AWS SES vs SendGrid: Which Should You Choose?

Choosing between AWS SES and SendGrid is a common dilemma for engineering teams. Here's an honest comparison to help you decide.

Pricing Comparison

AWS SES charges $0.10 per 1,000 emails. SendGrid's pricing starts at $19.95/month for 50,000 emails and scales up significantly.

At 1 million emails/month: AWS SES costs ~$100, while SendGrid can cost $450+. The savings compound dramatically at scale.

Deliverability

Both platforms offer excellent deliverability when configured properly. AWS SES requires more initial setup (SPF, DKIM, DMARC) but gives you complete control over your sending reputation.

Features

SendGrid offers a more user-friendly interface, built-in templates, and marketing automation features. AWS SES is more bare-bones but integrates seamlessly with other AWS services.

The Verdict

Choose AWS SES if you're sending high volumes, have technical resources, and want maximum control and cost efficiency. Choose SendGrid if you need a quick setup with marketing features.

Or use MARC to get the best of both worlds: AWS SES pricing with an easy-to-use API and multi-account scaling.