Email remains one of the most effective digital marketing channels, delivering an average ROI of $36 for every $1 spent, according to Litmus. For entrepreneurs and startups, choosing the right platform is crucial to maximising this return.
While SendGrid has long been a go-to solution for transactional email services and automation, many businesses are now searching for a SendGrid alternative that offers better deliverability, clearer pricing, or more robust support.
This article explores the leading SendGrid alternatives, helping you find the best email platforms for small businesses and the best SendGrid alternative for your stage of growth.
Key Takeaways
- Evaluate pricing, deliverability, automation, and support before choosing a SendGrid alternative.
- Mailgun, Brevo, Postmark, and Mailchimp stand out as strong options for different business needs.
- Startups should focus on affordable platforms with easy-to-use automation and scalability.
- Migrating from SendGrid requires careful planning to ensure smooth transitions without disrupting campaigns.
What is SendGrid?
SendGrid, now part of Twilio, is a cloud-based email delivery service that helps businesses send transactional and marketing emails at scale. It is widely used for sending order confirmations, password resets, newsletters, and promotional campaigns.
Entrepreneurs and startups rely on it for its powerful email API, robust analytics, and high deliverability rates. However, like every tool, it has both strengths and weaknesses, which is why many businesses explore alternatives as they grow.
Overview of SendGrid
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Founded | 2009 (acquired by Twilio in 2019) |
| Core Services | Transactional emails, marketing campaigns, and email API integration |
| Key Features | High-volume sending, drag-and-drop editor, automation workflows, analytics dashboard |
| Strengths | Scalable infrastructure, strong API support, and reliable deliverability |
| Limitations | Pricing complexity, limited template customisation, and customer support concerns |
| Best For | Startups, SaaS businesses, and enterprises that need robust transactional email services |
| Pricing Model | Free tier (100 emails/day), pay-as-you-go, and monthly subscription plans |
| Competitors | Mailgun, Postmark, Brevo (Sendinblue), Amazon SES, Mailchimp |
Why Look Beyond SendGrid?
SendGrid has established itself as a popular choice for transactional email services and marketing campaigns, but it is not always the best fit for every business.
Entrepreneurs, startups, and growing companies often run into challenges such as rising costs, limited flexibility in email design, or slow customer support.
As your business scales, these drawbacks can impact both growth and customer engagement, making it worthwhile to consider other affordable email marketing platforms or specialised email automation software.
| Challenge | Explanation | Impact on Entrepreneurs |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing Complexity | Costs can rise quickly as email volume increases or as advanced features are unlocked. | Strains startup budgets and makes scaling expensive. |
| Customer Support Issues | Users often report slow response times or limited support at lower tiers. | Frustrates small teams needing quick resolutions. |
| Template and Design Limitations | The drag-and-drop editor lacks flexibility compared to some competitors. | Restricts branding and creative control for marketing emails. |
| Deliverability Concerns | While generally reliable, some users note inconsistent inbox placement. | Can reduce open rates and impact campaign ROI. |
| Learning Curve for Non-Tech Users | Strong API focus, but less intuitive for beginners without technical skills. | Increases onboarding time for small businesses without developers. |
Key Factors to Consider When Choosing a SendGrid Alternative
Switching from SendGrid is not just about finding a cheaper or trendier platform, but about choosing a tool that aligns with your business stage, goals, and resources.
The right email marketing tool for startups or growing businesses should balance affordability, ease of use, and advanced functionality.
Entrepreneurs need to weigh features like deliverability, automation, scalability, and compliance before committing to a new email API provider or email automation software.
