Email service provider MailChimp recently made a move that Mandrill, email delivery API used to send transactional emails by developers will become an add-on for monthly paid MailChimp accounts.
Regarding this announcement we wrote a blog post on Mandrill Alternative SMTP Relays where we discussed the expected changes and impact on existing transactional email users.
As Mandrill merger with its parent company “MailChimp”, here are few repercussions to be expected:
- Mandrill will not be a free standalone transactional email marketing solution
- Users need to have a monthly paid MailChimp account if they are to use Mandrill as a transactional email marketing solution
- The privacy policy has been changed accordingly and resulted in enabling MailChimp to snoop Mandrill users activity data, if they wish so
- MailChimp is trying to force its paid email solution to the loyal and long-standing Mandrill users which they neither require nor intend to use
In short, this decision of merging Mandrill services with MailChimp is a strategic move to weed out bad accounts and to improve the revenues for MailChimp.
Some users utilized the Mandrill free service for unlawful activities like sending spams.
Also, this strategic decision was taken consciously to make sure that small businesses and users who could not afford to pay for a high-end service would move away from MailChimp.
Cost Effective Mandrill Alternative SMTP Relays
Today, we wanted to introduce about eight most reliable Mandrill alternatives.
1. Aritic Mail – High End Email Delivery API
Aritic Mail is transactional only email delivery API provider for software applications & Enterprise, which deliver emails on time to public & business inbox of the recipients through dedicated and shared IP infrastructure.
It monitors email sending reputation of the organization through real-time domain & IP monitoring.
Using this API you can start sending transactional email notification within minutes. The robust cloud API can process inbound emails, track open & clicks, handle bounce & spam complaints effectively. For high volume email senders, scalable managed email delivery service is provided.
Aritic Mail RESTful API easily integrates with Curl, Ruby, Python, Php, Java, C# and other languages, which can be scaled quickly with large infrastructure and complex applications. Webhooks can be used to process events effortlessly.
Price Plan: Aritic Mail transactional email price plan starts from 25,000 emails priced at $29; sold with number of blocks which are non expiring credits, only for transactional email delivery API use. You can signup for 10,000 free credits with Aritic Mail from here.
Other features include:
- Supports high delivery of transactional only emails
- Great for transactional emails
- Shared IP uses
- Dedicated IP add-on available
- Advanced SSL Features
- Device detection
- High email sending speed
- Domain Reputation Management Console
- Sending Domain Management console
- Robust data analysis
- No marketing email support
- No Bulk email sending support
- Email Journaling
2. Amazon SES
Amazon web services (AWS) is a business unit within “Amazon.com”, was officially launched in 2006. It provides online services (web services) for other websites and client-side applications on a cloud platform offered by its parent organization, “Amazon.com”. All these cloud services are billed based on the usage of the services.
Amazon Simple Email Service (Amazon SES) is an economic cloud platform based email service built on the reliable, global and scalable “Amazon” infrastructure. Amazon SES has many sophisticated features which make it a perfect solution as an Mandrill Alternative SMTP Relays.
Moreover, with this solution, you only pay for what you use, without bothering about the high setup and infrastructure costs.
Price Plan: If you are an existing EC2 user, you can start with Amazon SES for free. You can send 62,000 emails each month for free and receive 1,000 emails per month for free. Outgoing emails are changed at $1 per 10,000 emails only. Check complete price detail. This is one of the cheapest Mandrill Alternative SMTP Relays.
Other features include:
- Supports transactional and bulk emails
- Good for transactional emails
- Only Shared IP uses
- Geo-restriction feature
- Advanced SSL Features
- Device detection
- High email sending speed
- Wildcard domain name
- Management console
- Robust data analysis
- Marketing emails need to have personalization for better delivery
Amazon SES is little tricky to setup and integrate with EasySendy Pro. You need to follow complete Amazon SES integration guide.
In case of any issue, EasySendy Pro support team is always up for the help with true integration. Form here learn more about email marketing with amazon ses.
3. Sparkpost
The first of the Mandrill Alternative SMTP Relays is the Sparkpost. Since 2001, Message Systems (SparkPost parent company) has built quite a reputation in email marketing platform.
