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Transactional Email comparison · 2026
Mailgun (78) and Brevo SMTP (79) are closely matched — this is one of the tightest Transactional Email comparisons in our database, with just 1 points separating them overall. Brevo SMTP has the edge on Template Engine (80 vs 65). The two are closest on Deliverability, where the gap is just 2 points. Both offer a free tier, making either a low-risk starting point. Use the radar chart and dimension table below to find which fits your specific priorities best.
Mailgun
Flexible email API with powerful routing and parsing
78/100
Brevo SMTP
All-in-one platform with generous free transactional tier
79/100
Radar comparison
Mailgun
78
Brevo SMTP
79
Deliverability
Inbox placement rate, IP reputation, and spam avoidance.
Developer UX
SDK quality, API design, documentation, and setup speed.
Analytics & Logs
Real-time logs, bounce tracking, open/click events.
Price / Value
Cost per email at scale and free tier generosity.
Reliability
Uptime SLA, retry logic, and throughput limits.
Template Engine
Visual builder, React Email support, drag-and-drop.
Overall Score
Based on our independent scoring across 6 dimensions, Brevo SMTP scores 79/100 overall versus Mailgun's 78/100 — a 1-point margin. Brevo SMTP leads on Analytics & Logs in particular. That said, Mailgun may still be the right choice if the dimensions where it scores higher match your specific priorities — the radar chart above shows the full profile side by side.
Both Mailgun and Brevo SMTP offer a free tier, so entry-level cost is not a differentiating factor. Compare the feature and usage limits of each free plan to see which gives you more headroom before a paid upgrade is needed.
Brevo SMTP scores higher on Template Engine — 80/100 versus 65/100 for Mailgun. If template engine is your primary decision criterion, Brevo SMTP is the stronger choice in this head-to-head.
Switching between transactional email tools is generally possible but involves migration effort: exporting your data or configuration from Mailgun, re-importing or reconfiguring in Brevo SMTP, and updating any API integrations or environment variables in your codebase. The effort scales with how deeply embedded the tool is in your stack. Test Brevo SMTP on a non-production project first before migrating.
Mailgun (78/100) is the better fit for teams who prioritise analytics & logs — its strongest dimension — and who want a free entry point. Brevo SMTP (79/100) is the better fit for teams who prioritise price / value and want a free entry point. If both dimensions matter equally, the overall score winner (Brevo SMTP) is the safer default choice.
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