Mailgun

Quick answer: Mailgun is an email infrastructure platform built for developers. It lets you send transactional emails via API or SMTP, validate addresses, and monitor deliverability. If you’re looking for campaigns, contact management, and automation from a simple dashboard, Mailrelay is a more practical and cost-effective alternative to Mailgun.

This service is a great fit when a technical team wants to integrate email into a website, store, or app. For example, it can send purchase confirmations, shipping notices, or password recovery links.

However, many companies also need newsletters, segmentation, and marketing workflows. In this scenario, a tool designed for marketing professionals reduces the workload and technical dependency.

Here, we’ll explain what Mailgun is, what it’s used for, and its limitations. We’ll also compare Mailgun vs Mailrelay to help you make a clear and informed decision.

What is Mailgun and what is it used for

Mailgun is an email delivery service based primarily on an API. It’s tailored for developers and businesses with integration needs.

The platform connects apps, websites, or internal systems to an email infrastructure. This way, the system can generate automated messages without using a conventional inbox.

It’s mostly used for transactional emails. These types of messages are triggered after a specific user action.

Here are some common examples:

• Registration or purchase confirmations.
• Password resets.
• Invoices and receipts.
• Security alerts.
• Activity notifications.
• Order status updates.

It also lets you send emails through an SMTP relay. This option makes it easy to connect with tools that support the standard email protocol.

How Mailgun works

The platform receives a request from your app and processes the email. Then, it delivers the message to the recipient’s server and logs the outcome.

You can integrate the service using a REST API or SMTP credentials. Your choice depends on your system, the level of control you need, and your available technical resources.

The API gives you more flexibility to customize deliveries and manage events. SMTP is usually more straightforward when your app already supports that connection.

To get started, you need to verify a domain and set up its authentication. It’s also a good idea to check your SPF, DKIM, and DMARC records before scaling up your volume.

Key Mailgun features

The solution brings together several features focused on programmatic email delivery:

• Email API to send and receive messages.
• SMTP relay for apps and services.
• Delivery tracking for bounces, opens, and clicks.
• Webhooks to share events with other systems.
• Email address validation.
• Template management.
• Inbound email routing.
• Logs to investigate deliverability issues.

These features provide technical control. Even so, making the most of them usually requires setup, testing, and maintenance.

Mailgun pros and cons

It has a robust infrastructure for transactional messages. It also offers helpful tools to analyze deliverability and automate processes directly from an app.

Mailgun pros

• Designed for API integrations.
• Supports large-scale transactional sending.
• Offers SMTP as an alternative connection method.
• Lets you track events using webhooks.
• Includes email validation and deliverability tools.
• Fits well with technically experienced teams.

Mailgun cons

• Its approach can be too technical for an SMB.
• Setup usually requires a developer.
• Campaign management isn’t its core focus.
• A marketing team might end up relying on IT for day-to-day changes.
• Some advanced features depend on the plan you choose.
• The true cost includes setup, maintenance, and internal support.

That’s why the best Mailgun alternative depends on your goals. A powerful API won’t do much if your priority is launching campaigns without coding.

Mailgun vs an email marketing platform

Both solutions solve related but distinct problems. Understanding this difference prevents you from picking a tool that complicates your workflow.

Transactional infrastructure prioritizes integration, events, and technical performance. A marketing platform focuses on contacts, content, segmentation, automation, and campaign reports.

If your company combines transactional emails with campaigns, it’s a good idea to evaluate both workflows. You also need to decide who will manage them week to week.

Why Mailrelay is a good alternative to Mailgun

At Mailrelay, we help you create, send, and measure campaigns from a simple interface. We also offer integration paths for businesses that need to connect their systems.

Our solution is an especially great fit when marketing needs autonomy. You can manage contacts, design newsletters, and create automations without writing any code.

Plus, we offer transactional emails via SMTP and API. This covers common use cases straight from a website, CRM, store, or app.

