Mailgun vs Mailjet: API-First vs User-Friendly Interface

Picking the right email platform can seriously impact how well you connect with your audience and grow your business. Trust me — I’ve learned this the hard way after trying countless options over the years.

Two names that keep coming up in conversations are Mailgun and Mailjet. They’re both solid choices, but they definitely serve different needs.

Mailgun has built its reputation on robust API functionality and developer-friendly features — it’s the go-to for companies sending tons of emails or needing advanced transactional capabilities.

 Mailjet takes a different approach with its user-friendly interface and great collaboration tools, making it perfect for smaller teams focused on creating and managing email campaigns without needing a developer on standby.

I’ve worked with both platforms extensively and want to share my thoughts on how they compare when it comes to pricing (because let’s be real, budget matters), features, ease of use, and overall performance.

By the end, you should have a much clearer picture of which one makes more sense for your specific email marketing needs.

Mailgun vs Mailjet — Quick Comparison

Feature Overview

Strengths & Weaknesses Overview

Mailgun vs Mailjet — Feature Comparison

Mailgun vs Mailjet — a Closer Look at Each Platform

Mailgun: The Developer’s Choice

If you’re running a business with serious email volume — especially transactional messages — Mailgun makes a lot of sense. Their robust API and deliverability rates are impressive, and their real-time analytics give you the insights needed to optimize performance.

But I won’t sugarcoat it — this isn’t the platform for marketing teams without technical support. The learning curve can be steep, and you’ll likely need developer resources to get the most out of it.

I’ve worked with clients who love Mailgun’s flexibility and reliability for sending thousands of emails daily, but smaller teams often find it overwhelming.

Mailjet: The Team-Friendly Option

Mailjet works beautifully for small to mid-sized businesses that need a straightforward, affordable platform for their email marketing. What really stands out is how quickly non-technical team members can create professional-looking campaigns with their intuitive editor.

The collaboration features are genuinely useful — multiple people can work on the same email simultaneously without chaos ensuing. While it doesn’t have the advanced API capabilities or transactional email features that Mailgun offers, its simplicity is actually its strength.

I’ve recommended Mailjet to several clients who needed an easy-to-use solution their whole team could manage.

Mailgun vs Mailjet — Pricing Breakdown

What this Means for Your Budget

Mailgun’s flexible pay-as-you-go model can be perfect if your email volume fluctuates month to month. It’s often cost-effective for high-volume senders who need the technical capabilities, but watch out — costs can climb quickly as your usage increases.

I’ve seen clients get surprised by their bills during high-volume months.

Mailjet’s flat-rate structure makes budgeting more predictable, which is why many marketing teams prefer it. You know exactly what you’ll pay each month regardless of how many emails you send (within your plan’s limits).

For businesses that want to avoid surprises and keep costs controlled as they grow their list, this approach makes planning easier.

Mailgun vs Mailjet — Free Plan Face-Off

Which Free Plan Works Better?

Mailgun’s free plan is pretty limited — you get 5,000 emails monthly with no automation features. It’s really designed for developers who want to test the platform’s API and deliverability before committing. I wouldn’t recommend it for actual marketing campaigns.

Mailjet offers a more generous free option with 6,000 monthly emails, unlimited contacts, and even some basic automation tools. The daily limit of 200 emails is restrictive, but it’s actually usable for small businesses just starting out with email marketing.

I’ve had clients successfully use this free plan while they’re building their list and figuring out their email strategy.

Mailgun vs Mailjet — the Honest Pros and Cons

Consider Mailgun if…

Mailgun makes the most sense if you’re sending high volumes of emails, particularly transactional ones like order confirmations or password resets.

Its pay-as-you-go model offers flexibility for businesses with variable sending needs, and its robust API is perfect for developers who want to customize their email functionality. I’ve found it works particularly well for ecommerce businesses, SaaS companies, and organizations with dedicated technical resources.

Just be prepared for a steeper learning curve and potentially higher costs as you scale.

Consider Mailjet if…

Mailjet is the better choice for small to mid-sized businesses and marketing teams looking for an affordable, easy-to-use platform. If your team needs to collaborate on email design and doesn’t have developer resources, you’ll appreciate Mailjet’s intuitive interface and team-friendly features.

It’s ideal for companies focused on newsletters, basic marketing campaigns, and building subscriber relationships without technical complexity. The flat-rate pricing also makes it easier to budget for as you grow.

Mailgun vs Mailjet — What Real Users Are Saying

Overall rating:

4.2

/5

G2:

4.2

Trustpilot:

4.2

Capterra:

4.3

Overall rating:

4.0

/5

G2:

4.0

Trustpilot:

3.8

Capterra:

4.2

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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.