Overview
MailWizz and EmailOctopus represent different philosophies. MailWizz is a self-hosted PHP email marketing application with one-time license. EmailOctopus is a simple and affordable email marketing.
Self-Hosted vs Managed
The fundamental choice here is control vs convenience. MailWizz gives you complete ownership of your data and infrastructure for a $86 one-time fee. EmailOctopus handles everything for ~$36/month but you're renting the platform.
MailWizz requires you to set up servers, configure delivery services, and handle updates. EmailOctopus handles all of that. For teams with technical resources, MailWizz's one-time cost can save thousands over years. For teams wanting simplicity, EmailOctopus removes the operational burden.
Feature Comparison
MailWizz offers automation, A/B testing, landing pages, multiple delivery servers, and white-label support. EmailOctopus offers simple interface, affordable pricing, landing pages.
EmailOctopus has the advantage of being managed and ready to use immediately, while MailWizz offers more control over your setup.
For SaaS Companies
Neither tool is built specifically for SaaS. If you need Stripe integration and subscription-aware automation, Sequenzy is purpose-built for that at $49/month with AI sequences and unified transactional + marketing email.