These Are Fundamentally Different Models

Let's be clear upfront: Listmonk and Sequenzy are different products with different philosophies.

• Listmonk is free, open-source, self-hosted. You own everything, manage everything.

• Sequenzy is managed SaaS. We handle infrastructure, you focus on marketing.

Neither is "better" - they serve different needs and priorities.

When should you choose Sequenzy?

1. You Don't Want to Manage Infrastructure

Listmonk requires PostgreSQL, server setup, SMTP configuration, DNS records, SSL certificates, and ongoing maintenance. If you'd rather focus on building your SaaS than managing email infrastructure, Sequenzy is fully managed.

2. You Need SaaS-Specific Features

Sequenzy is purpose-built for SaaS with Stripe integration, trial expiry sequences, churn prevention, and MRR tracking. Listmonk is a general newsletter tool - you'd need custom development for SaaS-specific functionality.

3. You Want AI-Generated Content

Describe what you want ("a 5-email onboarding sequence for a project management SaaS") and our AI generates the emails. Listmonk has no content creation features - it efficiently sends what you write.

4. You Want Unified Transactional + Marketing

Sequenzy handles both transactional emails (password resets, receipts) and marketing campaigns in one platform. Listmonk supports transactional via API but is primarily newsletter-focused.

5. You Value Managed Deliverability

We handle IP reputation, deliverability, and email infrastructure. With Listmonk, you're responsible for SMTP configuration and deliverability - which depends on your chosen relay service.

When should you stick with Listmonk?

1. Cost Is Your Top Priority

Listmonk is genuinely free. With a $5-10 VPS and Amazon SES at $0.10/1k emails, you can run a capable email system for under $20/month at scale. That's significantly cheaper than any managed service.

2. You Want Complete Data Control

Your data stays on your servers. No third-party has access. For privacy-conscious companies or those with strict compliance requirements, self-hosting offers peace of mind that SaaS can't match.

3. You Have DevOps Resources

If you have engineers comfortable with Docker, PostgreSQL, and server management, Listmonk setup takes 2-4 hours. After that, it runs reliably with minimal maintenance. The single binary architecture makes it simple.

4. You Want No Subscriber Limits

Listmonk has no artificial limits. Send to millions if your server and SMTP relay can handle it. No pricing tiers based on subscriber count. Your infrastructure is the only limit.

5. You Want SMTP Flexibility

Use any SMTP provider: Amazon SES, Mailgun, Postmark, or self-hosted Postal. Switch providers without changing platforms. Listmonk is agnostic about how emails get delivered.

Honest Limitations of Sequenzy

• Not free: $19/month vs Listmonk's $0 software cost.
• No self-hosting: Managed SaaS only.
• You don't own infrastructure: Your data is on our servers.
• Subscriber limits: Pricing tiers based on subscriber count.
• No SMS or push: Email-only platform.
• Newer platform: Less history than established tools.

Honest Limitations of Listmonk

• Requires DevOps: PostgreSQL, server setup, SMTP configuration, maintenance.
• No AI features: No content generation or AI assistance.
• No native integrations: No Stripe, no Zapier, no pre-built connectors.
• Limited automation: Basic scheduling, no complex drip sequences.
• DIY deliverability: You manage SMTP reputation yourself.
• General-purpose: Not specifically optimized for SaaS use cases.

The Real Cost Comparison

At 10,000 subscribers:

Listmonk self-hosted:

• VPS hosting: ~$10/month
• Amazon SES (50k emails): ~$5/month
• Total: ~$15/month (plus your time)

Sequenzy managed:

• Everything included: $19/month
• Total: $19/month (no time required)

The question is whether the $34/month difference is worth your engineering time. For bootstrapped founders who are also the DevOps team, managed solutions often make more sense.

A Note on SMTP Relays for Listmonk

If you go with Listmonk, you'll need an SMTP relay. Popular options:

• Amazon SES: $0.10/1k emails, cheapest at volume
• Mailgun: $15+/month, good deliverability
• Postmark: $15/month for 10k, excellent deliverability
• Postal (self-hosted): Free, complete control

Your choice affects deliverability. SES is cheap but you manage reputation yourself. Postmark has great deliverability but costs more. Use our email warmup calculator when setting up.