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Head-to-head · Transactional Email Software

Mailchimp Transactional (formerly Mandrill) vs Mailgun

  • Updated Sep 2026
  • Both researched from official sources
  • 4 checks side by side
Higher score Mailchimp Transactional (formerly Mandrill) #3 in Transactional Email Software 8.3/10 From $20 ✓ 2 of 2 features Visit Mailchimp
Mailgun #4 in Transactional Email Software 7.7/10 Free plan · 30-day trial Free plan✓ 1 of 2 features Visit Mailgun

Mailchimp Transactional (formerly Mandrill) leads on 2 checks, Mailgun on 1, and 1 is even. Who comes out ahead on the 4 yes/no, price and count checks where we have data for both products. The editor score weighs everything else too.

Our verdict

  • Highest scoreMailchimp Transactional (formerly Mandrill) · 8.3/10
  • Free planonly Mailgun
  • Most featuresMailchimp Transactional (formerly Mandrill) · 2 of 2

Mailchimp Transactional (formerly Mandrill) scores higher on our rubric for transactional email software: 8.3 against 7.7 out of 10; our editors rank them #3 and #4.

Mailgun offers free plan; Mailchimp Transactional (formerly Mandrill) doesn't. Mailchimp Transactional (formerly Mandrill) offers event webhooks; Mailgun doesn't publish it. Mailchimp Transactional (formerly Mandrill) leads on monthly send limit: 25000 emails/mo versus 10000 emails/mo.

Mailchimp Transactional (formerly Mandrill) is the better fit for high-volume transactional sending with predictable blocks. Mailgun is the better fit for mature API-first email teams.

  • Mailchimp Transactional (formerly Mandrill) fits best

    High-volume transactional sending with predictable blocks

  • Mailgun fits best

    Mature API-first email teams

Advertiser disclosure: iTechGuides is reader-supported. We may earn a commission when you click some links. It never changes our verdict. How we rank.

Side by side

Feature Mailchimp Transactional (formerly Mandrill) 8.3/10 Visit ↗ Mailgun 7.7/10 Visit ↗
At a glance
Editor score 8.3 7.7
Ranking #3 in Transactional Email Software #4 in Transactional Email Software
Best for High-volume transactional sending with predictable blocks Mature API-first email teams
Pricing model Paid Free plan + paid
Starting price Not published Not published
Free plan — ✓ (best)
Free trial — —
Deployment Cloud Cloud
Platforms Web Web
Features Mailchimp Transactional (formerly Mandrill) 2/2 · Mailgun 1/2
Event webhooks ✓ (best) Not published
Dedicated IP option ✓ ✓
Specs
Delivery methods Both Not published
Template options Both Not published
Delivery log retention 30 days Not published
Monthly send limit 25000 emails/mo (best) 10000 emails/mo
Our review
Pros
  • Supports both transactional API and SMTP sending
  • Includes templates, dynamic content, webhooks, and inbound processing
  • Per-block pricing falls from $20 to $10 at 161+ blocks
  • RESTful API, SMTP relay, inbound routing, and delivery webhooks
  • Templates, analytics, logs, and suppression management support core workflows
  • Dedicated IP pools, SAML SSO, and live support are available on Scale
Cons
  • No permanent free plan
  • Requires a Mailchimp account
  • Email content is retained for 30 days
  • The Free plan limits sending to 100 emails per day
  • One custom sending domain and one inbound route are included on Free
  • Advanced features such as dedicated IP pools require the Scale plan
Our verdict

Mailchimp Transactional, formerly Mandrill, is a cloud email delivery service for developers sending personalized, event-driven messages. Its use cases include password resets, order confirmations, welcome emails, and outage alerts.…

Read the review →

Mailgun is a developer-oriented email delivery platform for teams sending transactional and marketing messages through web interfaces and APIs. Its core offering combines a RESTful email API, SMTP relay, inbound email routing,…

Read the review →
  1. Mailchimp Transactional (formerly Mandrill)Transactional Email Software 8.3From $20
  2. MailgunTransactional Email Software 7.7Free plan · 30-day trial

Strengths and trade-offs

  • Mailchimp Transactional (formerly Mandrill) — where it wins

    • Supports both transactional API and SMTP sending
    • Includes templates, dynamic content, webhooks, and inbound processing
    • Per-block pricing falls from $20 to $10 at 161+ blocks

    Where it doesn't

    • No permanent free plan
    • Requires a Mailchimp account
    • Email content is retained for 30 days

  • Mailgun — where it wins

    • RESTful API, SMTP relay, inbound routing, and delivery webhooks
    • Templates, analytics, logs, and suppression management support core workflows
    • Dedicated IP pools, SAML SSO, and live support are available on Scale

    Where it doesn't

    • The Free plan limits sending to 100 emails per day
    • One custom sending domain and one inbound route are included on Free
    • Advanced features such as dedicated IP pools require the Scale plan
  • Mailchimp Transactional (formerly Mandrill)8.3/10 · From $20

    A paid transactional email service with API, SMTP, templates, and volume pricing.

    Visit MailchimpFull verdict →
  • Mailgun7.7/10 · Free plan · 30-day trial

    A mature API-first platform for transactional sending, routing, tracking, and deliverability.

    Visit MailgunFull verdict →

More comparisons

All transactional email software comparisons → · Full ranking →

Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Sep 2026

Last updated · How we research and update