Resend vs Amazon SES

The email API that actually works, because who has time for SMTP headaches? meets aws's email cannon: powerful for bulk blasts, but good luck navigating the pricing maze. Here's our take.

Resend

Nice Pick

The email API that actually works, because who has time for SMTP headaches?

Pros

• React Email
• Great DX
• Modern API
• Good free tier
• Dead-simple API that gets emails out the door in minutes
• Built-in analytics and webhooks for real-time tracking
• High deliverability rates without the black-box magic
• Clean, modern dashboard that doesn't make you want to cry

Cons

• Newer
• Less features
• Smaller scale
• Limited to email—no SMS or other channels, so you'll need another tool for that
• Pricing can get spicy if you're blasting millions of emails monthly

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

The Verdict

Use Resend if: You want react email and can live with newer.

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

The Bottom Line

Resend wins

The email API that actually works, because who has time for SMTP headaches?