Amazon SES vs Mailgun: Which is Better in 2026?
Choosing between Amazon SES and Mailgun? Both are popular email/messaging tools. Below we compare them on pricing, free tiers, features, and pros & cons so you can pick the right fit for your stack.
Quick verdict
Both Amazon SES and Mailgun are strong email/messaging choices. The right pick comes down to your specific feature needs, existing stack, and team preferences.
Amazon SES vs Mailgun — Side by Side
| Amazon SES | Mailgun | |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Email/Messaging | Email/Messaging |
| Pricing | Free | Free · paid from $35/mo |
| Starting price | Free tier available | Free tier available |
| Free tier | ||
| Best for | Email/Messaging — email, transactional | Email/Messaging — email, transactional |
Pros & Cons
- Cheapest email at scale
- Massive scalability
- Tight AWS integration
- Pay only for what you send
- Bare-bones (you build the rest)
- Setup/warmup is on you
- No nice dashboard
- Reliable, mature sending infra
- Strong analytics & validation
- Good docs
- Inbound routing
- Free tier limited to 100/day
- Pricier than Amazon SES at volume
Choose Amazon SES if…
you want a free tier to start, and Amazon SES The cheapest transactional email at scale — pay-as-you-go AWS email (~$0.10 per 1,000 emails).
Amazon SES review & pricingChoose Mailgun if…
you want a free tier to start, and Mailgun Developer-focused transactional email API with strong deliverability and detailed analytics.
Mailgun review & pricingFrequently Asked Questions
Is Amazon SES better than Mailgun?⌄
Both Amazon SES and Mailgun are strong email/messaging choices. The right pick comes down to your specific feature needs, existing stack, and team preferences.
What is the difference between Amazon SES and Mailgun?⌄
Amazon SES — The cheapest transactional email at scale — pay-as-you-go AWS email (~$0.10 per 1,000 emails). Mailgun — Developer-focused transactional email API with strong deliverability and detailed analytics. Both are email/messaging tools; the comparison table above breaks down pricing, free tiers, and what each is best for.
Amazon SES vs Mailgun: which is cheaper?⌄
Amazon SES pricing: Free. Mailgun pricing: Free · paid from $35/mo. Confirm current pricing on each tool's official site, as plans change.
See more options in our guide to the best email/messaging tools for startups.
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