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Mandrill vs MailerSend vs SMTP vs Campaigner Comparison

Last updated:

Mandrill

4.2(125 reviews)

Starting at Contact for pricing

  • Freelancers / Consultants
  • Large Enterprises

Mandrill is transactional email software that empowers businesses to send emails and newsletters. The service offers segmentation, targeting, smart analytics and deliverability at a flat monthly rate. Mandrill separates…

MailerSend

Starting at Contact for pricing

  • Freelancers / Consultants
  • Large Enterprises

MailerSend™ is a software platform designed specifically to empower email marketers, agencies and ESP platforms send transactional emails. These emails can be for marketing, newsletter, customer support or transactional…

SMTP

3.9(16 reviews)

Starting at Contact for pricing

  • Individuals
  • Freelancers / Consultants

SMTP was built to solve the challenges of sending email from devices behind restrictive firewalls or communicating directly with a server over SMTP. It features multiple design elements and components that have been opti…

Campaigner

3.0(595 reviews)

Starting at $14 /month

  • Free Trial
  • Large Enterprises
  • Medium Business

The Campaigner email marketing software from Constant Contact allows you to easily create, send and track professional emails and newsletters. With the help of a dedicated marketing team, it is simple to use, and will ha…

Mandrill leads on user satisfaction with a 4.2-star rating across 125 reviews.

SpotSaaS Analysis

MandrillMailerSendSMTP

The core difference between Mandrill and MailerSend lies in their target audience, with Mandrill catering to larger companies needing reliable transactional email services, while MailerSend is designed for small to medium businesses seeking a user-friendly platform. Ideal buyers for Mandrill are larger organizations focused on e-commerce or SaaS, whereas MailerSend suits smaller teams, including email marketers and agencies.

- Best for reliable transactional emails - Offers flat-rate pricing - Suited for e-commerce or SaaS companies - Ideal for teams valuing straightforward email design - Targets companies with 51-500 or 500+ employees - Focuses on dependable email delivery

- Best for small to medium businesses - Streamlined transactional email delivery - Simple, low-complexity platform - Ideal for email marketers and agencies - Suited for customer support teams - Focuses on user-friendly experience

Mandrill vs MailerSend vs SMTP vs Campaigner — at a glance

FeatureMandrillMailerSendSMTPCampaigner
Rating4.2 / 53.9 / 53.0 / 5
Reviews12516595
Starting priceContact for pricingContact for pricingContact for pricing$14 /month
Free trial No No No Yes
Free version No No No No
Best forFreelancers / Consultants, Large Enterprises, Medium BusinessFreelancers / Consultants, Large Enterprises, Medium BusinessIndividuals, Freelancers / Consultants, Large EnterprisesLarge Enterprises, Medium Business, Small Business
CategoryTransactional Email SoftwareTransactional Email SoftwareTransactional Email SoftwareEmail Marketing Software
Integrations7+ apps
PlatformsSaaS/Web/CloudSaaS/Web/CloudSaaS/Web/CloudSaaS/Web/Cloud
APIAvailableAvailableAvailableAvailable
Support modesOnlineOnline24/7 (Live rep), Business Hours, Online24/7 (Live rep), Online
CertificationsSOC 2, HIPAA, GDPRSOC 2, GDPRGDPR
Data residencyUSGlobalUSUS

Key differences between Mandrill and MailerSend

  • Deployment: Mandrill supports SaaS/Web/Cloud; MailerSend supports SaaS/Web/Cloud.

Compare Mandrill vs MailerSend vs SMTP vs Campaigner — and walk away knowing which one fits.

01

Which tool fits your team best

02

Which is actually cheaper for your team size

03

Where each product wins, per real buyers

Most Transactional Email Software tools look identical on paper. This comparison cuts to the differences that matter — pricing structure, team fit, and what real buyers found after signing up.

Mandrill
Talk to an expert
Talk to an expert
MailerSend
Talk to an expert
Talk to an expert

Biggest differences

Start here before you go deeper into features.

Mandrill

Best for reliable transactional emails with simple design and flat-rate pricing.

Choose if
  • You need dependable delivery of e-commerce or SaaS transactional emails.
  • Your team values straightforward email design with basic branding customization.
  • You prefer predictable flat monthly pricing for transactional email volume.
Consider alternatives if
  • You require extensive or highly flexible email template customization beyond Mailchimp's limits.
  • You are a freelancer or very small business seeking low-cost or free email solutions.