| Factor | Importance | What to Look For |
|---|---|---|
| Deliverability | Ensures your emails reach inboxes instead of spam. | Providers with high sender reputation and anti-spam compliance. |
| Ease of Use | Saves time for entrepreneurs and small teams without technical expertise. | Intuitive dashboards, drag-and-drop editors, minimal learning curve. |
| Pricing & Scalability | Budgets matter, especially for startups. | Transparent pricing, affordable entry plans, and scalable tiers as volume grows. |
| Automation Features | Drives efficiency and customer engagement through workflows. | Segmentation, drip campaigns, behavioural triggers. |
| Integration Capabilities | Keeps your tech stack connected. | APIs and native integrations with CRMs, e-commerce, and analytics tools. |
| Customer Support | Quick help avoids downtime and revenue loss. | Multiple support channels (chat, email, phone) with responsive SLAs. |
| Compliance & Security | Protects your business legally and builds trust. | GDPR, CAN-SPAM and robust security protocols. |
| Analytics & Reporting | Enables data-driven growth. | Real-time insights on deliverability, open rates, and conversions. |
See Also: 15 Best Lightroom Alternatives for Entrepreneurs and Creatives- A Definitive List
15 Best SendGrid Alternatives to Consider Today
Finding the right SendGrid alternative depends on your business size, budget, and email marketing goals.
Whether you need affordable email marketing platforms, advanced email automation software, or reliable transactional email services, several strong SendGrid competitors deliver on performance and scalability.
Below, we explore the top options and highlight which types of businesses they serve best.
1. Mailgun
Mailgun is a powerful email API provider designed primarily for developers and businesses that need reliable transactional email services at scale.
Known for its advanced deliverability features, flexible APIs, and detailed analytics, Mailgun is often considered one of the best SendGrid alternatives for SaaS companies, tech-driven startups, and enterprises managing high-volume email traffic.
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Founded | 2010 |
| Core Services | Transactional emails, email APIs, email validation, analytics |
| Key Features | High deliverability rates, SMTP relay, inbound email routing, scalable infrastructure, and advanced analytics |
| Strengths | Excellent for developers, robust APIs, strong deliverability, and detailed reporting |
| Limitations | Less beginner-friendly and no drag-and-drop editor for marketing campaigns |
| Best For | SaaS businesses, developers, and companies sending large volumes of transactional emails |
| Pricing Model | Free plan and subscription-based plans, with flexible scaling for high-volume senders |
| Notable Clients | GitHub, Shopify, Lyft |
| Main Competitors | Postmark, Amazon SES, SparkPost |
Mailgun Pricing Overview
| Plan | Monthly Price |
|---|---|
| Free | $0 |
| Basic | $15/month |
| Foundation | $35/month |
| Scale | $90/month |
| Enterprise | Custom pricing |
2. Brevo (formerly Sendinblue)
Brevo, rebranded from Sendinblue, is one of the most popular affordable email marketing platforms for startups and small businesses.
Unlike developer-focused tools, Brevo combines email automation software, transactional email services, and CRM features in one platform.
It is particularly appealing to entrepreneurs looking for a user-friendly solution that supports both marketing and transactional campaigns without overwhelming technical requirements.
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Founded | 2012 (as Sendinblue, rebranded to Brevo in 2023) |
| Core Services | Email marketing, transactional emails, CRM, SMS marketing |
| Key Features | Drag-and-drop editor, automation workflows, segmentation, SMS campaigns, CRM integration |
| Strengths | Affordable pricing, easy to use, all-in-one tool for startups, strong automation features |
| Limitations | Daily sending limits on lower tiers, slower sending speeds compared to transactional-first providers |
| Best For | Startups, SMEs, and entrepreneurs seeking a simple, multi-channel marketing platform |
| Pricing Model | Free plan, tiered monthly subscriptions based on email volume, add-ons for SMS and advanced features |
| Notable Clients | Michelin, Amnesty International, Louis Vuitton |
| Main Competitors | Mailchimp, Moosend, ActiveCampaign |
Brevo Pricing Overview
| Plan | Monthly Price |
|---|---|
| Free | $0 |
| Starter | $8.08/month |
| Business | $16.17/month |
| BrevoPlus (Enterprise) | Custom pricing |
3. Postmark
Postmark is a specialised transactional email service designed for speed, reliability, and top-tier deliverability.
Unlike general-purpose email marketing tools for startups, Postmark focuses exclusively on transactional emails like password resets, order confirmations, and notifications, ensuring they reach inboxes quickly.
It is widely regarded as one of the best SendGrid alternatives for businesses where timely and reliable delivery is critical.
