Amazon SES vs SendGrid

AWS's email cannon: powerful for bulk blasts, but good luck navigating the pricing maze meets the email delivery workhorse that makes sending transactional emails feel like a breeze, until you hit the pricing wall. Here's our take.

Amazon SES

AWS's email cannon: powerful for bulk blasts, but good luck navigating the pricing maze.

Pros

• Highly scalable and reliable for sending millions of emails
• Integrates seamlessly with other AWS services like S3 and Lambda
• Built-in bounce handling and feedback loops improve deliverability

Cons

• Complex pricing structure with hidden costs for attachments and data transfer
• Steep learning curve for beginners, especially with AWS console navigation

SendGrid

Nice Pick

The email delivery workhorse that makes sending transactional emails feel like a breeze, until you hit the pricing wall.

Pros

• Scalable
• Marketing + transactional
• Mature
• Reliable deliverability with strong inbox placement rates
• Easy-to-use APIs and SMTP integration for quick setup
• Comprehensive analytics and tracking tools for email performance

Cons

• Clunky UI
• Support issues
• Twilio complexity
• Pricing can escalate quickly with high email volumes
• Limited customization options for advanced email workflows

The Verdict

Use SendGrid if: You want scalable and can live with clunky ui.

Use Amazon SES if: You prioritize highly scalable and reliable for sending millions of emails over what SendGrid offers.

The Bottom Line

SendGrid wins

The email delivery workhorse that makes sending transactional emails feel like a breeze, until you hit the pricing wall.