It is because Message Systems easily outperforms any other cloud or on-premises email marketing alternative, and provides the flexibility, deliverability, and control that is an absolute must in a volume email service to drive the highest possible customer engagement for businesses.
Together, Message Systems customers send more than 3 trillion emails per year — that is, more than 25% of the world’s legitimate emails.
Message Systems provide Momentum — a premier email platform — for the most demanding businesses in the world. SparkPost provides the same features, power, and functionality to businesses of all sizes in an easily accessible cloud platform.
SparkPost is an email delivery service based on the Momentum platform from Message Systems.
Customers get the same deliverability, scalability, features, flexibility and speed as is provided to the biggest and most renowned senders in the world, in an easily integrable cloud service, while at the same time complying with the best email sending practices.
Whether it be sending transactional emails, dynamically personalizing content or managing multiple marketing campaigns, one can count on SparkPost for providing seamless integration, highest inbox placement rates, top-notch deliverability rates, unsurpassed performance and real-time insight.
Price Plan: 100,000 Free emails each month, Pro 100,000 $24.99, Super 1,000,000 $199.99. Check complete price detail.
Other features include:
- Supports transactional and bulk emails
- Unsurpassed deliverability
- Flexibility and scalability
- Supercharged speed
- Seamless integration
- Highest inbox placement rates
- Unmatched performance
- Real-time insights
- Actionable real-time analytics
- Quick integration with SMTP, APIs, and pre-built client libraries
- APIs served over HTTPS for most top security
- Access and integrate data in real-time with webhooks
- Dedicated IP Address
Follow instruction guide for complete integration of Sparkpost with Easysendy Pro.
4. MailGun
MailGun as an Mandrill Alternative SMTP Relays is a global company with more than 300,000 customers spread over 120 countries and overall annual revenue of $1.9 billion. It is an email automation engine used and trusted by over 10,000 website and application developers for sending, receiving and tracking emails.
The managed service will make sure of the high delivery rates for emails, analyze performance, track sent emails and even provides consultation for best email practices.
Their managed cloud services boast of an industry-leading 100% network uptime guarantee and its global infrastructure allows emails to be delivered at top notch speeds. Mailgun keeps track of all of the email statistics that includes the location of the email recipients, their devices, and email clients, the links they clicked on, and much more.
Users do not need even to log in to their Mailgun account to check their email statistics.
Mailgun can push a webhook to the user’s app ( like EasySendy Pro), whenever an action takes place on the sent emails.
The MailGun API offers much more than just sending the emails. Users can send up to a thousand personalized email messages with a single API call, making it effortless to send out bulk mailings from an app.
Moreover, users can use tags to segregate their email lists better, run A/B tests or customize their emails specifically for their niche audience from EasySendy Pro.
On top of that, users can keep the conversation going with their audience through Mailgun’s inbound routing.
One exceptionally useful feature of the MailGun plugin is that it allows users to send emails even when the server does not support SMTP protocol or when the outbound SMTP is restricted since the plug-in uses the Mailgun HTTP API for sending emails in its default configuration.
Price Plan: 10,000 Free emails each month, 100,000 for $45, 300,000 for $145 and 700,000 for $316.5 per month. Check complete price detail.
Other features include:
- Supports transactional and bulk emails
- Good email delivery rate
- Dedicated IP pool available
- Optimized deliverability
- Batch sending
- Scheduled delivery
- MIME Assembly
- Detailed event tracking
- Geolocation data on recipients
- Top performing links
- Customized DKIM and SPF
- Test mode available
- SMTP or RESTful HTTP API
- White labeled sending domains
- Email address validation
Follow instruction guide for complete integration of Mailgun with Easysendy Pro.
5. LeaderSend
LeaderSend is a self-managed, cloud-based transactional message service providing state-of-the-art global and robust email delivery infrastructure for creating, sending and tracking fully personalized emails.
It provides in-depth reports and summary of the emails sent to make sure they get delivered and read by the subscribers.This is a much detailed Mandrill Alternative SMTP Relays as it provides in-depth reports.
