Emitlo vs Mailgun: Which Should You Choose in 2026?
Mailgun was a developer favourite for years. But it has no permanent free tier, was acquired by Sinch in 2021, and its roadmap has stagnated. Here's how it compares to Emitlo.
| Feature | Emitlo | Mailgun |
|---|---|---|
| Free tier | 12,000/mo (400/day) No credit card, permanent | None (3-month trial) Card required, expires |
| Starting paid price | $0.15 / 1k emails | $15/mo (10k emails) |
| No email content stored in DB | ✅ Cleared after send | ❌ |
| GDPR / EU hosting | ✅ | ❌ US-based (Sinch) |
| REST API + SMTP | ✅ | ✅ |
| Double DKIM signing | ✅ | ❌ |
| Real-time deliverability dashboard | ✅ | ⚠️ Basic logs |
| Automatic bounce & complaint handling | ✅ | ⚠️ |
| FBL processing | ✅ | ⚠️ |
| Webhooks (all events) | ✅ | ✅ |
| Dedicated IPs | ✅ | ✅ |
| Stable roadmap | ✅ | ❌ Acquired by Sinch 2021 |
| Human support | ✅ | ❌ Ticket system |
No credit card, permanent
Card required, expires
Cleared after send
US-based (Sinch)
Basic logs
Acquired by Sinch 2021
Ticket system
Bottom line
Choose Emitlo if you need a permanent free tier, EU hosting, a stable roadmap, and human support. Choose Mailgun if you're already deeply integrated and the acquisition uncertainty doesn't concern you.
Get a permanent free tier — no credit card
12,000 emails/month (400/day) · EU hosting · Stable roadmap · Human support
Overview: Emitlo vs Mailgun
Mailgun was founded in 2010 and became one of the most popular transactional email APIs among developers, known for its clean API, detailed logs, and reliable delivery. In 2021, it was acquired by Sinch, a Swedish communications company that also owns Mailjet and SparkPost.
Since the acquisition, Mailgun has removed its permanent free tier (replaced by a 3-month trial requiring a credit card), and users have reported slower support and UI stagnation. The roadmap uncertainty is a real concern for teams building long-term infrastructure.
The Free Tier Problem
Mailgun used to offer a permanent free tier. That's gone. Today, Mailgun offers a 3-month trial that requires a credit card — after which you must upgrade to a paid plan starting at $15/month.
Emitlo offers a permanent free tier of 12,000 emails/month (400/day cap) with no credit card required. For prototyping, side projects, and early-stage startups, this is a significant advantage.
Pricing Comparison
* Mailgun prices based on public data, April 2026. Emitlo Pro at $0.15/1,000 emails.
Where Emitlo Wins
1. Permanent free tier, no credit card
12,000 emails/month permanently, no card required. Mailgun's trial expires after 3 months and requires a credit card upfront.
2. Stable roadmap
Emitlo is an independent company with a focused roadmap. Mailgun is one of several email products in Sinch's portfolio, and the integration has been uneven since the acquisition.
3. EU hosting and GDPR compliance
Emitlo is EU-hosted and does not store email body content. Mailgun is US-based (Sinch).
4. Double DKIM signing
Emitlo signs every email with two DKIM keys. Mailgun uses single DKIM signing.
5. Better pricing at scale
At 100,000 emails/month, Emitlo costs $15 vs Mailgun's ~$65/month. The gap is significant.
Where Mailgun Wins
1. Mature API and detailed logs
Mailgun's API has been battle-tested for over a decade. Its log system is detailed and developers familiar with it find it reliable. If you're already integrated, the switching cost is real.
2. Established ecosystem
Mailgun has integrations with many frameworks and platforms built over years. The community knowledge base is extensive.
Data Privacy & Compliance
Emitlo does not store email body content — cleared immediately after delivery. EU-hosted infrastructure. Mailgun is US-based (Sinch, headquartered in Stockholm but with US infrastructure), which creates GDPR data residency concerns.
Verdict
For new projects, Emitlo is the clear choice: permanent free tier, better pricing, EU hosting, stable roadmap, and human support. For teams already on Mailgun who are satisfied, the switching cost may not be worth it — but the acquisition uncertainty and removal of the free tier are legitimate reasons to evaluate alternatives.
Switch to Emitlo — permanent free tier
12,000 emails/month (400/day) · No credit card · EU hosting · $0.15/1k paid