A Mailgun alternative designed for campaigns

With our email marketing software, you can import contacts, prepare newsletters, and schedule campaigns. The visual editor speeds up the design process and even supports AI-generated content.

You can segment your database using groups, tags, custom fields, and conditions. That way, every contact receives more relevant messages.

You can also run A/B tests and check opens, clicks, bounces, or unsubscribes. Click maps help you spot which parts of your email drive the most interest.

Easy automation for marketing teams

Mailrelay includes a visual editor to build automated customer journeys. You can set up welcome emails, drip campaigns, reminders, or abandoned cart sequences.

Triggers launch actions based on sign-ups, dates, groups, or tags. You can also add conditions and branches without building an integration from scratch.

This automation is perfect for companies looking for utility and ease of use. Your team can tweak workflows without waiting for the development team to make changes.

API and SMTP server to connect your systems

A true Mailgun alternative has to offer reliable integration paths. That’s why Mailrelay features a REST API, webhooks, and an SMTP connection.

You can check out our API documentation to review the available resources. These include sending, campaigns, contacts, groups, imports, and A/B testing.

If you need transactional email, check the terms of the applicable plan or add-on. This way, you can compare costs based on the same volume and feature set.

Free plan and support from day one

Mailrelay’s free account lets you send up to 80,000 emails a month. It also supports a list of up to 20,000 contacts.

This plan makes it easy to test campaigns with a significant volume. Plus, it includes open and click tracking, segmentation, automation, a visual editor, and A/B testing.

Our chat, ticket, and phone support are also available on the free account. If you have any questions, you can talk to a team that really knows the platform.

You can check the latest details on our email marketing plans and pricing page.

Mailgun vs Mailrelay comparison

The table below summarizes the most important differences. Use it as a starting point, then validate your technical requirements.

The service might still be the better choice for a platform with complex transactional logic. It also stands out when the team needs deep control over events and infrastructure.

Mailrelay is more convenient if you want to centralize marketing and reduce technical tasks. Plus, it maintains API and SMTP features to integrate the necessary broadcasts.

When to choose Mailrelay as an alternative to Mailgun

Mailrelay could be your best alternative to Mailgun if several of these conditions apply:

• Your marketing team needs to work without relying on developers.
• You want to build newsletters with a visual editor.
• You need to manage and segment contacts on the same platform.
• You’re looking for simple, useful automations.
• You want to test things out with a generous free volume.
• You value having human support right from the free plan.
• You need clear reports to optimize campaigns.
• You also want to connect a website, CRM, or store via API or SMTP.

Before making a choice, separate your marketing and transactional needs. Then, assign a monthly volume to each bucket.

This exercise keeps you from comparing pricing that covers entirely different services. It also reveals how much technical time each Mailgun alternative requires.

When it makes sense to stick with Mailgun

The platform holds a clear advantage in highly development-focused scenarios. For instance, an app might need complex inbound routing, specific validation, or intensive event processing.

It can also be the right move if you already have a stable integration. Migrating without a concrete operational benefit would just add risk and busywork.

On the other hand, if marketing creates most of the messages, look at the cost of that dependency. Every technical tweak eats up hours that also impact your budget.

How to migrate from Mailgun to Mailrelay step by step

An orderly migration protects deliverability and minimizes downtime. Avoid overhauling your entire infrastructure in one go.

1. Classify your current emails

Separate campaigns, automations, and transactional messages. Jot down the volume, frequency, sender, and owner for each workflow.

2. Export contacts and preserve consent

Prep your lists in CSV format and remove any duplicates. Be sure to keep the date, source, and consent status as well.

Don’t import addresses that have bounced, unsubscribed, or complained. This cleanup protects your reputation right from the first mass mailing campaign.

3. Set up your sender domain

Add the required authentication records for your domain. Double-check your SPF, DKIM, and DMARC before sending out live campaigns.

4. Recreate templates and automations

Adapt your designs to the Mailrelay editor. After that, rebuild the workflows and test every trigger, condition, and link.