Using LeaderSend, users can effortlessly create and automate transactional emails. Email delivery is the single-minded focus for LeaderSend. As 20% of legitimate emails never get to reach the inbox, LeaderSend has built a robust cloud-based email infrastructure that ensures that emails do get delivered to the subscriber’s inbox without any hiccups.
Price Plan: Bronze plan includes sending 50,000 emails for $10 per month, 100,000 emails for $19 per month, Silver plan includes 500,000 emails for $90 per month and 1,000,000 emails for $170 per month. Gold 2,000,000 $300 Gold 5,000,000 $500 per month. Check complete price detail.
Other features include:
- Support only transactional emails
- Real-time Email Tracking & Reporting
- Quick & Easy Integration
- Email Authentication
- Message Personalization
- Increased Delivery
- Optimized IP Reputation
- Can be used only for transactional emails
Also, you should take a note that LeaderSend do not allow bulk marketing emails on their transactional email server. With EasySendy Pro you can only use this SMTP relay to send triggered emails.
6. ElasticEmail
ElasticEmail was created with the specific goal of setting up the world’s most efficient and environment-friendly email delivery platform.
For that, a hyper-efficient platform needed to be established using the latest available technologies. With ElasticEmail each and every line of code has been written by their team right down to the protocol level.
Also, a global network of inbound and outbound servers were created which could intelligently identify from where an email is coming and where it must go so that the email can be delivered efficiently through the shortest route possible.
Investing in a globally spread infrastructure and latest and efficient technologies allows ElasticEmail to be one of the most efficient and lowest cost providers of email marketing solution while maintaining the industry standards in reliability, scalability, and deliverability proving it to have the easiest set up out of all the Mandrill Alternative SMTP Relays.
Price Plan: Send 25,000 emails for free each month, 1,025,000 emails for $190 and 4,025,000 emails for $610 only. Check complete price detail.
Other features include:
- Supports transactional and bulk emails
- Email Open and Click Tracking
- Contact History Tracking and Statistics
- Email White Labeling
- Beautiful Email Template Editor
- HTTP and SMTP API
- Sub Accounts
- Inbound Email API
- Detailed Statistics by Delivery Channel
- Private IPs and Private IP Pools
- Litmus Testing ($1.00/test)
- Contact Ranking and Profiling
- Whitelisting of IPs
- Real-time domain specific delivery statistics for each IP
- Personalized delivery support by our world class delivery team
Follow instruction guide for complete integration of ElasticEmail with Easysendy Pro.
7. SendGrid
Founded in 2009, SendGrid developed an industry-disrupting, cloud-based email service to solve the continuing challenges of reliably in delivering emails. SendGrid’s trusted platform, tools, and expert support team make it effortless for developers and marketers to create, segregate, test and successfully deliver emails to their subscribers.
Whether sending transactional or marketing email, Sendgrid provides users with the industry’s best reliability, scalability, and email deliverability.
SendGrid’s cloud-based email delivery infrastructure enables users to send email in a cost-effective manner without having to create and maintain their in-house email infrastructure.
SendGrid’s scalable infrastructure and flexible APIs allow users the ability to integrate smoothly and scale, reducing the complexity of their SMTP infrastructure, and removing the cost of maintaining their own infrastructure.
Price Plan: Essentials – Send 40,000 emails at $9.95, Send 100,000 emails at $19.95, Pro – Send 100,000 emails at $79.95, Send 300,000 emails at $199.95 and 700,000 emails at $399.95. Check complete price detail.
Other features include:
- Supports transactional and bulk emails
- Excellent inbox delivery
- Easy to integrate with simple SMTP setup, flexible web and SMTP APIs
- Easy to use interface
- Advanced IP and user management
- Customized white labeling
- Easy template editing
- Advanced analytics and reporting
- Manage email suppression and unsubscribe groups
- Customer focused security and privacy
Follow instruction guide for complete integration of SendGrid with Easysendy Pro.
8. Dyn
Dyn is a cloud platform based “Internet Performance Management” company. It helps organizations monitor, control, and optimize online infrastructure for an exceptional end-user experience.