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Founded | 2009 |
| Core Services | Transactional email delivery and tracking |
| Key Features | Exceptional deliverability, lightning-fast speed, detailed event tracking, message streams (separating transactional from promotional), and simple API |
| Strengths | Industry-leading deliverability, transparent pricing, strong developer support, and reliability |
| Limitations | Limited marketing automation, no drag-and-drop editor, not ideal for bulk promotional campaigns |
| Best For | SaaS startups, e-commerce businesses, and apps needing reliable transactional email delivery |
| Pricing Model | Pay-as-you-go based on email volume, which includes 45 days of message retention |
| Notable Clients | 1Password, Code Climate, Paddle |
| Main Competitors | Mailgun, SparkPost, Amazon SES |
Postmark Pricing Overview
| Plan | Monthly Price |
|---|---|
| 10,000 Emails | $15/month |
| 50,000 Emails | $55/month |
| 125,000 Emails | $115/month |
| 300,000 Emails | $245/month |
| Over 1,500,000 Emails | Custom pricing |
4. Mailchimp
Mailchimp is one of the most recognised names when it comes to email marketing tools for startups and small businesses.
Unlike transactional-first providers, Mailchimp is built for email automation software, campaign management, and customer engagement.
It combines newsletters, segmentation, analytics, and multi-channel marketing in one platform, making it a strong SendGrid competitor for entrepreneurs seeking an all-in-one solution rather than just an email API.
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Founded | 2001 (acquired by Intuit in 2021) |
| Core Services | Email marketing, automation, audience management, multi-channel campaigns |
| Key Features | Drag-and-drop editor, pre-designed templates, automation workflows, segmentation, analytics, landing pages, integrations with 300+ apps |
| Strengths | User-friendly, strong design tools, advanced automation, and integration with e-commerce and CRMs |
| Limitations | Pricing increases sharply as contacts grow, transactional email requires an add-on (Mandrill), learning curve for advanced automation. |
| Best For | Startups, small businesses, and entrepreneurs seeking an all-in-one marketing suite |
| Pricing Model | Free plan, tiered monthly subscriptions based on contacts and features |
| Notable Clients | TED, Vimeo, New Belgium Brewing |
| Main Competitors | Brevo, Moosend, Constant Contact |
Mailchimp Pricing Overview
| Plan | Monthly Price |
|---|---|
| Free | $0 |
| Essentials | $6.50 |
| Standard | $10 |
| Premium | $175 |
5. Amazon SES (Simple Email Service)
Amazon Simple Email Service (Amazon SES) is one of the most cost-effective and scalable email API providers on the market.
Built on AWS infrastructure, it is designed for developers, enterprises, and fast-growing startups that send millions of emails monthly.
With its pay-as-you-go pricing, Amazon SES is often seen as the best SendGrid alternative for businesses prioritising affordability and scalability over user-friendly design.
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Founded | 2011 (by Amazon Web Services) |
| Core Services | Transactional email delivery, bulk email sending, and email APIs |
| Key Features | Pay-as-you-go pricing, flexible APIs, SMTP interface, strong deliverability, DKIM/SPF support, integration with AWS ecosystem |
| Strengths | Extremely affordable, highly scalable, robust deliverability, and strong security |
| Limitations | Developer-focused (steep learning curve), minimal UI, no drag-and-drop editor or advanced marketing automation |
| Best For | Startups, SaaS, and enterprises with technical teams handling high-volume transactional or bulk emails |
| Pricing Model | Pay-as-you-go based on the number of emails sent and data transfer |
| Notable Clients | Netflix, Airbnb, Amazon |
| Main Competitors | Mailgun, Postmark, SparkPost |
Amazon SES Pricing Overview
| Plan | Monthly Price |
|---|---|
| Email Sending | $0.10 per 1,000 emails sent |
| Data Transfer | $0.12 per GB of attachments |
| Dedicated IPs (Optional) | $24.95/month per IP |
| Free Tier | $0 |
6. Moosend
Moosend is an affordable email marketing platform designed for entrepreneurs and small businesses that need simple email automation software without the complexity of developer-focused tools.
Known for its simplicity and cost-effectiveness, Moosend offers a clean interface, strong automation workflows, and pre-designed templates, making it a good SendGrid competitor for startups with limited resources.
