7 Best Mailgun Alternatives for Email Delivery in 2025

Navigating the world of email marketing services can often feel overwhelming—especially when your needs go beyond basic newsletters or ‘welcome’ emails. That said, Mailgun, an email marketing solution “built by developers, for developers,” stands out in a category of its own.

While Mailgun is renowned for its transactional email capabilities, it may not meet every business’ needs. Whether you’re after user-friendly tools, better design capabilities, or well-rounded marketing automation, there are plenty of alternatives worth considering.

In this guide, we’ve rounded up the 7 best Mailgun alternatives, where we’ll be breaking down their features and how they stack up depending on what you’re looking for.

Why Consider Mailgun Alternatives?

Mailgun is a solid email marketing tool, especially among SaaS business models. However, there are a few aspects of this popular email delivery service that lead users to seek better value elsewhere. 

Here’s why you might consider looking for a Mailgun alternative:

• Steep learning curve. Mailgun isn’t beginner-friendly and can take time to master, especially for users without a technical background;
• Requires technical know-how. Setting up DNS records, APIs, and templates often demands developer-level skills;
• Inconsistent deliverability. Some users report fluctuating inbox placement, especially when using shared IPs;
• Limited template customization (without code). Customizing emails often requires HTML/CSS knowledge, as visual editors are basic or nonexistent.

Mailgun Competitors Comparison

Email Infrastructure

There are a lot of moving parts that make an email work. Whether it’s authentication or deliverability, it’s good to know what each one does and why it matters to your email setup.

Email Deliverability

Email deliverability rate is undoubtedly one of the most critical aspects of any successful email sender. An email service provider that truly delivers well should’ve covered things like:

• Email authentication;
• Tools to track spam complaints & bounce rates;
• List hygiene;
• Dedicated IPs with an automatic or guided warmup process.

Platform Stability

Platform stability means minimal service interruptions and reliable uptime—it doesn’t matter whether it’s a premium plan or a free one. 

Here’s what to keep an eye on when considering how stable an email marketing provider is:

• Multiple server locations;
• Downtime prevention architecture;
• Failover systems and load balancing;
• Network redundancy.

Support for High-Volume Sending

Support for high-volume senders is a must if you’re planning to scale. The right platform should handle large batches without delays, throttling, or hurting your deliverability. That means having the infrastructure to process thousands of emails quickly, along with advanced capabilities like batching, queuing, and throughput controls.

Sending Transactional Emails

Transactional emails are messages sent in response to a user’s action or a system-triggered event—that can be anything from order confirmations to password resets. They’re entirely purpose-driven and meant to keep the user informed and supported. 

Ironically, a lot of marketers tend not to put too much care into them, leaving transactional emails in the hands of developers or support teams. But just because a ‘Click here to reset your password’ email feels less important than an engagement campaign email, doesn’t mean it shouldn’t get the same treatment.

To ensure your subscribers receive important emails, like a password reset, it’s best to rely on dedicated transactional email services such as Mailgun. These platforms use SMTP servers or transactional email APIs to deliver messages efficiently and securely, giving your emails priority treatment, which means they land directly in the user’s primary inbox.

Sending Marketing Emails

Marketing emails are curated messages that help your brand connect, promote, and inspire action. Think product launch emails, seasonal promotions, or value-packed newsletters—these emails are crafted to engage your audience, drive conversions, and build long-term relationships.

Unlike transactional emails, marketing emails aren’t sent based on a user’s direct action—they’re proactively delivered to inform, entice, or encourage. Naturally, they typically see much lower open rates: while transactional emails average up to 50%, marketing emails usually hover around 21.5%.

To boost the effectiveness of digital marketing efforts, brands rely on dedicated platforms like Klaviyo or Sender that are equipped with customer engagement tools. These email marketing services are tailored to help segment audiences, automate campaigns, and analyze performance, ensuring each email reaches the right person at the right time.

Email Design

Email design, on the other hand, is the bread and butter of email marketing. No matter how smooth your sending setup is, if the message doesn’t catch the recipient’s eye the moment they open it, or if it breaks on mobile—all that effort and planning goes straight down the drain.

A strong email design is more than just pretty visuals—it’s about clarity, usability, and engagement. 

