigns
Personalized customer journey builder
Drag-and-drop email
Offers transactional email via SMTP or API
MTG SMTP can integrate with WP mail SMTP, so WordPress emails and contact form infills land up in your Mailer To Go inbox
DKIM and Dmarc integration
300 free emails per day with unlimited emails available, depending on your plan
The cheapest option around—Amazon SES has a bigger free plan, but lacks in features and catches you on extras like attachments.
Cons
Some users have noted that SMS sending to certain regions was undeliverable or lacking entirely
No social media marketing messages
Limited customization options
High bounce rate/unsubscribe rate may limit your use.
Ideal for: Anyone who values lean interfaced but comprehensive solutions, along with customer support, reliability, and speed. Ideal for devs and marketers alike, as it sends transactional, marketing, drip, and regular emails from inside your apps.
Price: $0.39 per 1000 emails
To learn about email security best practices, why not explore our authentication series, starting with What Is DKIM? and What Is An SPF Record?
In conclusion
Mailgun is a powerful marketing and transactional email service that can be a great option for businesses and developers who need to send large volumes of emails. However, it can be quite complex to set up and use, and some users have reported issues with deliverability.
It's important to remember that choosing the right email service provider can make a big difference in the success of your email marketing campaigns.
By carefully considering factors like your email deliverability, tracking, customer support, and pricing, you can find a top transactional and marketing email service provider that meets your specific needs and goals.
If you're looking for an affordable but full-featured cloud email service that can streamline transactional, marketing, and regular email sending from inside your apps, look no further than Mailer To Go.
This game-changer offers reliable service and excellent customer support, allowing you to send transactional email, automated marketing campaigns, and even regular email from inside your apps—with outstanding customer support and 300 free emails a day!
Explore our blog to learn all about email types and best practices.
Frequently asked questions
What are some Mailgun alternatives for transactional and marketing email services?
There are several alternatives to Mailgun for transactional and marketing email services. Some of the top ones include Mailer To Go, Mailchimp, Amazon SES, SMTP2Go, SendGrid, and SendinBlue. Each of these platforms offers unique features designed to elevate your email marketing efforts.
What factors should I consider when evaluating Mailgun alternatives?
When evaluating Mailgun alternatives, consider factors such as ease of use, scalability, deliverability, customer support, and pricing. These features will help you identify the most suitable email marketing solution for your business.