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Founded | 2011 |
| Core Services | Email marketing, automation, landing pages, subscription forms |
| Key Features | Drag-and-drop editor, advanced segmentation, pre-built automation workflows, reporting and analytics |
| Strengths | Budget-friendly, intuitive interface, strong automation at a lower cost, no coding required |
| Limitations | Limited third-party integrations compared to Mailchimp or Brevo, smaller ecosystem. |
| Best For | Small businesses, solopreneurs, and startups seeking affordable yet powerful automation |
| Pricing Model | Free trial, then tiered monthly pricing based on the number of subscribers |
| Notable Clients | Gucci, TEDx, Domino’s |
| Main Competitors | Brevo, Mailchimp, Constant Contact |
Moosend Pricing Overview
| Plan | Monthly Price |
|---|---|
| Free Trial | $0 |
| Pro Plan | $7/month |
| Moosend+ | Custom pricing |
| Enterprise | Custom pricing |
7. SparkPost
SparkPost is a high-performance email API provider that powers billions of emails monthly, with a strong emphasis on analytics and deliverability.
Known for its real-time insights and predictive analytics, SparkPost helps businesses optimise campaigns for better inbox placement.
It is often considered one of the best SendGrid alternatives for data-driven organisations that rely heavily on metrics to guide customer engagement.
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Founded | 2014 (by Message Systems) |
| Core Services | Transactional email delivery, email APIs, analytics, predictive inbox placement |
| Key Features | Advanced deliverability analytics, adaptive email placement, real-time reporting, robust email APIs |
| Strengths | Exceptional analytics, strong deliverability, scalable infrastructure, and trusted by large senders |
| Limitations | Geared towards technical teams, less beginner-friendly than Brevo or Moosend |
| Best For | Enterprises, SaaS platforms, and data-focused businesses are optimising large-scale email programs |
| Pricing Model | Subscription plans and pay-as-you-go options |
| Notable Clients | Pinterest, Zillow, Adobe |
| Main Competitors | Mailgun, Postmark, Amazon SES |
SparkPost Pricing Overview
| Plan | Monthly Price |
|---|---|
| Starter | $20 per month |
| Premier | From $75/month |
| Enterprise | Custom pricing |
8. SMTP2GO
SMTP2GO is a cloud-based transactional email service built for reliability, ease of use, and excellent customer support.
Unlike some email API providers that are developer-heavy, SMTP2GO is designed to be beginner-friendly while still offering strong features for small businesses and startups.
With built-in monitoring, bounce tracking, and robust deliverability, it stands out as a SendGrid competitor for entrepreneurs who prioritise reliability and responsive support.
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Founded | 2006 |
| Core Services | Transactional email, SMTP relay, email APIs, reporting |
| Key Features | Bounce & spam complaint tracking, real-time reporting, easy SMTP integration, dedicated IP options |
| Strengths | Strong deliverability, excellent 24/7 support, reliable infrastructure, and easy setup |
| Limitations | Less advanced automation than Mailchimp or Brevo; marketing features are limited |
| Best For | Startups, SMEs, and non-technical teams needing a reliable transactional email service |
| Pricing Model | Subscription plans based on email volume |
| Main Competitors | Postmark, Mailgun, SparkPost |
SMTP2GO Pricing Overview
| Plan | Monthly Price |
|---|---|
| Starter | $15 /mo |
| Professional | $75 /mo |
| Free | $0 |
9. SMTP.com
SMTP.com is one of the oldest and most established transactional email services, trusted for over two decades by businesses of all sizes.
Known for its strong deliverability, compliance focus, and reliability, it is often seen as a SendGrid competitor for companies that want proven infrastructure with enterprise-level support.
Unlike newer email API providers, SMTP.com combines stability with essential features like real-time reporting, reputation monitoring, and dedicated IPs.
