{"id":91644,"date":"2026-09-03T20:11:07","date_gmt":"2026-09-03T20:11:07","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/mailrelay.com\/glossary\/mailgun-what-is-it-best-alternative\/"},"modified":"2026-10-27T19:10:56","modified_gmt":"2026-10-27T19:10:56","slug":"mailgun","status":"publish","type":"glossary","link":"https:\/\/mailrelay.com\/en\/glossary\/mailgun\/","title":{"rendered":"Mailgun"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Quick answer:<\/strong> 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&#8217;re looking for campaigns, contact management, and automation from a simple dashboard, <a href=\"https:\/\/mailrelay.com\/en\/\">Mailrelay<\/a> can be a more practical and cost-effective alternative to Mailgun.<\/p>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">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.<\/p>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">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.<\/p>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Here, we&#8217;ll explain what Mailgun is, what it&#8217;s used for, and its limitations. We&#8217;ll also compare Mailgun vs Mailrelay to help you make a clear and informed decision.<\/p>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">What is Mailgun and what is it used for<\/h2>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Mailgun is an email delivery service based primarily on an API. It&#8217;s tailored for developers and businesses with integration needs.<\/p>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">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.<\/p>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">It&#8217;s mostly used for transactional emails. These types of messages are triggered after a specific user action.<\/p>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Here are some common examples:<\/p>\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Registration or purchase confirmations.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Password resets.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Invoices and receipts.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Security alerts.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Activity notifications.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Order status updates.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">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.<\/p>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">It competes with other technical sending services, such as SendGrid, Amazon SES, or <a href=\"https:\/\/mailrelay.com\/en\/glossary\/mandrill\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Mandrill<\/a>, Mailchimp&#8217;s transactional service.<\/p>\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1672\" height=\"941\" src=\"https:\/\/mailrelay.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/como-funciona-envio-email-api.png\" alt=\"Infographic showing how an email API sending service works: your website or app, API or SMTP, sending server, and inbox, with examples of transactional emails\" class=\"wp-image-106912\" srcset=\"https:\/\/mailrelay.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/como-funciona-envio-email-api.png 1672w, https:\/\/mailrelay.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/como-funciona-envio-email-api-300x169.png 300w, https:\/\/mailrelay.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/como-funciona-envio-email-api-1024x576.png 1024w, https:\/\/mailrelay.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/como-funciona-envio-email-api-768x432.png 768w, https:\/\/mailrelay.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/como-funciona-envio-email-api-1536x864.png 1536w, https:\/\/mailrelay.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/como-funciona-envio-email-api-110x62.png 110w, https:\/\/mailrelay.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/como-funciona-envio-email-api-60x34.png 60w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1672px) 100vw, 1672px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group has-very-light-gray-background-color has-background\" style=\"border-radius:8px;padding-top:24px;padding-right:28px;padding-bottom:24px;padding-left:28px\"><div class=\"wp-block-group__inner-container is-layout-flow wp-block-group-is-layout-flow\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Looking for campaigns, not just API sending?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Create your free Mailrelay account and send newsletters and automations from a simple dashboard.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-buttons is-layout-flex wp-block-buttons-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-button is-style-mailrelay-primary-button\"><a class=\"wp-block-button__link wp-element-button\" href=\"https:\/\/mailrelay.com\/en\/signup\/?utm_medium=cta&#038;utm_campaign=mailgun\">Create a free account<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">How Mailgun works<\/h3>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The platform receives a request from your app and processes the email. Then, it delivers the message to the recipient&#8217;s server and logs the outcome.<\/p>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">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.<\/p>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The API gives you more flexibility to customize deliveries and manage events. SMTP is usually more straightforward when your app already supports that connection.<\/p>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">To get started, you need to verify a domain and set up its authentication. It&#8217;s also a good idea to check your SPF, DKIM, and DMARC records before scaling up your volume.<\/p>\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Key Mailgun features<\/h3>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The solution brings together several features focused on programmatic email delivery:<\/p>\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Email API to send and receive messages.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>SMTP relay for apps and services.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Tracking of deliveries, bounces, opens, and clicks.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Webhooks to share events with other systems.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Email address validation.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Template management.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Inbound email routing.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Logs to investigate delivery issues.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">These features provide technical control. Even so, making the most of them usually requires setup, testing, and maintenance.<\/p>\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Mailgun pros and cons<\/h2>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">It has a solid infrastructure for transactional messages. It also offers useful tools to analyze <a href=\"https:\/\/mailrelay.com\/en\/glossary\/deliverability-in-email-marketing\/\">deliverability<\/a> and automate processes from an app.