Mailgun

Overview

Mailgun by Sinch is an email delivery platform built for developers. It provides RESTful APIs and SMTP relay to send, receive, and track email programmatically. With 99.99% uptime and the ability to send millions of messages per hour, it handles transactional emails, email validation, and deliverability optimization. Companies like Lyft, Microsoft, and Etsy use it to send billions of emails annually. The platform is HIPAA, SOC II Type 2, ISO 27001, and GDPR compliant.

Key Features

RESTful Email API: Send and receive email programmatically at scale using simple HTTP requests, with support for any programming language and 99.99% uptime.
Email Validation: Verify email addresses in real-time at sign-up via API or bulk validate entire lists to remove invalid and stale addresses before campaigns.
Send Time Optimization: Automatically schedule emails based on historic open data to improve engagement and inbox placement rates.
Email Analytics & Tracking: Access detailed logs, open rates, click tracking, and bounce data with retention up to 30 days depending on plan.
Dedicated IP Management: Control IP reputation and separate sending traffic by use case with dedicated IPs and IP pools for transactional vs. marketing emails.
Mailgun Inspect: Test email rendering across 100+ clients including dark mode and mobile, with accessibility testing for WCAG 2.2 and EAA compliance.
Automatic List Hygiene: Suppress unsubscribes, spam complaints, and hard bounces automatically to protect sender reputation and improve deliverability.
Webhooks & Integrations: Receive real-time event notifications and integrate easily with platforms like WordPress, Drupal, and Django with minimal effort.

Pros

Developer-Friendly API: Simple RESTful API makes integration straightforward, with users reporting setup takes minimal effort across multiple platforms.
Responsive Support:Many users report that Mailgun’s customer support is responsive and offers clear, useful guidance when issues arise, though experiences can vary by plan and situation.
Reliable Performance: Platform delivers 99.99% uptime and handles millions of emails per hour without issues, with long-time users reporting it "just works."
Comprehensive Analytics: Detailed logging and tracking beyond basic opens and clicks helps diagnose delivery issues and optimize campaigns.
Easy Integration: Users report that Mailgun connects smoothly with a wide range of systems and development stacks, and its documentation and integration guides make setup straightforward for developers.

Use Cases

Transactional Email Automation: E-commerce platforms send order confirmations, shipping updates, and delivery notifications through the API. Customers receive real-time updates with tracking links, and developers can monitor delivery rates and troubleshoot issues through detailed logs.
User Authentication & Verification: SaaS applications send password reset emails, two-factor authentication codes, and account verification messages. The API ensures these critical emails reach inboxes reliably, and validation features prevent typos during registration.
Marketing Technology Integration: MarTech platforms embed Mailgun's API to power client email campaigns without building infrastructure. Send time optimization and deliverability tools improve open rates, while white-label capabilities let agencies brand the service as their own.
Email List Maintenance: Marketing teams validate email lists before campaigns to remove invalid addresses and reduce bounce rates. Real-time validation at sign-up prevents bad emails from entering the database, protecting sender reputation and improving deliverability.
Compliance Testing for Enterprises: Organizations use Mailgun Inspect to test email accessibility compliance with WCAG 2.2 and EAA standards before sending. The tool previews emails across 100+ clients and validates content to ensure messages render correctly and meet legal requirements.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Mailgun used for?

Mailgun is an email delivery platform for developers that sends, receives, and tracks transactional and marketing emails through APIs. It's used for password resets, order confirmations, shipping notifications, user registration emails, and any scenario where applications need to send email programmatically at scale.

How much does Mailgun cost?

Mailgun offers a free plan with 100 emails per day. Paid plans start at $15/month for 10,000 emails (Basic), $35/month for 50,000 emails (Foundation), and $90/month for 100,000 emails (Scale). Email validation and deliverability optimization tools are available separately starting at $49/month for the Pilot plan.

Does Mailgun have a free plan?

Yes, Mailgun offers a free plan that includes 100 emails per day, basic ticket support, API access, one sending domain, and basic tracking. This is suitable for testing and small-scale applications.

Is Mailgun good for marketing emails?

Mailgun works for marketing emails but is primarily designed for transactional email and API integration. It lacks features like drag-and-drop campaign builders and advanced automation workflows found in dedicated marketing platforms. It's best for developers who need programmatic control over email sending rather than marketers looking for a traditional email marketing tool.

How reliable is Mailgun's email delivery?

Mailgun maintains 99.99% uptime and can send tens of millions of messages per hour. Users report reliable performance over many years, with the platform "just working" for transactional emails. The service includes automatic bounce suppression and deliverability optimization to improve inbox placement.

How does Mailgun compare to SendGrid?

Both are developer-focused email APIs with similar core features. Users report Mailgun has responsive support and straightforward API integration. The choice often depends on specific feature needs, pricing for your volume, and existing infrastructure. Testing both platforms is recommended to determine which fits your use case better.