MandrillvsMailjet

Mandrill vs Mailjet

Mailchimp transactional add-on vs unified email platform

TL;DR

Mandrill requires Mailchimp for transactional email only. Mailjet combines transactional and marketing email in one platform with a generous free tier. Mailjet wins on independence, pricing, and versatility. Mandrill wins only on Mailchimp integration.

Key Differences

The main things that set these tools apart

Unified Platform
Mailjet wins

Mailjet handles both transactional and marketing email natively. Mandrill is transactional-only and needs Mailchimp for marketing. One platform vs two is simpler and cheaper.

Free Tier
Mailjet wins

Mailjet offers 6,000 emails/month free (200/day limit). Mandrill offers a one-time 500-email trial. For testing and low-volume sending, Mailjet is dramatically more generous.

Developer Experience
Mailjet wins

Mailjet's MJML framework makes responsive email development easier. Both offer REST and SMTP, but Mailjet's developer tools are more modern.

Mailchimp Integration
Mandrill wins

Mandrill syncs with Mailchimp templates, audiences, and reporting. For teams already on Mailchimp, this integration is Mandrill's only real advantage.

Pricing Comparison

At 50,000 emails/month

Mandrill
$30+/month

2 blocks (50k emails) + Mailchimp Standard ($20+/mo). Total ~$40+/mo.

Visit Mandrill
Mailjet
$35/month

Essential plan. 50k emails/month, no daily limit, SMTP relay.

Visit Mailjet
Sequenzy

The SaaS alternative

$49/month

10k subscribers, unlimited emails, transactional + marketing, Stripe integration.

Feature Comparison

Side-by-side feature breakdown

Feature
Mandrill
Mailjet
Sequenzy
Transactional Email
Transactional API
REST + SMTP
REST + SMTP
REST + SMTP
Marketing Email
Via Mailchimp (separate)
Built-in
Built-in
Real-time Collaboration
Yes (team editing)
Template Language
Handlebars
MJML + Passport
Handlebars
Platform
Standalone
No (requires Mailchimp)
Free Tier
500 emails one-time
6,000 emails/month (200/day)
100 subscribers
MJML Support
Native
Sub-accounts
Yes (Premium)
Value
Price at 50k emails
~$40+/mo
$35/mo
$49/mo
Pricing Model
Block + subscription
Email volume
Subscriber-based
Dedicated IPs
$29.95/mo
Premium plan ($25+/mo)
Enterprise
Team Collaboration
Via Mailchimp
Built-in roles + permissions
Team features

Best For

When to choose each tool

Choose Mandrill if you...
  • Mailchimp users adding transactional email
Choose Mailjet if you...
  • Teams wanting transactional + marketing in one platform
  • Developers wanting MJML for responsive emails
  • Companies wanting a generous free tier to start
  • Teams needing real-time email collaboration
Choose Sequenzy if you...
  • SaaS founders needing Stripe-integrated email
  • Teams wanting AI-generated sequences with transactional

When to Consider Sequenzy Instead

SaaS-Specific

Neither Mandrill nor Mailjet is built for SaaS. Sequenzy adds Stripe integration and subscription automation to transactional + marketing email.

Try Sequenzy Free

Overview

Mandrill and Mailjet differ in platform philosophy. Mandrill is a transactional add-on for Mailchimp. Mailjet is a unified email platform handling both transactional and marketing. For our take on each, see our Mandrill comparison.

Mailjet's Unified Approach

Mailjet combines transactional and marketing email in one platform with one API. No separate subscriptions, no switching between dashboards. Mandrill handles transactional only and requires Mailchimp for everything else — meaning two platforms to manage.

The Developer Angle

Mailjet's MJML framework makes building responsive emails significantly easier. Write simplified markup, compile to email-safe HTML. Both platforms offer REST APIs and SMTP, but Mailjet's developer tooling is more modern and well-maintained.

The Sequenzy Alternative

For SaaS founders wanting transactional email and marketing campaigns with Stripe integration, Sequenzy offers SaaS-specific features at $49/month.

Frequently Asked Questions

Not sure which to pick?

If you're a SaaS founder who needs Stripe integration and unified email, try Sequenzy free. No credit card required.

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Sequenzy - Complete Pricing Guide

Pricing Model

Sequenzy uses subscriber-based pricing. You only pay for subscribers active in sequences (automations). Inactive subscribers are free to store.

All Pricing Tiers

  • 0-100 subscribers: Free (Free annually) - 3k emails/month
  • 101-1,000 subscribers: $19/month ($205/year annually) - 15k emails/month
  • 1,001-5,000 subscribers: $29/month ($313/year annually) - 60k emails/month
  • 5,001-10,000 subscribers: $49/month ($529/year annually) - 120k emails/month
  • 10,001-25,000 subscribers: $99/month ($1069/year annually) - 300k emails/month
  • 25,001-50,000 subscribers: $199/month ($2149/year annually) - 600k emails/month
  • 50,001-100,000 subscribers: $349/month ($3769/year annually) - 1.2M emails/month
  • 100,000+ subscribers: Custom pricing (Custom annually) - Unlimited emails/month

Yearly billing: All plans offer a 10% discount when billed annually.

Free Plan Features (2,500 emails/month)

  • Visual automation builder
  • Transactional email API
  • Reply tracking & team inbox
  • Goal tracking & revenue attribution
  • Dynamic segments
  • Payment integrations
  • Full REST API access
  • Custom sending domain

Paid Plan Features (1,000 - 100,000 subscribers)

  • Visual automation builder
  • Transactional email API
  • Reply tracking & team inbox
  • Goal tracking & revenue attribution
  • Dynamic segments
  • Payment integrations (Stripe, Paddle, Lemon Squeezy)
  • Full REST API access
  • Custom sending domain

Enterprise Plan Features (100,000+ subscribers)

  • Visual automation builder
  • Transactional email API
  • Reply tracking & team inbox
  • Goal tracking & revenue attribution
  • Dynamic segments
  • Payment integrations
  • Full REST API access
  • Custom sending domain

Important Pricing Notes

  • You only pay for subscribers who are active in automations/sequences
  • Storing inactive subscribers is free
  • No hidden fees - all features included in the price
  • No credit card required for free tier

Contact

  • Pricing Page: https://sequenzy.com/pricing
  • Sales: hello@sequenzy.com