MailerSend

Best for small to medium businesses sending streamlined transactional emails.

Choose if
  • You need a simple, low-complexity platform focused on transactional email delivery.
  • Your team consists of email marketers, agencies, or customer support handling transactional emails.
  • You want to improve open rates while minimizing recipients' bulk email clutter.
Consider alternatives if
  • Your organization requires advanced analytics and detailed reporting capabilities.
  • You need extensive customization options or integrations with other software.

SMTP

Best for

Individuals, Freelancers / Consultants, Large Enterprises

Campaigner

Best for

Large Enterprises, Medium Business, Small Business

Mandrill: Best for reliable transactional emails with simple design and flat-rate pricing. MailerSend: Best for small to medium businesses sending streamlined transactional emails.

Description

Mandrill is transactional email software that empowers businesses to send emails and newsletters. The service offers segmentation, targeting, smart analytics and deliverability at a flat ... Read More about Mandrill

MailerSend™ is a software platform designed specifically to empower email marketers, agencies and ESP platforms send transactional emails. These emails can be for marketing, newsletter, ... Read More about MailerSend

SMTP was built to solve the challenges of sending email from devices behind restrictive firewalls or communicating directly with a server over SMTP. It features multiple design elements and ... Read More about SMTP

The Campaigner email marketing software from Constant Contact allows you to easily create, send and track professional emails and newsletters. With the help of a dedicated marketing team, ... Read More about Campaigner

Entry Level Pricing

  • Not Available
  • Not Available
  • Not Available
  • Starts from $14 , monthly

Free Trial Availability

  • No free trial
  • No free trial
  • No free trial

Spotsaas Score

What's this? ↗

8.3/10

7.7/10

7.2/10

8.8/10

User Ratings

Based on verified Spotsaas reviews

3.9

(16)

Best Company Size

51-500 employees500+ employees
Small BusinessMedium Business
50 to 500 employees
50 to 500 employees
Get pricing help
Get pricing help

Where each option fits best

See where each product is strongest, which teams it fits, and what causes buyers to keep looking — before you commit.

Based on buyer reviews and verified product data collected by Spotsaas.

Strengths

Key strengths

SMTP

  • Reliable Email Delivery: With SMTP, you can ensure that your emails reach their intended recipients without fail. I’ve seen firsthand how businesses benefit from reduced bounce rates and enhanced communication efficiency.
  • Scalability: Whether you’re sending a few emails or millions, SMTP scales effortlessly to accommodate your growing needs. This flexibility has proven invaluable for companies looking to expand their outreach without worrying about technical limitations.
  • Security Features: Implementing SMTP protocols enhances the security of your email communications. I recommend leveraging its built-in encryption methods to safeguard sensitive information and instill confidence in your stakeholders.

Campaigner

  • Streamlined Email Marketing Automation: With Campaigner, managers can effortlessly automate their email campaigns, saving valuable time while ensuring that no customer is left behind. This means you can focus on strategy while our platform handles the routine.
  • Advanced Segmentation Capabilities: Administrators will appreciate the powerful segmentation tools that allow for highly targeted messaging. This ensures that your emails resonate with specific audience segments, ultimately driving higher engagement rates and conversions.
  • Robust Analytics and Reporting: Executives benefit from Campaigner’s comprehensive analytics dashboard, which provides actionable insights into campaign performance. You can easily track open rates, click-through rates, and ROI to make informed decisions moving forward.
Best fit

Best fit

Mandrill

No best-fit guidance available yet.

SMTP

  • 50 to 500 employees
  • Martech, Fintech, SaaS, E-commerce, and Digital Marketing
  • Marketing Managers, IT Administrators, Email Marketing Specialists, Sales Executives, and Customer Success Managers

Campaigner

  • 50 to 500 employees
  • Martech, Revtech, SaaS, and Consulting
  • Marketing Managers, Email Marketing Specialists, Digital Marketing Coordinators, and Campaign Strategists
Watchouts

Reasons buyers look elsewhere

Mandrill

No alternatives guidance available yet.

SMTP

  • Users may seek alternatives to SMTP due to deliverability issues, as emails can often be marked as spam or face filtering challenges, impacting communication effectiveness and business operations.
  • Security concerns are a common reason for exploring alternatives; SMTP lacks advanced encryption and authentication measures, making it vulnerable to interception and unauthorized access.
  • The increasing need for real-time communication drives users towards alternatives that offer instant messaging or collaboration features, which are not supported by traditional SMTP protocols.

