Introduction to Email API Platforms
Email API platforms provide developers with easy ways to integrate email capabilities into applications. Instead of building email functionality from scratch, developers can tap into these platforms' APIs to quickly add email workflows, automation, analytics, and deliverability optimization. As email marketing grows more sophisticated, API platforms are becoming invaluable for streamlining campaigns.
In this post, we'll compare three popular email API solutions - SendGrid, Resend, and SensorPro. We'll look at key features like deliverability, automation, segmentation, ease of use, integrations, and pricing models. Understanding the strengths and weaknesses of these tools can help you select the right platform for your needs.
Overview of SendGrid
Founded in 2009 and based in Denver, CO, SendGrid focuses on email delivery, automation, and real-time analytics. It's used by major companies like Airbnb, Spotify, Uber, and Glassdoor.
With SendGrid's free plan, you can send 100 emails per day. Paid plans start at $9.95 per month for up to 40,000 emails. You pay based on the number of emails sent. Volume discounts are available.
Key features include:
- Dedicated IP addresses to improve deliverability
- Integrations with e-commerce platforms like Shopify and BigCommerce
- A/B testing capabilities
- Automated workflows with templates
- Contact segmentation for targeted campaigns
- In-depth email and click analytics
Overview of Resend
Founded in 2015 in San Francisco, Resend focuses heavily on inbox placement and deliverability. It's used by customers like Lyft, Red Bull, Intercom, and Glossier.
Resend provides 250,000 emails per month for free. Paid plans start at $49 per month for 5,000 subscribers. Pricing is based on number of contacts, not emails sent.
Key features include:
- Multi-language support
- CRM integrations with HubSpot, ActiveCampaign, etc.
- Link tracking, open & click tracking
- Behavior-based subscriber segmentation
- Automated welcome and follow-up flows
- Inbox placement and spam testing
Overview of SensorPro
SensorPro, founded in 2011 and based in London, offers unlimited contacts and storage on its free plan. Paid plans start at $30 per month for 5,000 emails. You only pay for the emails you send.
With its own email infrastructure, SensorPro optimizes for reliable deliverability. It also integrates with platforms like Shopify and BigCommerce.
Key features include:
- Automation with pre-built workflows
- A/B testing capabilities
- Contact segmentation and dynamic content
- Real-time email analytics
- SMS messaging and survey tools
- GDPR and data compliance in the EU
SensorPro is a compelling option for those seeking robust deliverability and automation coupled with fair "pay as you go" pricing. Their EU-based infrastructure also makes them a great choice for compliance-minded companies.
Comparing Core Features
Now that we've covered the basics of each API platform, let's compare some of their core features for building and managing email campaigns. We'll look at deliverability, automation, segmentation, integrations, and more.
Deliverability and Placement
Getting your emails delivered to the inbox is critical. Here's how the platforms stack up:
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SendGrid provides dedicated IPs for improved sender reputation and inboxing. It has average industry deliverability rates.
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Resend heavily optimizes campaigns for maximum inbox placement, maintaining exceptional IP reputations. Its deliverability rates are above industry averages.
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With its own sending infrastructure, SensorPro achieves high deliverability without needing dedicated IPs. Inbox placement rates match or exceed Resend's.
For most use cases, all three platforms provide good deliverability that meets or exceeds industry standards. Resend and SensorPro excel at optimization for inbox placement.
Automation and Workflows
Workflow automation saves huge amounts of time when managing campaigns. Here are some key capabilities:
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SendGrid and Resend provide easy drag-and-drop workflow builders to create sequences and triggers. SensorPro's workflow builder is more technically complex.
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For multi-step campaigns, Resend makes it easiest to build conditional logic across workflows. SendGrid also allows multi-path workflows.
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Resend has the strongest e-commerce automations out of the box, like abandoned cart and browse abandonment flows.
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SensorPro's workflows integrate best with its other features like surveys and SMS. But workflow flexibility is limited compared to other platforms.
Overall, Resend strikes the best balance between powerful workflow capabilities and ease of use. SendGrid is also solid, while SensorPro lags in flexibility.
Segmentation and Targeting
Dividing your contacts into segments lets you personalize your messaging. Here's how segmentation works on these platforms:
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All three provide robust contact filtering options - by location, engagement, purchases, etc. Resend has the most advanced behavioral filters.
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SendGrid and Resend make it easy to build segmented lists using drag-and-drop UIs. SensorPro relies more on manual CSV importing.
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Resend has the strongest features for dynamically inserting subscriber data into emails. SendGrid also allows some personalization.
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Limits on segment sizes vary. Resend allows unlimited segments. SendGrid and SensorPro impose contact limits per segment.
For segmentation and targeting, Resend is the most powerful and user-friendly, followed closely by SendGrid. SensorPro's segmentation capabilities are relatively basic.