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1998 |
| Core Services | Transactional email delivery, SMTP relay, email APIs |
| Key Features | High deliverability, real-time reporting, IP reputation management, email validation, dedicated IPs |
| Strengths | Long-standing reputation, compliance with global regulations, and enterprise-grade infrastructure |
| Limitations | More technical setup, lacks modern marketing automation features compared to Mailchimp or Brevo |
| Best For | Enterprises, SaaS platforms, and high-volume senders that need reliable transactional email |
| Pricing Model | Subscription plans based on monthly email volume |
| Main Competitors | Amazon SES, SparkPost, Mailgun |
SMTP.com Pricing Overview
| Plan | Monthly Price |
|---|---|
| Essential | From $25/month – Up to 50,000 emails |
| Starter | From $80/month – Up to 100,000 emails |
| Growth | From $300/month – Up to 500,000 emails |
| Business | From $500/month – Up to 1,000,000 emails |
| Enterprise | Custom pricing |
10. MailSender
MailSender is an easy-to-use email marketing platform designed for small businesses and startups that want a simple, affordable tool to run campaigns without the complexity of enterprise-grade systems.
Unlike developer-focused email API providers, MailSender focuses on usability, offering a drag-and-drop editor, templates, and basic automation features.
It is a good SendGrid competitor for entrepreneurs seeking cost-effective solutions for newsletters, promotions, and customer engagement.
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Founded | 2014 |
| Core Services | Email marketing, newsletters, transactional emails (basic), automation |
| Key Features | Drag-and-drop editor, campaign templates, contact segmentation, autoresponders, analytics |
| Strengths | Affordable, beginner-friendly, simple interface, fast setup |
| Limitations | Limited integrations, fewer advanced automation tools compared to Mailchimp or Brevo |
| Best For | Entrepreneurs, bloggers, and small businesses with limited budgets |
| Pricing Model | Subscription plans based on email volume and features |
MailSender Pricing Overview
| Plan | Monthly Price |
|---|---|
| Hobby | $0 |
| Starter | $28/month |
| Professional | $88/month |
| Enterprise | Custom |
See Also: 15 Best Adobe Acrobat Alternatives – Top Free and Paid PDF Editors for Entrepreneurs
11. Mailtrap
Mailtrap is a specialised email delivery and testing platform designed for developers and QA teams.
Unlike other SendGrid competitors that focus heavily on marketing or large-scale transactional delivery, Mailtrap stands out by providing a safe environment to test, preview, and debug emails before sending them to real users.
It is ideal for startups and SaaS businesses that want to ensure flawless email functionality during development while also supporting reliable transactional delivery in production.
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Founded | 2011 |
| Core Services | Email testing, staging environments, transactional email delivery |
| Key Features | Safe sandbox testing, spam score checks, preview across devices, email API & SMTP relay, analytics |
| Strengths | Excellent for testing and QA, protects users from accidental email sends, strong developer tools |
| Limitations | Limited marketing automation features, not designed for newsletter-heavy campaigns |
| Best For | Developers, SaaS companies, and startups that need safe testing plus transactional email services |
| Pricing Model | Subscription plans with separate tiers for testing and email sending |
| Notable Clients | Atlassian, Calendly, GitLab |
| Main Competitors | Postmark, Mailgun (for transactional), Litmus (for testing) |
Mailtrap Pricing Overview
| Plan | Monthly Price |
|---|---|
| Free | $0 |
| Basic | $15 /month |
| Business | $85 /month |
| Enterprise | $750 /month |
12. ActiveCampaign
ActiveCampaign is more than just an email marketing tool for startups, but a full-fledged customer experience automation (CXA) platform.
Unlike transactional-first SendGrid competitors, ActiveCampaign excels at being an advanced email automation software, with customer journey mapping and multi-channel engagement.
With its CRM integration, behavioural targeting, and predictive content features, it is often chosen as the best SendGrid alternative for entrepreneurs who need more than just email delivery, especially those focused on building long-term customer relationships.