Campaigner

  • Users may seek alternatives to Campaigner due to its pricing structure, which could be perceived as high for small businesses or startups looking for more budget-friendly email marketing solutions.
  • Some users might find Campaigner's user interface less intuitive compared to competitors, prompting them to explore platforms that offer a more streamlined and user-friendly experience for their email campaigns.
  • The need for advanced automation features can drive users away from Campaigner, especially if they require more sophisticated workflows that are better supported by other email marketing tools in the market.

Software Demo

Demo

No software demo available

Mandrill has not given any software demo yet

If you're the owner of this profile, add your demo.Contact us

Need a second opinion?

Get shortlist help from a software advisor

Share your priorities, budget, and team needs, and we’ll help you narrow the options and understand the tradeoffs before you talk to vendors.

How do Mandrill, MailerSend, SMTP and Campaigner Compare on Features?

Total Features

14 Features

10 Features

5 Features

20 Features

Unique Features

No unique features

No unique features

No unique features

No unique features

Get Quote
Get Quote

Compare Mandrill, MailerSend, SMTP and Campaigner on pricing

Review starting price, plan structure, and free-trial access side by side so you can see which option fits your budget and buying process.

Pricing Option

          Starting From

          • Not Available
          • Not Available
          • Not Available
          • $14 , monthly

          Pricing Plans

          • Not Available
          • Not Available
          • Not Available
          • Essentials

            $14

            /month

            • Great for those wanting the basics of great email marketing

            • Drag and drop editor

            • Email templates

            Show more +

          • Advanced

            $35

            /month

            • Great for experienced users with advanced needs

            • Automation workflows - simple and multi-path

            • Advanced segmentation

            Show more +

          • Custom

            Custom

            • Great for those sending at scale

            • Full suite of features

            • Dedicated Account Management

            Show more +

          Pricing Page

          Mandrill pricing
          MailerSend pricing
          SMTP pricingCampaigner pricing

          Other Details

          Organization Types supported

          • Large Enterprises
          • Medium Business
          • Small Business
          • Individuals
          • Freelancers
          • Large Enterprises
          • Medium Business
          • Small Business
          • Individuals
          • Freelancers
          • Large Enterprises
          • Medium Business
          • Small Business
          • Individuals
          • Freelancers
          • Large Enterprises
          • Medium Business
          • Small Business
          • Individuals
          • Freelancers

          Platforms Supported

          • Browser Based (Cloud)
          • Mobile - iOS
          • Browser Based (Cloud)
          • Browser Based (Cloud)
          • Mobile - iOS
          • Browser Based (Cloud)
          • Browser Based (Cloud)
          • Mobile - iOS
          • Browser Based (Cloud)
          • Browser Based (Cloud)
          • Mobile - iOS
          • Browser Based (Cloud)

          Modes of support

          • 24/7 (Live rep)
          • Business Hours
          • Online
          • 24/7 (Live rep)
          • Business Hours
          • Online
          • 24/7 (Live rep)
          • Business Hours
          • Online
          • 24/7 (Live rep)
          • Business Hours
          • Online

          API Support

          • Available
          • Available
          • Available
          • Available
          Get help choosing
          Get help choosing

          Security & Compliance

          Certifications, data handling, and security controls for IT and compliance evaluators.

          SOC 2

          ✓ Yes
          ✓ Yes

          HIPAA

          ✓ Yes
          ✗ No

          GDPR

          ✓ Yes
          ✓ Yes

          ISO 27001

          ✗ No

          Single Sign-On (SSO)

          ✓ Yes
          ✓ Yes

          Multi-Factor Auth (MFA)

          ✓ Yes
          ✓ Yes

          Data Encryption

          ✓ Yes
          ✓ Yes

          Audit Logs

          ✓ Yes
          ✓ Yes

          Data Residency

          🇺🇸 US
          🌐 Global

          Mandrill vs MailerSend vs SMTP User Reviews & Rating Comparison

          User Ratings

          No reviews available for the product

          3

          (based on 595 reviews)

          Rating Distribution

          56

          19

          5

          1

          4

          No reviews available for this product

          7

          3

          0

          0

          1

          0

          0

          0

          0

          0

          Spotsaas Editor’s POV generated by AI

          Buyer sentiment

          Users generally appreciate Mandrill's ease of use and effective transactional email capabilities but express concerns about pricing and limited customization after its integration into Mailchimp.