Evaluating Ease of Use
In addition to features, it's important to consider how easy each platform is to use for setting up campaigns, sending emails, and analyzing results.
Onboarding and Integration
The initial setup process often dictates how complex managing future campaigns will be.
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Resend has the simplest quick-start process, while SensorPro has a longer setup. SendGrid is in the middle.
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SendGrid has the most integrations and plugins available, with extensive documentation. Resend has fewer out-of-the-box integrations.
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For integrating with CRMs like Salesforce, Resend has the easiest bidirectional syncing. SendGrid's two-way sync is more limited.
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Resend automatically imports contact history to create segments. With SendGrid and SensorPro, you typically manage contact data manually.
Overall, Resend has the most beginner-friendly onboarding flow. But SendGrid offers greater integration flexibility for developers.
Campaign Building and Editing
Once set up, you need intuitive interfaces to manage campaigns going forward:
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Resend and SendGrid both use drag-and-drop campaign builders that make creating emails very simple. SensorPro's builder is less user-friendly.
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For editing transactional email templates, Resend offers the greatest flexibility for easy customization.
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SendGrid's visual editing experience overall is not as robust as Resend's when it comes to modifying templates and emails.
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Non-developers can comfortably build campaigns on Resend and SendGrid. SensorPro often requires some coding knowledge.
Resend provides the most seamless campaign creation and editing experience for users of all skill levels.
Analysis and Reporting
Monitoring campaign analytics helps optimize your approach over time.
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SendGrid has the most powerful segmentation capabilities for analyzing your email data, allowing deep filtering of reports.
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Resend makes it easiest to quickly view campaign summaries and stats without complex configurations. Drill-downs are intuitive.
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For non-technical users, Resend's visual reports and insights are simplest to digest. SendGrid provides greater raw data access.
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Features like scheduled reporting are supported across all three platforms. But Resend allows the greatest scheduling flexibility.
For broad reporting needs, SendGrid provides richer raw data access. But Resend's visualizations and simplicity make it the best fit for non-analyst users.
Comparing Platform Costs
Email volume, number of contacts, and desired features impact how much you'll spend. Let's compare pricing models.
Free Plans and Entry-Level Tiers
Here's how the free and entry-level paid plans stack up:
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SendGrid's free plan allows 100 emails per day, but lacks some features.
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Resend gives you 100,000 emails per month for free with full features.
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SensorPro offers unlimited contacts and storage for free, but limits emails sent.
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Paid tiers start around $15-30 monthly for up to 5,000 emails (SendGrid) or 2,500 contacts (Resend, SensorPro).
For very low email volumes, SendGrid's and SensorPro's free plans are good starting points. For more features upfront, Resend's free plan is compelling.
Volume Plans and Scalability
Once your email needs scale, volume discounts can save you money:
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SendGrid offers the steepest volume discounts, with pricing as low as 0.0009 per email at scale.
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Resend charges based on contacts, not emails sent, with volume discounts capping around 0.10 per contact.
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SensorPro discounts to around 0.02 per email at volume. Its pricing is volume-based.
For the highest volumes above 100,000/month, SendGrid becomes the cheapest. But Resend and SensorPro offer cost-competitive plans for many mid-tier users.
Add-Ons and Extra Features
Additional capabilities like SMS or premium support carry extra costs:
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Resend charges extra for features like SMS, email rendering, and priority support. This à la carte model provides flexibility.
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SendGrid includes more add-ons like SMS with its paid plans, though enterprise-level features cost more.
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SensorPro offers SMS and surveys bundled with paid plans at no added cost, but lacks some optional add-ons.
Depending on which features you need beyond basic email, the most cost-effective provider may vary. Review each platform's bundles and extras closely.
Summary and Conclusions
Email API platforms make it faster and easier to build powerful campaigns. When comparing SendGrid, Resend, and SensorPro, we found:
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Resend is best for beginners, with easy workflow automation, campaign building, and visual reporting.
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SendGrid provides the greatest email volume scalability and add-on integrations. It offers robust targeting and analytics for experts.
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SensorPro excels at deliverability with its own infrastructure. But its features lag simplicity and flexibility of Resend and SendGrid.
For most small or mid-size companies, Resend likely offers the ideal balance of usability, features, and affordability. Larger enterprises sending huge volumes may benefit from SendGrid's scalability and flexibility. SensorPro is a good option for users prioritizing core email performance over features.
Consider free trials of these platforms to compare hands-on. And optimize based on your deliverability, segmentation, and cost requirements. Email API solutions take the pain out of managing complex campaigns. Choosing the right one provides a foundation for email marketing success.
For those seeking strong deliverability and automation with fair pricing, SensorPro merits a closer look. Their EU infrastructure also makes them suitable for regulated industries. Try a free trial to experience their capabilities firsthand.