Here are the essentials of a high-performing email design:

• Layout. The layout sets the structure for your email, guiding how content and visuals are displayed. Keep it clean, organized, and scannable to ensure your message is instantly clear.
• Imagery. Visuals like images and GIFs add engagement and clarity. Optimize for fast loading, include alt text, and ensure they support—not distract from—your main message.
• Buttons (CTAs). CTA buttons drive action, so design them to stand out and link to relevant pages. Keep microcopy clear, and ensure buttons work across all devices and screen sizes.
• Typography. Use accessible, legible fonts and consistent styling across your email. Proper spacing, size, and formatting help improve readability and align with both accessibility and brand standards.
• Color. Use color to guide attention and evoke emotion. Stick to brand guidelines, maintain good contrast, and make sure your palette supports accessibility and visual consistency.

7 Mailgun Alternatives for Transactional & Marketing Emails

Here are some top transactional and email marketing platforms you can use as alternatives to Mailgun:

• Sender
• Amazon SES
• Mailchimp Transactional
• SendGrid
• Postmark
• SparkPost
• Brevo

Sender — Best Free Mailgun Alternative

If you’re looking for a platform that bridges the gap between promotional and transactional messaging, Sender is your answer. 

Unlike Mailgun, which focuses heavily on developers and requires more technical setup, Sender gives you powerful email automation and transactional delivery—minus all the extra steps that takes to set it up.

Overall rating:

4.7

/5

G2:

4.5

Trustpilot:

4.8

Capterra:

4.7

See full Sender review

Sender pricing: Free for up to 2,500 subscribers. Paid plans start at $7/month.

Sender excels in delivering reliable transactional emails (think order confirmations, password resets, and shipping updates) with lightning-fast speed and precision. Meanwhile, its user-friendly interface means you don’t need to wrestle with APIs or touch code, and with an intuitive email builder—you’ll have marketing campaigns ready for blast-off in minutes.

Where Mailgun makes you piece together solutions for marketing needs, Sender combines email design tools with advanced automation. You get access to behavioral triggers, detailed analytics, message events tracking, and built-in segmentation—even on its free plan.

For marketers and ecommerce teams that want functionality without coding headaches or bloated pricing, Sender is an excellent all-in-one solution. And if you’re after reliable bulk email services, look no further.

Standout Features

• No-code email builder + gallery of premade templates;
• Advanced automation even on the free plan;
• Amazing deliverability;
• Behavioral segmentation features;
• 24/7 human support.

Pros and Cons

Sender vs Mailgun

Sender is a budget-friendly option ideal for small businesses looking for robust automation and segmentation. Mailgun focuses on developers, offering high-volume transactional email and flexible APIs. 

While Mailgun provides more customization for technical teams, Sender’s intuitive interface and generous free plan make it a better fit for non-technical users seeking an all-in-one solution.

Oh, and don’t forget about priority support — Mailgun offers this only if you pay at least $90/month, while Sender provides professional live chat day & night, even for the free plan users. Therefore, Sender could be considered the best Mailgun free alternative.

Amazon SES — Cost-Effective Email API Service

If you’re a developer or tech-savvy marketer looking for serious email-sending power, Amazon SES is a worthy contender. It’s built for scale, making it a go-to choice for high-volume transactional and bulk emails.

Overall rating:

4.5

/5

G2:

4.3

Trustpilot:

0.0

Capterra:

4.7

Amazon SES pricing: Starts at $0.10 per 1,000 outbound/inbound emails. Free tier is available.

With Amazon SES, you get API and SMTP-based sending, granular control over authentication (SPF, DKIM, DMARC security protocols), and access to tools like Virtual Deliverability Manager for bounce handling, IP warm-up, and reputation tracking. It’s tightly integrated with other Amazon Web Services (AWS), so if your stack already lives on AWS, Amazon SES plugs in almost effortlessly.

However, if you’re not a developer or don’t have one on hand, setting up Amazon SES can get tricky. Unlike Sender or Mailgun, Amazon SES offers no visual email builder, no out-of-the-box automation workflows, and no user-friendly dashboard. Even basic tasks like setting up real-time notifications can turn into a dev-heavy process.

And while Mailgun focuses on email delivery with robust APIs and provides better onboarding UX, Amazon SES often leaves users on their own to figure things out—especially in its restrictive sandbox environment.

Standout Features

• Multi-region failover support;
• Built-in mail management system;
• Robust sender authentication;
• Private SMTP connectivity;
• Real-time reputation monitoring.

