Overview
Mailcoach and Sendy serve different needs in the email space. Mailcoach is a self-hosted Laravel email marketing platform. Sendy is a ultra-affordable self-hosted newsletter using Amazon SES.
The choice depends on what you need: self-hosted option (Mailcoach) or $69 one-time (Sendy). For SaaS businesses specifically, Sequenzy offers purpose-built features that neither tool provides.
Pricing Comparison
- Mailcoach: ~€25/month (cloud) - Self-hosted free (Laravel). Cloud from €9.99/mo. BYOSP.
- Sendy: $69 one-time - $69 one-time + SES costs (~$0.10/1k). Self-hosted PHP.
- Sequenzy: $49/month for 120,000 emails, unlimited subscribers, fully managed. See pricing.
Where Mailcoach Wins
Self-hosted option
Mailcoach offers self-hosted option, which is a genuine advantage for teams that need it.
BYOSP flexibility
Mailcoach offers byosp flexibility, which is a genuine advantage for teams that need it.
Laravel ecosystem (Spatie)
Mailcoach offers laravel ecosystem (spatie), which is a genuine advantage for teams that need it.
Automation workflows
Mailcoach offers automation workflows, which is a genuine advantage for teams that need it.
Where Sendy Wins
$69 one-time
Sendy offers $69 one-time, which matters for teams that prioritize this.
Amazon SES (cheapest sending)
Sendy offers amazon ses (cheapest sending), which matters for teams that prioritize this.
Simple and lightweight
Sendy offers simple and lightweight, which matters for teams that prioritize this.
Battle-tested
Sendy offers battle-tested, which matters for teams that prioritize this.
Why Sequenzy for SaaS
If you are building a SaaS product, Sequenzy offers what neither Mailcoach nor Sendy provides: native Stripe integration for billing-based automation, AI sequences that generate onboarding and retention emails, and unified transactional + marketing email in one platform. Check our pricing page for details.
Self-Hosted Architecture Comparison
Sendy is a traditional PHP application that installs on any web server with PHP and MySQL. The installation process is straightforward — upload files, run the installer, configure SES credentials. It has been reliable for years but the codebase reflects older PHP practices.
Mailcoach is built on Laravel, a modern PHP framework with robust architecture patterns. Installation requires Composer and more configuration but results in a more maintainable and extensible system. For development teams already using Laravel, Mailcoach integrates naturally into existing projects.
Email Provider Lock-In
Sendy is designed exclusively for Amazon SES. This keeps costs extremely low — SES charges roughly $0.10 per 1,000 emails — but means you cannot switch providers without switching platforms. If SES suspends your account or you need features SES lacks, your options are limited.
Mailcoach supports multiple email service providers through its BYOSP approach. Use SES, Postmark, Mailgun, SendGrid, or others. This flexibility protects against provider lock-in and lets you choose the provider best suited to your deliverability and feature needs.
Total Cost of Ownership
Sendy's one-time $69 fee is unbeatable for initial cost. Add SES sending costs and basic hosting, and you can run email marketing for under $20/month total to tens of thousands of subscribers. Over several years, the savings compared to any SaaS platform are significant.
Mailcoach self-hosted is also free for the software but requires a server capable of running Laravel applications, which typically costs more than the basic hosting Sendy needs. The Cloud version adds monthly costs. However, the better architecture and BYOSP flexibility may justify the difference for teams that value modern tooling. Compare total costs on our pricing page.
Development and Future-Proofing
Sendy's development pace has slowed considerably. Updates are infrequent and the feature set has remained largely unchanged. For teams that need only basic newsletter sending, this stability is fine. For teams expecting continued feature development, the plateau is concerning.
Mailcoach is actively developed by Spatie, a well-regarded Laravel package company. Regular updates, new features, and community contributions keep the platform evolving. For teams that want a self-hosted solution with a future, Mailcoach's active development provides more confidence. Review our email deliverability guide for best practices applicable to either platform.