Overview

Mailgun and Plunk both serve developers, but at different complexity levels. Mailgun offers a full suite of email tools including validation, routing, and inbound processing. Plunk focuses on simple, reliable outbound email at the lowest possible cost.

Feature Comparison

Mailgun's standout features include email validation (check if addresses are valid before sending), intelligent routing (forward incoming emails to your app), and extended log retention. These matter for complex email workflows.

Plunk keeps it simple: send transactional emails, run marketing campaigns, track opens and clicks. If that's all you need, Plunk delivers without the complexity.

Pricing Breakdown

Mailgun's Scale plan at 100,000 emails for $75/month is competitive. But add-ons like email validation, dedicated IPs, and extended log retention increase costs. Plunk's $0.001/email ($100 for 100k) is simple math with no surprises.

The Open Source Factor

Plunk's open source nature is a significant advantage for certain use cases. You can audit the code, self-host on your infrastructure, and maintain data control. Mailgun requires trusting their infrastructure with your data.

Developer Experience

Mailgun has years of API refinement with comprehensive SDKs in multiple languages. Documentation is extensive. Plunk's API is simpler but less mature. For complex integrations, Mailgun's tooling is more developed.

Making the Decision

If you need email validation, inbound processing, or enterprise features, Mailgun is the better choice. For straightforward transactional email at minimal cost, Plunk delivers solid value.