<\/p>\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Mailgun pros<\/h3>\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Designed for API integrations.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Supports large-scale transactional sending.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Offers SMTP as an alternative connection method.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Lets you track events using webhooks.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Includes email validation and deliverability tools.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Fits well with technically experienced teams.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Mailgun cons<\/h3>\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Its approach can be too technical for an SMB.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Setup usually requires a developer.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Campaign management isn&#8217;t its core focus.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>A marketing team might end up relying on IT for day-to-day changes.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Some advanced features depend on the plan you choose.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The true cost includes setup, maintenance, and internal support.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">That&#8217;s why the best Mailgun alternative depends on your goals. A powerful API won&#8217;t do much if your priority is launching campaigns without coding.<\/p>\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Mailgun vs an email marketing platform<\/h2>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Both solutions solve related but distinct problems. Understanding this difference prevents you from picking a tool that complicates your workflow.<\/p>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Transactional infrastructure prioritizes integration, events, and technical performance. A marketing platform focuses on contacts, content, segmentation, automation, and campaign reports.<\/p>\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table\"><table class=\"has-fixed-layout\"><thead><tr><th>Need<\/th><th>Mailgun<\/th><th>Email marketing platform<\/th><\/tr><\/thead><tbody><tr><td>Confirmations and app alerts<\/td><td>Main focus<\/td><td>Available depending on the platform<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>API or SMTP integration<\/td><td>Advanced and technical<\/td><td>More guided and accessible<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Newsletters and promotional campaigns<\/td><td>Possible, but not its main focus<\/td><td>Main focus<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Contact management<\/td><td>Less geared towards daily marketing tasks<\/td><td>Centralized in the dashboard<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Visual editor<\/td><td>Focused on email templates<\/td><td>Designed for frequent campaigns<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Segmentation and personalization<\/td><td>Depends on the custom integration<\/td><td>Available to the marketing team<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Commercial automations<\/td><td>Requires more development or add-ons<\/td><td>Created through visual workflows<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Coding-free autonomy<\/td><td>Limited<\/td><td>High<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">If your company combines transactional emails with campaigns, it&#8217;s a good idea to evaluate both workflows. You also need to decide who will manage them week to week.<\/p>\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Why Mailrelay is a good alternative to Mailgun<\/h2>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">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.<\/p>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Our solution is an especially great fit when marketing needs autonomy. You can manage contacts, design newsletters, and create automations without writing any code.<\/p>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Plus, we offer <a href=\"https:\/\/mailrelay.com\/en\/transactional-emails\/\">transactional emails via SMTP and API<\/a>. This covers common use cases straight from a website, CRM, store, or app.<\/p>\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">A Mailgun alternative designed for campaigns<\/h3>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">With our <a href=\"https:\/\/mailrelay.com\/en\/email-marketing\/\">email marketing software<\/a>, you can import contacts, prepare newsletters, and schedule campaigns. The visual editor speeds up the design process and even supports AI-generated content.<\/p>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">You can segment your database using groups, tags, custom fields, and conditions. That way, every contact receives more relevant messages.<\/p>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">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.<\/p>\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Easy automation for marketing teams<\/h3>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Mailrelay includes a visual editor to build automated customer journeys. You can set up welcome emails, drip campaigns, reminders, or abandoned cart sequences.<\/p>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Triggers launch actions based on sign-ups, dates, groups, or tags. You can also add conditions and branches without building an integration from scratch.<\/p>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">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.<\/p>\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">API and SMTP server to connect your systems<\/h3>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">A true Mailgun alternative has to offer reliable integration paths. That&#8217;s why Mailrelay features a REST API, webhooks, and an SMTP connection.<\/p>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">You can check out our <a href=\"https:\/\/apidocs.mailrelay.com\/\">API documentation<\/a> to review the available resources. These include sending, campaigns, contacts, groups, imports, and A\/B testing.<\/p>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">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.<\/p>\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Free plan and support from day one<\/h3>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Mailrelay&#8217;s free account lets you send up to 80,000 emails a month. It also supports a list of up to 20,000 contacts.<\/p>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">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.<\/p>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Our human support is also available on the free account, via ticket. If a question comes up, you can talk to a team that knows the platform.<\/p>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">You can check the latest details on our <a href=\"https:\/\/mailrelay.com\/en\/pricing\/\">email marketing plans and pricing<\/a> page.