Overview

Resend and SendGrid are both developer-focused email APIs, but they come from different eras. SendGrid launched in 2009 and was acquired by Twilio in 2019. It's the enterprise standard with a massive feature set. Resend launched in 2023, built by the creators of React Email, with a focus on modern developer experience.

Developer Experience

Resend's biggest advantage is its clean, modern API. If you're building with React or Next.js, the React Email integration is a game-changer. You write emails as React components, and Resend handles the rendering. SendGrid's API works fine, but it feels older and has more complexity from years of feature additions.

Feature Comparison

SendGrid wins on raw features. It offers email validation, inbound email parsing, a visual template editor, and IP warm-up automation. Resend is more focused on doing transactional email well, with fewer bells and whistles. If you need those extra features, SendGrid has them. If you don't, Resend is cleaner.

Deliverability

SendGrid has 15+ years of deliverability optimization and relationships with ISPs. Resend is newer and still building that reputation. For high-stakes enterprise email, SendGrid's track record matters. For most startups, both will deliver well.

Pricing Reality

Base pricing is similar at $20/month for 50k emails. But SendGrid's marketing campaigns are a separate product with separate pricing. Dedicated IPs are included in SendGrid Pro but cost extra on Resend. Factor in your actual needs.