5. Connect SMTP or API where needed

Update the credentials in your app, CRM, or store. If you’re using the API, adapt your calls and webhooks to the new documentation.

6. Run controlled tests

Send to an internal group and a few test accounts first. Check the content, personalization, links, bounces, and event logging.

7. Ramp up the volume gradually

Keep both services running during a short transition if your setup allows for it. That way, you can compare results and fix issues without halting critical messages.

If you need a WordPress integration, check out our plugins and tools. You can also ask our team for help during setup.

What to check before signing up for a Mailgun alternative

A feature comparison table doesn’t tell the whole story. You also need to weigh the daily workload the platform will demand.

Review these criteria before you decide:

1. Email type: transactional, promotional, or both.
2. Monthly volume: factor in seasonal spikes and projected growth.
3. Technical resources: calculate the hours needed for development and maintenance.
4. Contact management: check for segments, fields, unsubscribes, and duplicates.
5. Automation: define the workflows you’re actually going to use.
6. Deliverability: verify authentication, bounces, and sender reputation.
7. Reports: decide which metrics each team needs.
8. Support: confirm available channels, hours, and plan conditions.
9. Total cost: add up the subscription, add-ons, and internal time.

The best Mailgun alternative is the one that fits your process. It should also give the right people the autonomy to do their jobs.

Conclusion: Mailrelay as an alternative to Mailgun

Mailgun is a powerful option for integrating transactional email into digital products. Its technical focus provides flexibility for development teams.

Mailrelay covers a broader marketing need. From a single platform, you can manage contacts, campaigns, automations, A/B testing, and reports.

Plus, we offer API and SMTP to connect transactional emails. This combination bridges the gap between marketing and tech.

If you’re looking for a simple and cost-effective alternative to Mailgun, try Mailrelay for free. You can evaluate the editor, segmentation, and automations with your own use cases.

Frequently asked questions about Mailgun and its best alternative

What is Mailgun?

Mailgun is an email delivery platform geared towards developers. It lets you integrate transactional emails via API or SMTP and track delivery events.

What is Mailgun used for?

Mailgun is used to send messages from websites and apps. Common use cases include confirmations, invoices, alerts, and password recoveries.

Is Mailgun good for email marketing?

Mailgun can handle marketing broadcasts, but its primary focus is transactional infrastructure. For newsletters, contacts, and visual workflows, an email marketing platform is usually a more comfortable fit.

What is the best alternative to Mailgun?

It depends on your use case. Mailrelay is a strong Mailgun alternative for businesses that prioritize campaigns, segmentation, simple automation, support, and cost control.

Can Mailrelay send transactional emails?

Yes. At Mailrelay, we offer transactional sending via SMTP and API. You can connect it to your website, CRM, online store, or app.

Does Mailrelay have an API and SMTP server?

Yes. Mailrelay features a REST API and SMTP connection. These options let you integrate internal systems and automate various types of broadcasts.

Do I need technical skills to use Mailrelay?

Not for creating campaigns, managing contacts, or designing standard automations. However, a custom API integration might require technical support.

Does Mailgun require coding skills?

Its setup and advanced usage usually require technical knowledge. SMTP simplifies some cases, although the domain and events still need to be set up correctly.

Is Mailgun free?

Mailgun offers a free tier with a limited daily volume. Its plans and conditions may change, so it’s best to check their pricing page before deciding.

How much can I send for free with Mailrelay?

The free account lets you send up to 80,000 emails a month. You can manage up to 20,000 contacts and access chat, ticket, and phone support.

Does switching from Mailgun automatically improve deliverability?

No. The platform plays a part, but your reputation, authentication, consent, and list quality also matter. A migration should maintain best practices and ramp up the volume gradually.

Can I migrate my contacts from Mailgun to Mailrelay?

You can prep and import your contacts using a compatible file. Before doing so, remove unsubscribes, hard bounces, complaints, and duplicates to protect your deliverability.