<\/p>\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Mailgun vs Mailrelay comparison<\/h2>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The table below summarizes the most important differences. Use it as a starting point, then validate your technical requirements.<\/p>\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table\"><table class=\"has-fixed-layout\"><thead><tr><th>Criterion<\/th><th>Mailgun<\/th><th>Mailrelay<\/th><\/tr><\/thead><tbody><tr><td>Focus<\/td><td>Email infrastructure for developers<\/td><td>Accessible email marketing with integration options<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Primary user<\/td><td>Technical and product teams<\/td><td>Marketing, SMBs, agencies, and mixed teams<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Transactional email<\/td><td>API and SMTP as the core service<\/td><td>SMTP and API available for transactional cases<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Mass campaigns<\/td><td>Not its core experience<\/td><td>Creation, scheduling, and tracking from the dashboard<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Editor<\/td><td>Templates for programmatic sending<\/td><td>Visual editor with AI writing features<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Contacts<\/td><td>Requires a more technical approach<\/td><td>Groups, tags, fields, and segments<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Automation<\/td><td>Highly flexible through development<\/td><td>Visual workflows for common automations<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>A\/B testing<\/td><td>Features tied to setup and the product<\/td><td>Included to optimize campaigns<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Reports<\/td><td>Events, logs, and technical metrics<\/td><td>Campaign reports, automations, and click maps<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Support<\/td><td>Varies by plan<\/td><td>Tickets on every plan, including the free one; chat from Standard and phone on Enterprise<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Free plan<\/td><td>100 emails a day<\/td><td>Up to 80,000 emails a month and 20,000 contacts<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>First paid plan<\/td><td>Basic: $15 a month for 10,000 emails<\/td><td>Standard: \u20ac48 a month for 100,000 emails<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>100,000 emails a month<\/td><td>Scale: $90 a month<\/td><td>Standard: \u20ac48 a month; Enterprise: \u20ac67 a month, with opens and clicks<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Servers<\/td><td>In the US or the EU<\/td><td>In the EU<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Connection to ChatGPT or Claude (MCP)<\/td><td>Open-source MCP server that you install on your computer<\/td><td>MCP server in beta, enabled via ticket, also on the free account<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><em>Mailgun prices checked on its website in October 2026, excluding taxes. They may change.<\/em><\/p>\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1672\" height=\"941\" src=\"https:\/\/mailrelay.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/api-envio-frente-plataforma-email-marketing.png\" alt=\"Infographic comparing an API sending infrastructure with an email marketing platform: who uses it, main use, how you work with it, and contacts\" class=\"wp-image-106915\" srcset=\"https:\/\/mailrelay.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/api-envio-frente-plataforma-email-marketing.png 1672w, https:\/\/mailrelay.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/api-envio-frente-plataforma-email-marketing-300x169.png 300w, https:\/\/mailrelay.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/api-envio-frente-plataforma-email-marketing-1024x576.png 1024w, https:\/\/mailrelay.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/api-envio-frente-plataforma-email-marketing-768x432.png 768w, https:\/\/mailrelay.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/api-envio-frente-plataforma-email-marketing-1536x864.png 1536w, https:\/\/mailrelay.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/api-envio-frente-plataforma-email-marketing-110x62.png 110w, https:\/\/mailrelay.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/api-envio-frente-plataforma-email-marketing-60x34.png 60w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1672px) 100vw, 1672px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">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.<\/p>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Mailrelay is more convenient if you want to centralize marketing and reduce technical tasks. Plus, it keeps API and SMTP to integrate the sending you need.<\/p>\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">When to choose Mailrelay as an alternative to Mailgun<\/h2>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Mailrelay could be your best alternative to Mailgun if several of these conditions apply:<\/p>\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Your marketing team needs to work without relying on developers.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>You want to build newsletters with a visual editor.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>You need to manage and segment contacts on the same platform.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>You&#8217;re looking for simple, useful automations.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>You want to test things out with a generous free volume.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>You value having human support right from the free plan.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>You need clear reports to optimize campaigns.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>You also want to connect a website, CRM, or store via API or SMTP.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Before making a choice, separate your marketing and transactional needs. Then, assign a monthly volume to each bucket.<\/p>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">This exercise keeps you from comparing pricing that covers entirely different services. It also reveals how much technical time each Mailgun alternative requires.<\/p>\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">When it makes sense to stick with Mailgun<\/h2>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">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.<\/p>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">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.<\/p>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">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.<\/p>\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">How to migrate from Mailgun to Mailrelay step by step<\/h2>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">An orderly migration protects deliverability and minimizes downtime. Avoid overhauling your entire infrastructure in one go.<\/p>\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">1. Classify your current emails<\/h3>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Separate campaigns, automations, and transactional messages. Jot down the volume, frequency, sender, and owner for each workflow.