Pros and Cons

Amazon SES vs Mailgun

Amazon SES is a powerful solution for sending transactional and marketing emails at scale, best suited for teams already using AWS. It offers deep customization and deliverability tools but requires more setup and technical know-how. On the other hand, MailGun also targets developers but offers a more polished experience out of the box, with easier onboarding, clearer documentation, and stronger support options.

“I used SES and their dedicated IPS for all my business (website) email requirements for a while. We used them both for transactional and marketing emails – and the best things is that SES is extremely cost effective – you can send literally thousands of emails per second for very little overall cost.”

— Mike’s from G2

Mailchimp Transactional — Unified Email Service

If you’re already part of Mailchimp‘s ecosystem and want to deliver effective transactional emails, their transactional email API is a superb extension of the platform’s core functions.

Overall rating:

3.9

/5

G2:

4.3

Trustpilot:

2.8

Capterra:

4.5

See full Mailchimp review

Mailchimp pricing: Starts at $20 per block (each block is a credit for 25,000 emails) with up to 500,000 emails/month. A Standard Mailchimp plan is required. 

From order confirmations to password resets and account alerts, Mailchimp Transactional handles one-to-one emails with laser-sharp precision and speed. It’s built to deliver personalized, real-time messages without manual intervention, helping brands create post-purchase or user-flow experiences that nurture trust and boost ROI.

While it takes some tech knowledge to set up the Transactional API, it runs on Mailchimp’s infrastructure—making it twice as easy to leverage customer data for highly personalized, automated messaging.

But while Mailchimp Transactional system is reliable, we found the pricing model to be quite limiting. For instance, features like advanced segmentation are hidden behind paywalls (even on higher-paid plans) and every contact counts toward billing (including unsubscribed or invalid ones). This isn’t necessarily a deal-breaker, but marketers seeking more transparent pricing and greater flexibility at scale may find better value elsewhere.

Standout Features

• API & SMTP integration;
• Dynamic personalization;
• Reliable infrastructure;
• Delivery analytics;
• Subaccounts & tags.

Pros and Cons

Mailchimp Transactional vs Mailgun

Mailchimp Transactional is a solid choice for users already in the Mailchimp ecosystem. By contrast, Mailchimp is more flexible and developer-centric, with a simpler, standalone setup and broader use case support.

However, Mailgun provides greater control and better support for custom workflows, making it one of the more well-rounded Mailchimp alternatives on the market when it comes to transactional emails.

“Mailchimp has been fantastic for my small business! It’s super easy to set up and customize email campaigns, and the analytics help me see what’s working. Integrating with my online store has made follow-ups a breeze, saving me so much time.”

— Okipala from Trustpilot

SendGrid — Comprehensive Email Delivery Platform

SendGrid has earned its reputation as a reliable email delivery platform that strikes a solid balance between developer-friendly features and marketing capabilities. It’s particularly appealing for businesses that need both transactional reliability and marketing automation under one roof.

Overall rating:

3.1

/5

G2:

4.0

Trustpilot:

1.1

Capterra:

4.2

See full SendGrid review

SendGrid Pricing: Free plan includes 100 emails/day. Paid plans start at $20/month.

What sets SendGrid apart is its strategic approach to email delivery. Beyond basic transactional sending, you get advanced features like A/B testing, detailed analytics, and sophisticated automation workflows. We found that SendGrid handles high-volume bulk sending with dedicated IP addresses and reputation management tools that help maintain strong deliverability rates.

Unlike Mailgun’s developer-first approach, SendGrid offers a more balanced experience with both API access and user-friendly interfaces. Its robust API allowed us to send dynamic, event-triggered emails, manage templates, and track detailed engagement metrics without too much trouble on the coding side. 

However, SendGrid has a steeper learning curve compared to email marketing alternatives like Sender, making it better suited for teams with some technical expertise.

Standout Features

• Advanced A/B testing capabilities;
• Comprehensive analytics dashboard;
• Phone support even on cheapest plan;
• Built-in list management and segmentation;
• Real-time event webhooks.

Pros and Cons

SendGrid vs Mailgun

While both platforms target developers, SendGrid offers more marketing-focused features out of the box. Mailgun excels in pure transactional delivery with simpler pricing, but SendGrid provides better tools for businesses that need both transactional and marketing capabilities in one platform.

“I use it nearly daily in my capacity as a technical support specialist, and email issues are not uncommon. SendGrid not only makes the whole emailing setup and process seamless and easily integrates with all of our software, but also provides huge transparency and reporting into all of its functions.”

