Should I use SendGrid or Postmark for transactional email?

Both SendGrid and Postmark send transactional email through an API or SMTP. SendGrid offers separate Email API plans, while Postmark organizes transactional traffic in Message Streams separate from broadcast traffic.

Which offers a visual email marketing tool?

SendGrid Marketing Campaigns includes a visual editor, signup forms, segmentation, and automation. Postmark supports marketing and bulk email through Broadcast Message Streams, but does not publish an equivalent campaign-building workflow.

Are SendGrid and Postmark free to use?

SendGrid publishes a 60-day Email API trial allowing 100 emails per day. Postmark's free Developer plan allows 100 emails per month and does not expire.

How much do SendGrid and Postmark cost to start?

SendGrid Email API Essentials starts at $19.95 per month, and its separate Marketing Campaigns Basic plan starts at $15 per month. Postmark Basic starts at $15 per month for 10,000 emails.

Can both services handle incoming email?

Yes. SendGrid documents an Inbound Parse Webhook that posts parsed incoming email to an application. Postmark offers inbound email processing on its Pro and Platform plans.

Do SendGrid and Postmark offer dedicated IPs?

SendGrid includes one dedicated IP with Email API Pro and Premier. Postmark offers managed dedicated IPs from $50 per month per IP to customers on Pro or higher who send at least 300,000 emails per month.

Do I need separate SendGrid plans for API email and marketing campaigns?

Yes. SendGrid says its Email API and Marketing Campaigns email plans must be purchased separately, although both can be used through the same account.

Can I send marketing email with Postmark?

Yes. Postmark supports marketing and bulk email through Broadcast Message Streams, which it keeps separate from transactional Message Streams.

SendGrid vs Postmark

Choose SendGrid if you need a visual email marketing tool alongside an email API; choose Postmark if you primarily need application email delivery with separate streams for transactional and broadcast messages. Both offer API and SMTP sending, but SendGrid publishes campaign-building tools such as signup forms, segmentation, and automation, while Postmark centers its offering on sending, receiving, and tracking application email.

Last updated October 24, 2026.

At a glance

SendGrid compared with Postmark, one row per dimension
Dimension	SendGrid	Postmark
Marketing workflow	Visual editor, signup forms, segmentation, and automation	Broadcast Message Streams and email templates
Traffic separation	Email API and Marketing Campaigns plans sold separately	Separate transactional and broadcast Message Streams
Free allowance	Email API trial: 100 emails/day for 60 days	Developer plan: 100 emails/month without expiration
Paid starting price	Email API Essentials: $19.95/month; Marketing Basic: $15/month	Basic: $15/month at 10,000 emails/month
Sending limits	Monthly volume varies by plan; trial limited to 100/day	Paid plans: unlimited daily sends; monthly allowance varies
Inbound processing	Inbound Parse Webhook	Inbound email processing on Pro and Platform
Dedicated IPs	One included with Email API Pro and Premier	From $50/month per IP; Pro or higher and 300,000 emails/month
Message activity history	Email API: 3 days on Essentials; 7 days on Pro	45 days of full message history by default
Support	Marketing Basic: ticket, chat, and phone	Email-based support
Sending methods	REST API and SMTP	REST API and SMTP
Developer integrations	Client libraries and event webhooks	Official SDKs and event webhooks
Paid-plan overages	Additional sends billed in the following period	Additional emails charged by plan-specific rate

Scroll the table sideways to compare each row.

Which should you choose?

Choose SendGrid if

Teams that need a visual campaign editor, signup forms, and segmentation
Marketers building automated email campaigns
Developers seeking an Email API plan with a dedicated IP included at the Pro tier
Teams that want ticket, chat, or phone support through eligible Marketing Campaigns plans

See SendGrid

Choose Postmark if

Developers sending password resets, receipts, and other application email
Teams that want separate transactional and broadcast Message Streams
Low-volume projects needing an ongoing 100-email-per-month free plan
Teams needing inbound email processing on a Pro or Platform plan

See Postmark

The verdict

The deciding factor is how you create email. Pick SendGrid if marketers need to build and automate campaigns in a visual interface, or if its Email API plans fit your sending needs. Pick Postmark if your team builds email into an application and wants transactional and broadcast traffic separated through Message Streams. Compare the relevant plan before committing: SendGrid sells Email API and Marketing Campaigns plans separately, and Postmark reserves inbound processing and dedicated IPs for qualifying plans.