          What buyers like

          • Ease of use
          • Transactional email effectiveness
          • Branding customization

          Common complaints

          • Pricing and plan limitations
          • Template and customization restrictions

          Buyer sentiment

          Insufficient user feedback and ratings available to determine overall sentiment.

          What buyers like

          • Ease of use
          • Effective transactional email delivery
          • Good for reducing bulk email clutter

          Common complaints

          • Lack of detailed user reviews
          • Unclear pricing structure

          Buyer sentiment

          Buyer sentiment is mixed to positive across 11 reviews, with clear strengths and a few common watchouts.

          What buyers like

          • Reliable service with good deliverability and tracking, ensuring email marketing success.
          • Fast and helpful customer service that resolves issues and improves results promptly.
          • Easy to use and set up, providing analytics for list management.

          Common complaints

          • Long wait times for overseas customer support.
          • Pricing may be less competitive compared to other options in the market.
          • Some challenges with integration and setup for newcomers.

          Buyer sentiment

          Buyer sentiment is mixed across 595 reviews, so it is worth reviewing the tradeoffs closely.

          What buyers like

          • Strong inbox deliverability fundamentals and list compliance features help maintain high send reputation.
          • Flexible for custom workflows and extended integrations through API or middleware tools like Zapier.
          • Supports email and social channel integration for cohesive campaigns across platforms.

          Common complaints

          • While solid for campaign performance, its analytics lack the depth of standalone reporting or advanced BI dashboards.
          • Some parts of the interface feel dated and less intuitive compared to newer marketing solutions.
          • Compared to platforms with extensive app ecosystems, Campaigner’s built-in direct connectors are narrower, often relying on Zapier for third-party syncs.

          Pros and Cons

          • User-friendly interface with easy email design and data tracking

          • Effective transactional email delivery with customizable layouts

          • Strong branding customization for newsletters

          • Mandrill is no longer a standalone product and requires a paid Mailchimp account

          • Limited email template options and customization within Mailchimp

          • Focused on improving open rates for transactional emails

          • Helps reduce recipients' exposure to bulk email clutter

          • Designed specifically for marketers and agencies handling transactional emails

          • Lack of publicly available pricing information

          • No detailed user ratings or reviews to assess performance

          • Reliable service with good deliverability and tracking, ensuring email marketing success.

          • Fast and helpful customer service that resolves issues and improves results promptly.

          • Easy to use and set up, providing analytics for list management.

          • Long wait times for overseas customer support.

          • Pricing may be less competitive compared to other options in the market.

          • Strong inbox deliverability fundamentals and list compliance features help maintain high send reputation.

          • Flexible for custom workflows and extended integrations through API or middleware tools like Zapier.

          • Supports email and social channel integration for cohesive campaigns across platforms.

          • While solid for campaign performance, its analytics lack the depth of standalone reporting or advanced BI dashboards.

          • Some parts of the interface feel dated and less intuitive compared to newer marketing solutions.

          Positive Reviews

          No reviews available for the product

          No reviews available for the product

          No reviews available for the product

          No reviews available for the product

          Negative Reviews

          No reviews available for the product

          No reviews available for the product

          No reviews available for the product

          No reviews available for the product

          Integrations

          Integration with other apps

          No Integration information available.

          No Integration information available.

          No Integration information available.

          List of Customers

          Customers

          No Customers information available.

          No Customers information available.

          No Customers information available.

          LG

          LG

          The UPS Store

          The UPS Store

          CLARINS

          CLARINS

          Media and Screenshots

          Screenshots

          No screenshots available.

          MailerSend screenshot

          1 Screenshots

          Videos

          No videos available.

          video-0

          1 Videos

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          Disclaimer: This research has been collated from a variety of authoritative sources. We welcome your feedback at [email protected].

          Frequently asked questions

          Which is better, Mandrill or MailerSend?
          Mandrill edges out the other on user ratings (4.2 vs -1.0). That said, the best pick depends on your use case — use the comparison tables above to evaluate each dimension.
          Do Mandrill and MailerSend offer a free trial?
          Neither Mandrill nor MailerSend currently lists a free trial.
          What is the starting price of Mandrill vs MailerSend?
          Mandrill starts at Contact for pricing. MailerSend starts at Contact for pricing.
          What are the top alternatives to Mandrill?
          Top alternatives to Mandrill include SMTP, Campaigner, Moosend, UniOne, GreenArrow Engine.
          What are the top alternatives to MailerSend?
          Top alternatives to MailerSend include SMTP, Campaigner, Moosend, Flowmailer, Doppler Relay.

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