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Founded | 2003 |
| Core Services | Email marketing, automation, CRM, sales automation, SMS campaigns |
| Key Features | Visual automation builder, CRM integration, behavioural targeting, predictive sending, landing pages, split testing |
| Strengths | Market-leading automation, powerful segmentation, strong CRM features, and integrates with 900+ tools |
| Limitations | More expensive than Brevo or Moosend, steep learning curve for beginners |
| Best For | SMEs, SaaS businesses, and growth-stage startups prioritising customer journeys and automation |
| Pricing Model | Subscription plans based on contacts, with multiple tiers for features |
| Notable Clients | Vimeo, UNICEF, Hipmunk |
| Main Competitors | Mailchimp, Brevo, HubSpot |
ActiveCampaign Pricing Overview
| Plan | Monthly Price |
|---|---|
| Starter | $15/mo |
| Plus | $49/mo |
| Pro | $79/mo |
| Enterprise | $145/mo |
13. Elastic Email
Elastic Email is a budget-friendly email API provider and marketing platform that combines transactional email delivery with bulk email marketing capabilities.
Unlike many SendGrid competitors that focus on either transactional or marketing use cases, Elastic Email offers both in one system at some of the lowest prices in the market.
This makes it attractive to startups and small businesses that want an affordable email marketing platform without sacrificing scalability.
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Founded | 2010 |
| Core Services | Transactional email delivery, email marketing campaigns, APIs, SMTP relay |
| Key Features | Drag-and-drop editor, email templates, advanced analytics, API & SMTP integration, list management, autoresponders |
| Strengths | Very affordable pricing, scalable infrastructure, simple setup, all-in-one transactional + marketing |
| Limitations | Customer support is not as strong as Postmark or SMTP2GO, fewer advanced automation tools than ActiveCampaign |
| Best For | Startups, SMEs, and budget-conscious entrepreneurs that need both transactional and marketing email |
| Pricing Model | Pay-as-you-go and subscription plans |
| Main Competitors | Amazon SES, Brevo, Mailgun |
Elastic Email Pricing Overview
| Plan | Monthly Price |
|---|---|
| Email API (Pay-As-You-Go) | From $0.10 per 1,000 emails sent |
| Unlimited Plan | From $15/month |
| Pro Plan | From $30/month |
| Enterprise | Custom pricing |
14. DuoCircle
DuoCircle is a cloud-based email security and delivery platform that offers reliable SMTP relay services alongside advanced filtering and protection features.
While many SendGrid competitors focus purely on marketing automation or transactional delivery, DuoCircle differentiates itself with a strong emphasis on security, anti-spam, and email continuity.
This makes it an excellent SendGrid alternative for businesses where compliance, security, and uptime are mission-critical.
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Founded | 2014 |
| Core Services | SMTP relay, email filtering, inbound/outbound protection, continuity services |
| Key Features | Spam filtering, phishing protection, SMTP relay, email backup & failover, DKIM/SPF/DMARC support |
| Strengths | Strong security, reliable deliverability, continuity solutions, protection against phishing and spam |
| Limitations | Less focus on marketing automation, the interface is less beginner-friendly compared to Brevo or Moosend |
| Best For | SMEs, enterprises, and security-conscious organisations that need safe and reliable email delivery |
| Pricing Model | Subscription plans based on email volume and security features |
| Main Competitors | SMTP.com, SMTP2GO, Proofpoint (security-first competitors) |
DuoCircle Pricing Overview
| Plan | Monthly Price |
|---|---|
| SMTP Relay Basic | From $9.99/month |
| Business | From $29.99/month |
| Enterprise | Custom pricing |
15. Pepipost
Pepipost, now integrated into Netcore Cloud, is a developer-friendly transactional email service designed with a strong focus on speed, reliability, and deliverability.
Unlike some SendGrid competitors that prioritise marketing automation, Pepipost specialises in ensuring that transactional and bulk emails land in the inbox, not the spam folder.
It is often chosen by startups and SaaS businesses seeking a cost-effective SendGrid alternative with transparent pricing and a reputation for high inbox placement.
