Home / Enterprise & Transactional / Mailgun vs Amazon SES

Mailgun Mailgun VS Amazon SES Amazon SES

Updated June 29, 2026 · 5 criteria compared

Head-to-Head Scores

Mailgun

7.0

Overall

VS

Amazon SES

6.8

Overall

Ease
5 3.5
Ease
Features
7.5 7
Features
Deliverability
9 9
Deliverability
Pricing
7 9.5
Pricing
Support
6.5 5
Support

Pros & Cons

✅ Mailgun Pros & Cons

  • Excellent for developers
  • Email validation service
  • Inbox placement testing
  • Detailed logs & analytics
  • Good API documentation
  • No marketing campaign builder
  • Developer-only audience
  • Higher starting price
  • Setup requires coding
  • Support paid on low tiers

✅ Amazon SES Pros & Cons

  • Cheapest at scale (10¢/1000)
  • AWS infrastructure
  • Global sending regions
  • Pay only what you use
  • Excellent deliverability
  • Developer skills required
  • No marketing UI at all
  • Setup complex for beginners
  • Limited support (AWS)
  • Sending limits initially strict

Feature Comparison

Feature
Mailgun
Amazon SES
Transactional Email
✓
✓
Email Verification
✓
—
SPAM & Deliverability Tools
✓
✓
Reporting & Analytics
✓
✓
Message Retention
✓
—
A/B Testing
✓
✓
Template Library
✓
✓
Integrations
✓
✓
GDPR Compliant
✓
✓
Contact & List Management
✓
✓
CloudWatch Integration
—
✓
Global Regions
—
✓

Best For...

🎯 Mailgun is Best For

DevelopersSaaS platformsEmail validationAPI-first companiesStartup engineering

🎯 Amazon SES is Best For

Cost-sensitive high volumeAWS ecosystemDevelopersLarge-scale transactionalScaling startups

User Votes

Mailgun

Mailgun

50% of votes

VS
Amazon SES

Amazon SES

50% of votes

Pricing

Mailgun

Free trial; Paid from $35/mo

Visit Mailgun →

Amazon SES

Pay-as-you-go: $0.10/1,000 emails

Visit Amazon SES →

⚡ Quick Verdict

Mailgun and Amazon SES are closely matched. Mailgun edges ahead slightly in overall balance, but the best choice depends on your specific needs.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is better for beginners, Mailgun or Amazon SES?

Mailgun is easier to use (score 5/10 vs 3.5/10), making it a better choice for beginners. Amazon SES has more features but a steeper learning curve.

Which has better deliverability, Mailgun or Amazon SES?

Both Mailgun and Amazon SES offer comparable deliverability at 9/10.

Which is more affordable?

Amazon SES is the more budget-friendly choice (score 9.5/10). Pay-as-you-go: $0.10/1,000 emails. Mailgun: Free trial.

Can I switch from Mailgun to Amazon SES easily?

Both platforms support importing contacts via CSV and offer migration assistance. Mailgun and Amazon SES have API access for custom migrations. The transition depends on how many automations and templates you need to rebuild.

Which is better for e-commerce?

Neither Mailgun nor Amazon SES is specifically designed for e-commerce. Consider Klaviyo or Omnisend for dedicated e-commerce email marketing.

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