MandrillvsSparkPost

Mandrill vs SparkPost

Mailchimp transactional add-on vs enterprise email infrastructure

TL;DR

Mandrill requires Mailchimp and charges per block. SparkPost (now part of Bird/MessageBird) is enterprise-grade email infrastructure handling massive volumes with predictive deliverability. SparkPost wins on independence, scale, and analytics. Mandrill wins on Mailchimp integration.

Key Differences

The main things that set these tools apart

Scale
SparkPost wins

SparkPost handles billions of emails monthly for enterprise senders. Mandrill's block-based model isn't designed for massive scale. For high-volume transactional email, SparkPost is purpose-built.

Deliverability Analytics
SparkPost wins

SparkPost's Signals analytics provide predictive deliverability insights — health scores, engagement predictions, and bounce classification across 25+ categories. Mandrill offers basic delivery reporting.

Independence
SparkPost wins

SparkPost works standalone. Mandrill requires Mailchimp. For teams not using Mailchimp, SparkPost eliminates an unnecessary dependency.

Mailchimp Ecosystem
Mandrill wins

Mandrill integrates seamlessly with Mailchimp templates, audiences, and analytics. If you're already deep in Mailchimp, Mandrill adds transactional without switching platforms.

Pricing Comparison

At 50,000 emails/month

Mandrill
$30+/month

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

Visit Mandrill
SparkPost
$20/month

Starter plan. 50k emails/month, basic analytics.

Visit SparkPost
Sequenzy

The SaaS alternative

$49/month

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

Feature Comparison

Side-by-side feature breakdown

Feature
Mandrill
SparkPost
Sequenzy
Transactional Email
Transactional API
REST + SMTP
REST + SMTP
REST + SMTP
Email Volume
Block-based (25k increments)
Scales to billions
Unlimited on paid plans
Predictive Deliverability
Signals analytics
Inline CSS
Platform
Standalone
No (requires Mailchimp)
Marketing Email
Via Mailchimp (separate)
No (transactional focus)
Built-in
Bounce Classification
Basic
Advanced (25+ categories)
Standard
Suppression Lists
Basic
Advanced with auto-management
Automatic
Value
Price at 50k emails
~$40+/mo
$20/mo
$49/mo
Free Tier
500 emails one-time
500 emails/month
100 subscribers
Dedicated IPs
$29.95/mo
Included on higher plans
Enterprise
Enterprise Scale
Limited
Billions of emails
Growing

Best For

When to choose each tool

Choose Mandrill if you...
  • Mailchimp users needing transactional email
Choose SparkPost if you...
  • High-volume transactional email senders
  • Enterprise teams needing predictive deliverability
  • Companies wanting standalone transactional infrastructure
Choose Sequenzy if you...
  • SaaS founders needing Stripe-integrated email
  • Teams wanting transactional + marketing combined

When to Consider Sequenzy Instead

SaaS-Specific

Neither Mandrill nor SparkPost combines transactional email with SaaS-specific features. Sequenzy adds Stripe integration and subscription automation alongside transactional email.

Try Sequenzy Free

Overview

Mandrill and SparkPost take different approaches to transactional email. Mandrill is a Mailchimp add-on for existing users. SparkPost is enterprise-grade email infrastructure designed for scale. For our take on each, see our Mandrill comparison.

SparkPost's Enterprise Edge

SparkPost's Signals analytics provide predictive deliverability insights that Mandrill doesn't offer. Health scores, engagement predictions, and advanced bounce classification across 25+ categories help enterprise senders optimize delivery. For teams sending millions of emails, this intelligence is invaluable.

The Scale Question

SparkPost powers over 25% of the world's B2C email, handling billions of messages monthly. Mandrill's block-based pricing model works for moderate volumes but isn't built for enterprise scale. If you're sending millions of transactional emails, SparkPost's infrastructure is purpose-built for it.

The Sequenzy Alternative

For SaaS founders wanting transactional email and marketing campaigns with Stripe integration, Sequenzy offers a unified platform at $49/month — without needing separate transactional and marketing subscriptions.

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