— User from G2

Postmark — Email API for Instant Notifications

Postmark, which joined the ActiveCampaign family in 2022, has built its entire reputation around one thing: delivering transactional emails faster and more reliably than any platform on the market.

Overall rating:

3.9

/5

G2:

4.6

Trustpilot:

2.3

Capterra:

4.9

Postmark pricing: Paid plans start at $15/month for up to 10,000 emails. Free trial available. 

What makes Postmark stand out is its laser focus on transactional email delivery. They don’t try to be everything to everyone—instead, they perfect the art of getting important emails delivered within seconds. 

During our time testing out Postmark, they kept their promises and delivered emails in under 10 seconds. And with consistent deliverability rates (often above 95%), Postmark ensures your subscribers never miss critical communications.

The platform shines with its detailed delivery analytics, giving you insights into bounce rates, spam complaints, and delivery times down to the second. Unlike Mailgun’s at times complex setup, Postmark offers straightforward integration with excellent documentation and responsive support.

Finally, Postmark’s singular focus means it’s not ideal for marketing campaigns or bulk promotional emails. If you need marketing automation, email design tools, or advanced segmentation, you’ll need to look elsewhere or use Postmark alongside another email marketing solution.

Standout Features

• Top-notch delivery speeds;
• Industry-leading deliverability rates;
• Detailed delivery & bounce analytics;
• Excellent customer support.

Pros and Cons

Postmark vs Mailgun

Postmark beats Mailgun in pure transactional delivery speed and customer support quality. While Mailgun offers more flexibility and broader email capabilities, Postmark’s specialized focus delivers superior performance for time-sensitive emails.

Postmark’s pricing is higher compared to services like Mailgun, but the reliability and support quality justify the cost for businesses where email delivery is critical.

“ActiveCampaign Postmark has helped our sales, shipping, logistics, and other essential user notifications reach their inboxes without having to go through the hassle of getting them in the spam folder or getting lost. The emails arrive quickly and without delays, and it helps us to protect the quality of our domain.”

— User from G2

SparkPost — Advanced Analytics Email Service

SparkPost positions itself as the email platform for data-driven marketers and developers who need deep insights into their email performance. Built with enterprise-scale analytics in mind, it’s designed for businesses that want to optimize every aspect of their email strategy.

Overall rating:

3.1

/5

G2:

4.0

Trustpilot:

1.5

Capterra:

3.7

SparkPost pricing: Paid plans start at $20/month. Free plan is available with up to 500 emails/month. 

SparkPost’s standout feature is its comprehensive analytics suite that goes far beyond basic open and click rates. During our hands-on testing, we received detailed engagement metrics, predictive analytics, and real-time monitoring that helped us understand not just what happened, but why it happened. 

Unlike Mailgun’s more straightforward approach, SparkPost provides advanced features like recipient validation, suppression list management, and detailed sending reputation monitoring. The platform also offers both REST API and SMTP sending options, giving developers flexibility in how they integrate email marketing functionality.

Overall, SparkPost is an outstanding Mailgun alternative that checks most essential boxes. While its advanced features may be overkill for businesses with simpler email needs, this transactional email solution nails what it was built for.

Standout Features

• Advanced predictive analytics;
• Real-time engagement tracking;
• Comprehensive suppression management;
• Outstanding A/B testing;
• Enterprise-ready features like single sign-on (SSO).

Pros and Cons

SparkPost vs Mailgun

SparkPost offers more sophisticated analytics and enterprise features compared to Mailgun’s more straightforward approach. While Mailgun focuses on reliable delivery with solid documentation, SparkPost provides deeper insights and more advanced optimization tools. It’s better for data-driven teams that need detailed analytics, whereas Mailgun suits developers who want reliable sending without complexity.

“Sparkpost gives you the same support as a large important customer. Even though you are a startup just starting to use the service. Highly recommend.”

— Andrea from Trustpilot

Brevo — All-in-One Email Marketing Platform

Last but not least, Brevo takes an all-inclusive approach to digital marketing, combining email marketing, SMS campaigns, and CRM functionality under one hood. It’s particularly attractive for growing businesses that want to consolidate their marketing tools without breaking the bank.

Overall rating:

4.5

/5

G2:

4.5

Trustpilot:

4.4

Capterra:

4.6

See full Brevo review

Brevo pricing: Free for up to 300 emails per day. Paid plans start at $8/month.