All dyn’s customers, together, send over a billion emails a month. It’s cloud platform based email delivery service improving email delivery rates in the subscriber’s inbox and helps users better leverage emails in their business operations.
Rich real-time tracking analytics such as open and click metrics allows for better custom-targeted email campaigns. Email delivery supports both dedicated and shared IP pools.
It improves inbox placement of emails by eliminating the sending infrastructure’s reputation as a factor. Users can gain visibility into the effectiveness of their sent emails with detailed email delivery reports.
Users can get insight into the recipient’s behavior by tracking opens, clicks, complaints and list unsubscribes thus making it a good Mandrill Alternative SMTP Relays . Along with the standard reports, custom reports can be created using the data provided by APIs or postback service. It backs email delivery solution with unparalleled email deliverability expertise.
Price Plan: You need to contact the customer support from here.
Other features include:
- Supports transactional and bulk emails
- Good inbox delivery
- For basic plan, customer supports only for 12X5
- Open and click tracking
- IP pool flexibility
- Advanced tagging and segmentation
- API Integration
- Postback service
- Deliverability support
- Dedicated email reputation management team
- Proactive deliverability monitoring
- Customized delivery settings
These are the most cost effective Mandrill Alternative SMTP Relays . Consider the most feasible one based on your marketing budget and other constraints.
Frequently Asked Questions
⭐ What is mandrill email?
Mandrill consists of an email infrastructure service for delivering personalised transactional emails using SMTP or API in a short period.
⭐ What is the difference between mandrill and Easysendy?
Mandrill is an SMTP relay server or we can say that transactional email delivery system and Easysendy is hybrid email marketing software for small business
⭐ How do I send an email using mandrill?
First, create an account in EasySendy, then you have to add Mandrill. Don’t miss to set up and configure your domain for sending emails from Mandrill. You have to view and follow DKIM/SPF setup instructions once the domain gets added. In Mandrill, you need to create a new API Key. Scroll down in the settings until you can see the email, then click on that button.
⭐ What is the best SMTP server?
EasySendy comprises the best SMTP email relay server for delivering a high volume of transactional emails to the subscribers without getting labelled as spam.
⭐ Can I send email without SMTP server?
You should send email through specified SMTP server otherwise, you will receive a mail from SMTP server for the failure in sending email.
Ankit, I am interested in what you’re up to at EasySendy. Please shoot me a msg.
AVOID SPARKPOST
SparkPost is a new Scammer in the place of Email Marketing.
They canceled our account only 48 hours after payment claiming that our complaint rate was too high.
Out of 27.000 emails sent, we had 150 bounces = 0.5% which is a very low bounce rate in any given industry. (we have made a screenshot showing these data).
The way they communicate with us is like a Police Investigation, or even worst since they assume clearly that you are guilty!
On Top of this, You can see on the Home Page of their website that they use very poor Marketing Pratices : Welcome Mandrill Customers! Here’s your migration guide. They want to take over the customers of Mandrill, their main competitor, with agressive Marketing.
Don’t be fooled by their low prices, there is NO service behind, and they use scammer practices
Great insights. The SMTPs you have mentioned are very popular. My organisation is using Amazon SES which is proven reliable to us.The idea of using multiple SMTPs for email marketing is very interesting, I would love to execute it in future.
Selecting best SMTP is the essential part of your email marketing.I have tried few SMTP’s which is mentioned in this blog,and I agree on the point that they are reliable than Mandrill.My personal favourite is Elastic Mail; it’s very user-friendly.
Sparkpost : “Unsurpassed deliverability” ? Is it by experience or are you quoting them ?
I came here actually because some of the Sparkpost shared IP don’t have a good reputation and don’t deliver emails to hotmail account, and looking for a solution or alternative to that..
Hey Fab, great to hear from you.
In order to resolve this issue; you can try out SparkPost dedicated IP; or you can also use SendGrid. Both of them on dedicated IP have great result.
