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Head-to-head · Transactional Email Software

Mailgun vs Plunk

  • Updated Sep 2026
  • Both researched from official sources
  • 2 checks side by side
Higher score Mailgun #4 in Transactional Email Software 7.7/10 Free plan · 30-day trial Free plan✓ 1 of 2 features Visit Mailgun
Plunk #6 in Transactional Email Software 6.9/10 Free plan · paid from $0.00 Free plan✓ 0 of 2 features Visit Plunk

Mailgun leads on 1 check, Plunk on 0, and 1 is even. Who comes out ahead on the 2 yes/no, price and count checks where we have data for both products. The editor score weighs everything else too.

Our verdict

  • Highest scoreMailgun · 7.7/10
  • Free planboth
  • Most featuresMailgun · 1 of 2

Mailgun scores higher on our rubric for transactional email software: 7.7 against 6.9 out of 10; our editors rank them #4 and #6.

Mailgun offers dedicated ip option; Plunk doesn't publish it.

Mailgun is the better fit for mature API-first email teams. Plunk is the better fit for flexible self-hosted or pay-as-you-go sending.

  • Mailgun fits best

    Mature API-first email teams

  • Plunk fits best

    Flexible self-hosted or pay-as-you-go sending

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 Mailgun 7.7/10 Visit ↗ Plunk 6.9/10 Visit ↗
At a glance
Editor score 7.7 6.9
Ranking #4 in Transactional Email Software #6 in Transactional Email Software
Best for Mature API-first email teams Flexible self-hosted or pay-as-you-go sending
Pricing model Free plan + paid Free plan + paid
Starting price Not published Not published
Free plan ✓ ✓
Free trial — —
Deployment Cloud Cloud, Self-hosted
Platforms Web Web
Features Mailgun 1/2 · Plunk 0/2
Event webhooks Not published Not published
Dedicated IP option ✓ (best) Not published
Specs
Delivery methods Not published Not published
Template options Not published Not published
Delivery log retention Not published Not published
Monthly send limit 10000 emails/mo Not published
Our review
Pros
  • 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
  • Free plan includes 1,000 monthly emails and unlimited contacts
  • Pay-as-you-grow pricing is $0.001 per email with unlimited sending
  • REST API, SMTP relay, inbound processing, workflows, and Docker self-hosting
Cons
  • 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
  • The Free plan is limited to 1,000 emails per month
  • Usage-based billing can make monthly costs vary with send volume
  • Self-hosting with Docker Compose requires technical administration
Our verdict

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 →

Plunk is an open-source email platform for developers and teams managing transactional email, campaigns, workflows, contacts, and analytics. It supports REST API delivery, SMTP relay, inbound email processing, reusable templates, dynamic…

Read the review →
  1. MailgunTransactional Email Software 7.7Free plan · 30-day trial
  2. PlunkTransactional Email Software 6.9Free plan · paid from $0.00

Strengths and trade-offs

  • 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

  • Plunk — where it wins

    • Free plan includes 1,000 monthly emails and unlimited contacts
    • Pay-as-you-grow pricing is $0.001 per email with unlimited sending
    • REST API, SMTP relay, inbound processing, workflows, and Docker self-hosting

    Where it doesn't

    • The Free plan is limited to 1,000 emails per month
    • Usage-based billing can make monthly costs vary with send volume
    • Self-hosting with Docker Compose requires technical administration
  • Mailgun7.7/10 · Free plan · 30-day trial

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

    Visit MailgunFull verdict →
  • Plunk6.9/10 · Free plan · paid from $0.00

    A flexible email platform combining API delivery, automation, analytics, and self-hosting.

    Visit PlunkFull 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