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Founded | 2015 (acquired by Netcore Cloud in 2020) |
| Core Services | Transactional email delivery, email APIs, SMTP relay |
| Key Features | High inbox placement, real-time analytics, bounce & spam complaint handling, webhooks, dedicated IP options |
| Strengths | Strong deliverability, competitive pricing, simple API integration, pay-as-you-go model |
| Limitations | Limited marketing automation features compared to Mailchimp or ActiveCampaign |
| Best For | SaaS startups, e-commerce businesses, and developers needing reliable transactional delivery |
| Pricing Model | Subscription and pay-as-you-go based on email volume |
| Notable Clients | OYO Rooms, Flipkart, MakeMyTrip |
| Main Competitors | Mailgun, Amazon SES, SparkPost |
Pepipost Pricing Overview
| Plan | Monthly Price | Extra Emails |
|---|---|---|
| 150,000 Emails | $25/month | $0.60 per 1,000 extra emails |
| 400,000 Emails | $85/month | $0.55 per 1,000 extra emails |
| 600,000 Emails | $145/month | $0.50 per 1,000 extra emails |
| 1,000,000 Emails | $245/month | $0.45 per 1,000 extra emails |
| 2,000,000 Emails | $445/month | $0.40 per 1,000 extra emails |
How to Transition From SendGrid to an Alternative
Switching from SendGrid to another provider requires more than just updating your email API key. A smooth migration protects your deliverability, prevents disruptions in transactional flows, and ensures continuity in your marketing campaigns.
Entrepreneurs and startups should approach the process systematically, from auditing current usage to testing new systems before a full cutover.
| Step | What to Do |
|---|---|
| 1. Audit Current Setup | Review SendGrid account usage (APIs, templates, lists, automation workflows). |
| 2. Select an Alternative | Choose a platform (e.g., Mailgun, Brevo, Postmark) based on pricing, features, and scalability. |
| 3. Prepare Data Migration | Export contacts, templates, suppression lists, and API settings from SendGrid. |
| 4. Configure New Platform | Set up domains, DNS records (SPF, DKIM, DMARC), and IPs in the new provider. |
| 5. Test Thoroughly | Send test campaigns and transactional emails in sandbox or staging environments. |
| 6. Run Parallel Sending | Keep SendGrid live while gradually routing traffic through the new platform. |
| 7. Monitor Deliverability | Track inbox placement, bounce rates, and spam complaints closely. |
| 8. Decommission SendGrid | Once stable, cancel the SendGrid account and update the documentation. |
Conclusion
Choosing the right SendGrid alternative depends on your business goals, budget, and technical needs. From affordable all-in-one platforms like Brevo and Moosend to developer-focused tools like Mailgun, Postmark, and Amazon SES, there is a solution for every stage of growth.
What matters most is aligning your choice with scalability, deliverability, and support, ensuring your email strategy remains a driver of business success.
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is the best SendGrid alternative for startups?
Brevo (formerly Sendinblue) and Moosend are excellent options for startups because they are affordable, easy to use, and come with built-in automation features.
Which SendGrid competitor offers the best deliverability?
Postmark and Mailgun are highly regarded for their superior deliverability, making them ideal for transactional email services where inbox placement is critical.
Is Amazon SES a good alternative to SendGrid?
Yes. Amazon SES is one of the most scalable and affordable email API providers, but it requires technical expertise, so it is better suited for developers or businesses with IT teams.
Which platform is best for all-in-one marketing and automation?
Mailchimp and ActiveCampaign stand out for businesses that need advanced email automation software, segmentation, CRM, and multi-channel campaign management.
How do I migrate from SendGrid to another email platform?
Export your data (contacts, templates, suppression lists), set up DNS authentication (SPF, DKIM, DMARC) with the new provider, test emails thoroughly, and run both systems in parallel before fully switching over.
Which SendGrid alternative is the most affordable?
Elastic Email and Amazon SES are among the cheapest options, offering very low pay-as-you-go pricing for businesses sending high volumes of email.
Do SendGrid alternatives support compliance with GDPR and other data laws?
Yes, most providers such as Brevo, Mailchimp, and ActiveCampaign comply with GDPR and local data protection laws, but always review the provider’s policies to ensure alignment with your region’s regulations.
What is the best alternative for developers?
Mailgun, Postmark, and Pepipost are highly developer-friendly, with powerful APIs, webhooks, and documentation designed for seamless integration.
Can I use SendGrid competitors for both transactional and marketing emails?
Yes. Platforms like Brevo, Mailchimp, and Elastic Email offer both transactional email services and marketing automation, while Postmark and SMTP.com focus mainly on transactional delivery.