What took me to my surprise is the fact that you provide me with 12 SMTP relay servers all at once at such a cheap rate. I earlier used MailChimp and was mainly dependent on Mandrill. But this drastic change in the cost was an obvious drawback. That’s when I came across Easysendy Pro. Its very cost effective and provides a lot more features which do stand up to my expectation! This blog is apt to the situation I faced almost a year ago!
The blog will give you a clear picture about Mandrill the transactional e-mail API. One can easily understand the reasons behind Mandrill to be a better platform. The points discussed are very precise and effective even for a layman. It also highlights some of the alternative choices of Mandrill like Dyn, SendGrid, and Elastic E-mail etc. The blog also focuses on the different price plan of the various features. Do read for a better knowledge.
Thank you Charlotte!
Ankit, can you recommend some addons, which makes the sendy an automations like active campaign.
I hope that is possible.
Cheers
Suresh
Hey Suresh,
As of now there are no plugins available of this kind for Sendy.
Such a great article, thank you! It is good to know about the impending merging of Mandrill services with MailChimp. It is a wise measure to wipe out bad accounts and to scale up the revenues for MailChimp. Also, this merger will prevent businesses and users moving away from MailChimp due to higher rates.
You’ve have covered the most cost effective Mandrill Alternative SMTP Relays.
Sparkpost looks especially good. I will surely consider one of them soon.
SMTP relays the most reliable Mandrill alternatives for the users switching from mandrill. Alternatives which the users can go for are Sparkpost, Amazon SES, Mailgun, Leadersend, Elastic email, Sendgrid and Dyn which can serve the users brilliantly.
I liked the idea of using multiple SMTPs for email marketing, it is indeed very out of the ordinary, I would love to execute it in future. Also not to forget, selecting the best SMTP is the essential part of email marketing. This blog gave me a clear picture of 12 SMTP relay servers, all that are such low-priced.
Hi Ankith! You have provided a useful and ingenious list of reliable mandrill alternative SMTP relays. When I read Aritic mail topping the list, I was hesitant about accepting it as an alternative to mandrill but when I checked out its free trial, I am entirely convinced.
This alternative SMTP Relays, with price plans and features list is a wonderful guide to judge the features of various best SMTP relays available. It helped me to consider the most feasible one based on my budget.
Amazon SES is available at a lower price but there are so many feature that are not available like Open Tracking and Click Tracking and also no Custom-Pricing for Big Senders I think Aritic Mail looks good and I will definitely give it a try!
Aritic mail features looks good and that too at a reasonable price! I would love to try it out.
I have signed up for Aritic Mail and I think it is indeed a tuff competitor for other transactional email delivery systems.
We are big fans of Amazon SES. Great service, reliable, just works. Avoid Sparkpost. Their support is not helpful, service is subpar.
I tried sparkpost, didn’t really enjoy their service. I have been using Aritic for a while now. No doubt that it is reliable.
After reading the article, I got an idea about the different cost-effective Mandrill Alternative SMTP Relays.
Great insights! Thanks a lot for sharing such an exciting and competitive list of 8 Most Reliable Mandrill Alternative SMTP Relays.
Ankit, It’s an interesting article as you can read a lot about the impending merging of Mandrill services with MailChimp.
Insightful article and it satisfied my hunger for learning about mandrill alternative SMTP relays for today. Looking for further detailed blogs in the future.
Insightful article and it satisfied my hunger for learning about mandrill alternative SMTP relays for today. Looking for further detailed blogs in the future.
Selecting the best SMTP is vital part of email marketing. Even I also agree that they are more reliable than Mandrill.
Bang on! Thank you for introducing the eight essential Mandrill alternatives SMTP relays. After reading this article, we got a deeper understanding of different reliable and cost-effective Mandrill services.
Thanks for providing a helpful list of reliable mandrill alternative SMTP relays. When I read this article, I got the detailed pricing plans and features to select the best one for my business based on my budget.
Bang on! I’m glad that you have shared a piece of content on Mandrill’s alternative SMTP relays. I would implement these tips for my upcoming email campaigns.
Thumbs up! I’m overwhelmed to see this article for optimizing the email campaigns and driving higher conversion rates.