SendGrid Email API: Mailgun, Amazon SES, Bird, and Mailchimp Compared
Trusted by top brands to deliver email at scale, the SendGrid Email API is a developer-friendly choice that integrates quickly so you can get set up and start sending.
How does the SendGrid Email API compare?
You know the SendGrid Email API scales, delivering 190+ billion emails monthly. But how does it stack up for deliverability, pricing, and support?
|
Consideration |
SendGrid |
Amazon SES |
Mailgun |
Bird |
Mailchimp |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Publicly reported send volume |
Sent 2.4T emails in 2025 and 75.1B during Cyber Week 2025 |
Not publicly disclosed |
Sends over 450B emails annually, and delivered 20.4B emails during Cyber Week 2025 |
Sends 40B emails annually, and 19.9B emails during Cyber Week 2025 |
Not publicly disclosed |
|
Deliverability metrics |
SendGrid Engagement Quality Score (SEQ), a composite reputation score. SEQ is available to all customers by default, no additional tier required |
Access to additional metrics in console gated behind Virtual Deliverability Manager (additional cost) |
Advanced analytics, including Email Health Score, only accessible through Mailgun Optimize, a separate product |
40+ real-time metrics per email sent, Sender Reputation Score based on deliverability |
No health score equivalent published |
|
Email validation tool |
Some validations included in Pro, Premier plans with option to buy more through Email Validation API |
Email validation and auto-validation available as an add on |
Some validations included in Pro, Premier plans with option to buy more through Email Validation API |
Recipient Validation is typically a separate, consumption-based service |
Aggregated risk assessment (not individual address validation) available with Omnivore |
|
Pricing & packaging |
Volume- and plan-based pricing |
Pricing calculator relies on many calculated inputs |
Volume- and plan-based pricing |
Volume- and plan-based pricing |
Volume must be purchased in blocks |
|
Professional services |
Email experts available for one-time and ongoing services: onboarding, deliverability consulting, strategic management |
Structured 3-month engagements with Deliverability Expert Services when available |
Email experts can regularly report and advise on trends and proactively monitor email program health |
Experts available for audits, reputation monitoring, and personalized warmups. TAMs/CSMs, available for enterprise accounts. |
Personalized onboarding included in Standard and Premium plans. Must hire a Mailchimp partner for additional services. |
This comparison reflects publicly available information from each vendor’s documentation and pricing pages as of February 2026. Capabilities and pricing may have changed — we encourage you to verify current details directly with each provider. Last reviewed: 6/15/26.
You’ve tried the rest. Now put our Email API to the test.
Scale when it matters
The SendGrid Email API is ready to connect you with customers at critical moments. In 2025, we sent 2.4T emails around the world. 75.1B emails were sent during Cyber Week 2025 — a period of peak sending volume when inbox competition is highest.
Insights to improve performance
Scale is important, but insights are the real game changer. The SendGrid Engagement Quality Score, SEQ, provides insight into your sender reputation, email deliverability, and how to improve them, so you can increase your email engagement with each send.
Transparent pricing
You pay for what you send. That’s it. There’s no need to convert your send volume into blocks or credits, calculate compute charges, or plan for additional fees for insights.
A team of email experts
Twilio SendGrid has a team of email experts with deep knowledge of deliverability, email program performance, and how to optimize inbox placement. They’re here to help you diagnose problems and enhance your performance.
Try it for free. No credit card required.
Start with a free trial and send 100 emails a day for 60 days. Then upgrade to a paid plan based on your email volume. It’s that easy.