Overview
MailWizz and Keila are both self-hosted email tools. MailWizz is a self-hosted PHP email marketing application with one-time license. Keila is a open-source email newsletter tool built with Elixir.
Approach
MailWizz is a commercial product with a one-time $86 license. It has been developed since 2013 with consistent feature additions including automation, A/B testing, and landing pages. Keila is completely free and focuses on open source.
Feature Comparison
MailWizz offers more out of the box: automation workflows, A/B testing, multiple delivery servers, white-label, and bounce management. Keila focuses on open source and eu hosting option.
Both require you to manage your own servers and configure email delivery. If you'd rather skip infrastructure management entirely, a managed platform like Sequenzy handles it all with SaaS-specific features like Stripe integration.
Making the Choice
Choose MailWizz for a feature-rich self-hosted email platform. Choose Keila for open source. For managed SaaS email, consider Sequenzy.
Technology Stack Comparison
Keila is built on Elixir and the BEAM virtual machine, which provides excellent concurrency and fault tolerance. The BEAM was designed for telecom systems where downtime is unacceptable, making Keila inherently reliable under load. MailWizz runs on PHP with MySQL, a proven but less concurrent stack that requires more resources for equivalent throughput.
For technically minded teams, the technology choice matters. Elixir applications handle concurrent connections efficiently, while PHP processes are more resource-intensive. If you are running on modest hardware, Keila may perform better per dollar of infrastructure.
Open Source vs Commercial License
Keila's open-source model means you can inspect the code, contribute fixes, and customize functionality without restriction. MailWizz's commercial license gives you the code but with usage restrictions. For organizations that require code auditing or need custom modifications, Keila's open-source approach provides more freedom.
However, MailWizz's commercial model funds dedicated development, resulting in a more feature-complete product. The tradeoff between open-source freedom and commercial feature depth is a classic one. Evaluate whether you need features like automation and A/B testing (MailWizz) or prioritize code transparency and customization (Keila).
EU Data Compliance
Keila offers EU hosting options, which is valuable for businesses subject to strict GDPR requirements. Hosting your email platform within the EU ensures data residency compliance without complex legal arrangements. MailWizz can be hosted anywhere you choose, including EU servers, but requires you to set up the infrastructure yourself.
For EU-based businesses or those serving EU customers, both platforms support compliant hosting. Keila's managed cloud option with EU hosting simplifies compliance. MailWizz gives you the freedom to choose any EU hosting provider but requires more setup effort.
Use-case matchups
| Need | Better fit | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Feature-complete self-hosted email with automation and A/B testing | MailWizz | MailWizz is cited for automation workflows, A/B testing, white-label support, multiple delivery servers, maturity, and bounce management. |
| Free open-source email with modern Elixir stack and EU cloud option | Keila | Keila is cited for open source, Elixir/BEAM reliability, Docker deployment, EU hosting, modern UI, and low-cost cloud. |
| Code transparency and customization freedom | Keila | Keila's open-source model allows audit and unrestricted customization. |
| SaaS marketing plus transactional email | Sequenzy | Sequenzy is listed at $49/month with SaaS marketing, transactional email, and Stripe integration. |
Best Fit by Self-Hosted Feature Depth and Open-Source Simplicity
Best self-hosted email platform for mature campaign features
Choose MailWizz when the team needs automation workflows, A/B testing, multiple delivery servers, bounce management, white-label options, and a mature commercial feature set. It is the better fit when campaign depth matters more than open-source licensing or a modern stack.
Best open-source newsletter tool for modern privacy-focused teams
Choose Keila when code transparency, Elixir reliability, EU cloud options, Docker deployment, and a simpler newsletter workflow matter more than MailWizz's broader legacy feature set. It is stronger for teams that want auditability and privacy posture without PHP-era operational complexity.
Best managed SaaS email platform for lifecycle and transactionals
Choose Sequenzy when the business needs campaigns, transactional email, and Stripe-triggered lifecycle automation without self-hosting. It is the better fit when customer and billing events matter more than owning a campaign server.
Pricing reality
MailWizz is listed at $86 one-time plus hosting and sending-provider costs. Keila is listed as free self-hosted, with cloud from EUR 8/month and EU hosting. Sequenzy is listed at $49/month for SaaS marketing plus transactional email with Stripe integration.
Keila is cheaper to start if its lighter feature set is enough. MailWizz costs more upfront but has a broader mature feature set for teams that need automation, A/B testing, and white-label workflows.
Review signals
MailWizz reviews cited here highlight feature depth, automation, A/B testing, and bounce management. The cautions are dated PHP and community support.
Keila reviews cited here highlight stability, open-source auditability, Elixir reliability, and EU hosting. The limitations are weaker automation, no A/B testing, and less documentation.
Migration checklist
- Export subscribers, templates, automations, delivery servers, bounce rules, A/B tests, Docker/hosting configuration, and suppression data.
- If moving to Keila, decide which MailWizz automations, A/B tests, and white-label workflows can be simplified or dropped.
- If moving to MailWizz, configure hosting, delivery servers, cron jobs, bounce processing, backups, and update procedures.
- Reconfigure SPF, DKIM, DMARC, return-path, sender identities, tracking domains, and unsubscribe handling.
- Test campaigns, bounces, suppressions, EU data residency, and automation behavior before cutover.
Decision checklist
- Choose MailWizz if feature depth and commercial maturity matter more than open-source purity.
- Choose Keila if open source, modern stack, and EU cloud simplicity matter more.
- Avoid MailWizz if PHP maintenance and manual updates are unacceptable.
- Avoid Keila if automation and A/B testing are required.
- Choose Sequenzy if SaaS lifecycle and Stripe events matter more than self-hosting.