<\/p>\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">2. Export contacts and preserve consent<\/h3>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Prep your lists in CSV format and remove any duplicates. Be sure to keep the date, source, and consent status as well.<\/p>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Don&#8217;t import addresses that have bounced, unsubscribed, or complained. This cleanup protects your reputation right from your very first send.<\/p>\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">3. Set up your sender domain<\/h3>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Add the required authentication records for your domain. Double-check your SPF, DKIM, and DMARC before sending out live campaigns.<\/p>\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">4. Recreate templates and automations<\/h3>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Adapt your designs to the Mailrelay editor. After that, rebuild the workflows and test every trigger, condition, and link.<\/p>\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">5. Connect SMTP or API where needed<\/h3>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Update the credentials in your app, CRM, or store. If you&#8217;re using the API, adapt your calls and webhooks to the new documentation.<\/p>\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">6. Run controlled tests<\/h3>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Send to an internal group and a few test accounts first. Check the content, personalization, links, bounces, and event logging.<\/p>\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">7. Ramp up the volume gradually<\/h3>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">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.<\/p>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">If you need a WordPress integration, check out our <a href=\"https:\/\/mailrelay.com\/en\/plugins-tools\/\">plugins and tools<\/a>. You can also ask our team for help during setup.<\/p>\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">What to check before signing up for a Mailgun alternative<\/h2>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">A feature comparison table doesn&#8217;t tell the whole story. You also need to weigh the daily workload the platform will demand.<\/p>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Review these criteria before you decide:<\/p>\n\n<ol class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Email type:<\/strong> transactional, promotional, or both.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Monthly volume:<\/strong> factor in seasonal spikes and projected growth.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Technical resources:<\/strong> calculate the hours needed for development and maintenance.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Contact management:<\/strong> check for segments, fields, unsubscribes, and duplicates.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Automation:<\/strong> define the workflows you&#8217;re actually going to use.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Deliverability:<\/strong> check authentication, bounces, and <a href=\"https:\/\/mailrelay.com\/en\/glossary\/sender-score-reputation\/\">sender reputation<\/a>.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Reports:<\/strong> decide which metrics each team needs.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Support:<\/strong> confirm available channels, hours, and plan conditions.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Total cost:<\/strong> add up the subscription, add-ons, and internal time.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The best Mailgun alternative is the one that fits your process. It should also give the right people the autonomy to do their jobs.<\/p>\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">How Mailrelay helps you<\/h2>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Mailgun is a powerful option for integrating transactional email into digital products. Its technical focus provides flexibility for development teams.<\/p>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Mailrelay covers a broader marketing need. From a single platform, you can manage contacts, campaigns, automations, A\/B testing, and reports.<\/p>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Plus, we offer API and SMTP to connect transactional emails. This combination bridges the gap between marketing and tech.<\/p>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">If you&#8217;re looking for a simple and cost-effective alternative to Mailgun, <a href=\"https:\/\/mailrelay.com\/en\/\">try Mailrelay for free<\/a>. You can evaluate the editor, segmentation, and automations with your own use cases.<\/p>\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group has-very-light-gray-background-color has-background\" style=\"border-radius:8px;padding-top:24px;padding-right:28px;padding-bottom:24px;padding-left:28px\"><div class=\"wp-block-group__inner-container is-layout-flow wp-block-group-is-layout-flow\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Start free with Mailrelay<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Up to 80,000 emails a month, a visual editor, and automations, with human support on every plan.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-buttons is-layout-flex wp-block-buttons-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-button is-style-mailrelay-primary-button\"><a class=\"wp-block-button__link wp-element-button\" href=\"https:\/\/mailrelay.com\/en\/signup\/?utm_medium=cta&#038;utm_campaign=mailgun\">Try Mailrelay for free<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Frequently asked questions about Mailgun and its best alternative<\/h2>\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">What is Mailgun?<\/h3>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Mailgun is an email delivery platform geared towards developers. It lets you integrate transactional emails via API or SMTP and track delivery events.<\/p>\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">What is Mailgun used for?<\/h3>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Mailgun is used to send messages from websites and apps. Common use cases include confirmations, invoices, alerts, and password recoveries.<\/p>\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Is Mailgun good for email marketing?<\/h3>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">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.<\/p>\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">What is the best alternative to Mailgun?<\/h3>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">It depends on your use case. Mailrelay is a strong Mailgun alternative for businesses that prioritize campaigns, segmentation, simple automation, support, and cost control.<\/p>\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Can Mailrelay send transactional emails?<\/h3>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Yes. At Mailrelay, we offer transactional sending via SMTP and API. You can connect it to your website, CRM, online store, or app.<\/p>\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Does Mailrelay have an API and SMTP server?