Mailchimp, Brevo, Mailgun, SendGrid vs. Self-Hosted SMTP

Mailchimp, Brevo, Mailgun, SendGrid vs. Self-Hosted SMTP

Best Email Solutions Compared: Mailchimp, Brevo, Mailgun, SendGrid vs. Self-Hosted SMTP

When it comes to email marketing and transactional email delivery, businesses are often caught between two paths: popular third-party providers like Mailchimp, Brevo, Mailgun, and SendGrid, or running their own infrastructure with a self-hosted SMTP server. Each solution has its advantages and disadvantages, but the choice ultimately depends on your business needs, budget, and how much control you want over your email operations.

Below, we break down the pros and cons of the major providers and then compare them directly with selfhostedsmtp.com.

Mailchimp

Pros:

  • Well-known and trusted email marketing platform.
  • User-friendly drag-and-drop editor for newsletters.
  • Built-in analytics and reporting tools.
  • Large integration ecosystem.

Cons:

  • Expensive as your subscriber list grows.
  • Strict compliance rules – accounts can be suspended without warning.
  • Limited flexibility for transactional email delivery.
  • Higher costs for advanced automation features.

Brevo (formerly Sendinblue)

Pros:

  • Affordable entry-level pricing.
  • Offers both marketing and transactional email under one roof.
  • SMS marketing add-ons.
  • GDPR-focused with European servers.

Cons:

  • Email deliverability can sometimes be inconsistent.
  • Daily sending limits on lower plans.
  • Advanced features require higher-tier subscriptions.

Mailgun

Pros:

  • Strong API for developers.
  • Good for transactional emails at scale.
  • Detailed analytics and logs.
  • Pay-as-you-go pricing.

Cons:

  • Not as beginner-friendly – requires technical setup.
  • Support can be slow unless you’re on a higher plan.
  • Deliverability depends on your sending practices and reputation.

SendGrid

Pros:

  • Backed by Twilio – widely trusted infrastructure.
  • Scalable for high-volume email sending.
  • Advanced email analytics and dashboards.
  • Good API documentation.

Cons:

  • Complex pricing structure – can get expensive quickly.
  • Frequent complaints about account suspensions and compliance issues.
  • Requires technical expertise to set up properly.

Self-Hosted SMTP with Selfhostedsmtp.com

Instead of paying ongoing fees to third-party providers, you can run your own SMTP server with Selfhostedsmtp.com.

Pros:

  • Cost-effectiveness: A one-time setup on a VPS with your own domain is significantly cheaper long-term.
  • Full control: You decide how your email infrastructure is configured and used.
  • High deliverability: With proper setup (SPF, DKIM, DMARC), self-hosted servers can achieve excellent inbox placement.
  • Fewer restrictions: No sudden account bans or strict sending limitations.
  • Scalability: Send as much as your server can handle.

Cons:

  • Requires a VPS provider and your own domain.
  • Some initial technical setup and ongoing maintenance.
  • Responsibility for security and compliance rests on you.

Final Comparison

While platforms like Mailchimp, Brevo, Mailgun, and SendGrid offer convenience, they come with recurring costs, sending limits, and strict compliance rules that may restrict your campaigns.

On the other hand, a self-hosted SMTP solution gives you freedom, cost savings, and reliable deliverability – especially when powered by Selfhostedsmtp.com. Yes, you’ll need a VPS and a domain, but once set up, the benefits far outweigh the downsides.

For businesses seeking long-term cost efficiency, higher control, and fewer restrictions, self-hosted SMTP is the smarter choice.