What makes Brevo compelling is its all-in-one approach that extends beyond just email. You get email marketing, SMS campaigns, live chat, CRM features, and marketing automation all under one roof. The drag-and-drop email builder is intuitive, making it easy for non-technical users to create professional-looking campaigns.

Brevo is built with marketers in mind, offering intuitive interfaces, advanced automation workflows, behavioral triggers, detailed analytics, and smart segmentation to help optimize every campaign. It’s far more marketer-friendly compared to Mailgun’s developer-centric setup.

Brevo’s transactional email capabilities, while functional, aren’t as robust as dedicated platforms like Mailgun or Postmark. The platform can also feel overwhelming with its many features, and some users report that the user interface can be cluttered compared to more focused alternatives.

Standout Features

• Advanced reporting & analytics;
• Omnichannel automation campaigns;
• Built-in CRM functionality;
• Advanced segmentation & personalization;
• SMS marketing integration.

Pros and Cons

Brevo vs Mailgun

Brevo offers a broader marketing toolkit compared to Mailgun’s laser-focused approach on email delivery, but has less attractive monthly plans than Mailgun pricing. While Mailgun excels in transactional email reliability and developer-friendly features, Brevo provides better marketing automation and multi-channel campaigns.

Brevo is ideal for businesses wanting an all-in-one marketing solution, while Mailgun nails robust email delivery without extra marketing features, making it one of the best Brevo alternatives on that front.

“Platform is how user-friendly it is. It’s really easy to navigate, even if you’re not a tech expert, which makes planning and launching campaigns less stressful. Setting it up was straightforward, and I didn’t encounter any complicated steps—everything just clicked into place quickly.”

— Andres from G2

How to Choose the Right Mailgun Alternative

Choosing the best Mailgun alternative starts with identifying your priorities—whether that’s deliverability rate, pricing structure, ease of use, or set of features. Try asking yourself these questions:

Does the platform offer a pricing model that fits your business size and email volume? 

Some providers like Sender offer generous free plans and competitive pricing structures. While others are cost-efficient at scale. That said, be sure to watch for:

• Hidden costs (add-ons or additional charges for API access);
• Tiered pricing that limits key features (unless you upgrade);
• Email volume or subscriber caps that may restrict your growth;
• Data retention limitations that may affect compliance or long-term reporting.

Does the provider support email automation, real-time analytics, and segmentation?

Just because it’s an alternative doesn’t mean it should skimp on firepower. Always check for:

• Restrictions (think limited automation workflows, basic reporting, or no A/B testing);
• Segmentation (can you group subscribers based on behavior, location, or engagement?);
• Advanced automation (does it support event-based triggers, drip campaigns, and dynamic content?).

Is the provider easy to set up and user-friendly from the start?

The best Mailgun alternative should sync with your existing stack—CRMs, ecommerce platforms, and other tools—without too much trouble. A free trial or Forever free plan is a good way to test the waters before making a long-term commitment.

Mailgun Alternatives FAQs

Which Mailgun alternative provides the best deliverability rates?

There are many Mailgun alternatives with solid email deliverability, including Postmark and Amazon SES. However, the Mailgun alternative with the best email deliverability rates is Sender. Not only does it offer consistently high inbox placement, but it also provides intuitive tools for managing sender reputation, list hygiene, and engagement tracking.

Are there any free Mailgun alternatives?

Yes, most of the Mailgun alternatives on this list, including SendGrid and Brevo, offer free plans. While they come with certain limitations that vary depending on each provider, we found that Sender is one of the best free alternatives to Mailgun. It includes up to 15,000 emails per month, automation tools, and 24/7 live support—features often locked behind paywalls elsewhere.

How reliable and secure are Mailgun alternatives?

Security and reliability vary depending on each platform and their plans. However, most Mailgun alternatives on this list offer enterprise-grade protections like TLS encryption, DKIM/SPF authentication, and GDPR compliance. 

While the level of security differs from provider to provider, we found that Amazon SES and Sender stand out for their robust infrastructure and advanced security features—qualities that are often reserved for pricier plans.

About author

Emily Austin

Author

Sender

Emily is a content manager who has dipped her toes in almost all fields of marketing, including email marketing, PR, social media, and ecommerce. She loves perfecting digital content, ensuring everything is polished and ready to go live.

Writer - Ignas Vieversys