<\/h3>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Yes. Mailrelay features a REST API and SMTP connection. These options let you integrate internal systems and automate different types of sending.<\/p>\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Do I need technical skills to use Mailrelay?<\/h3>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Not for creating campaigns, managing contacts, or designing standard automations. However, a custom API integration might require technical support.<\/p>\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Does Mailgun require coding skills?<\/h3>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">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.<\/p>\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Is Mailgun free?<\/h3>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">It has a free plan with 100 emails a day. Paid plans start at $15 a month for 10,000 emails (October 2026). Since its terms may change, check its pricing page before deciding.<\/p>\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">How much can I send for free with Mailrelay?<\/h3>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The free account lets you send up to 80,000 emails a month. You can manage up to 20,000 contacts and get human support via ticket.<\/p>\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Does switching from Mailgun automatically improve deliverability?<\/h3>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">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.<\/p>\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Can I migrate my contacts from Mailgun to Mailrelay?<\/h3>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">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.<\/p>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n","protected":false},"template":"","class_list":["post-91644","glossary","type-glossary","status-publish","hentry"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v28.7 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Mailgun: what it is, pricing, and the best alternative<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"What Mailgun is, what it&#039;s used for, how much it costs, and how it differs from Mailrelay, the alternative with 80,000 free emails a month and human support on every plan.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/mailrelay.com\/en\/glossary\/mailgun\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Mailgun: what it is, pricing, and the best alternative\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"What Mailgun is, what it&#039;s used for, how much it costs, and how it differs from Mailrelay, the alternative with 80,000 free emails a month and human support on every plan.\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/mailrelay.com\/en\/glossary\/mailgun\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"Mailrelay\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:publisher\" content=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/Mailrelay\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2026-10-27T19:10:56+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/mailrelay.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/como-funciona-envio-email-api.png\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"1672\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"941\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/png\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:site\" content=\"@mailrelay\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"13 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\\\/\\\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/mailrelay.com\\\/en\\\/glossary\\\/mailgun\\\/\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/mailrelay.com\\\/en\\\/glossary\\\/mailgun\\\/\",\"name\":\"Mailgun: what it is, pricing, and the best alternative\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/mailrelay.com\\\/en\\\/#website\"},\"primaryImageOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/mailrelay.com\\\/en\\\/glossary\\\/mailgun\\\/#primaryimage\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/mailrelay.com\\\/en\\\/glossary\\\/mailgun\\\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/mailrelay.com\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2026\\\/10\\\/como-funciona-envio-email-api.png\",\"datePublished\":\"2026-09-03T20:11:07+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2026-10-27T19:10:56+00:00\",\"description\":\"What Mailgun is, what it's used for, how much it costs, and how it differs from Mailrelay, the alternative with 80,000 free emails a month and human support on every plan.\",\"breadcrumb\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/mailrelay.com\\\/en\\\/glossary\\\/mailgun\\\/#breadcrumb\"},\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"ReadAction\",\"target\":[\"https:\\\/\\\/mailrelay.com\\\/en\\\/glossary\\\/mailgun\\\/\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/mailrelay.com\\\/en\\\/glossary\\\/mailgun\\\/#primaryimage\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/mailrelay.com\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2026\\\/10\\\/como-funciona-envio-email-api.png\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/mailrelay.com\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2026\\\/10\\\/como-funciona-envio-email-api.png\"},{\"@type\":\"BreadcrumbList\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/mailrelay.com\\\/en\\\/glossary\\\/mailgun\\\/#breadcrumb\",\"itemListElement\":[{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":1,\"name\":\"Home\",\"item\":\"https:\\\/\\\/mailrelay.com\\\/en\\\/\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":2,\"name\":\"Mailgun\"}]},{\"@type\":\"WebSite\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/mailrelay.com\\\/en\\\/#website\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/mailrelay.com\\\/en\\\/\",\"name\":\"Mailrelay\",\"description\":\"Mailrelay.com - 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It lets you send transactional emails via API or SMTP, validate addresses, and monitor deliverability. If you&#8217;re looking for campaigns, contact management, and automation from a simple dashboard, Mailrelay can be a more practical and cost-effective alternative to Mailgun. This service is a great&hellip;","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/mailrelay.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/glossary\/91644","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/mailrelay.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/glossary"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/mailrelay.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/glossary"}],"version-history":[{"count":6,"href":"https:\/\/mailrelay.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/glossary\/91644\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":110462,"href":"https:\/\/mailrelay.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/glossary\/91644\/revisions\/110462"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/mailrelay.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=91644"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}