Quick comparison
| Feature | Resend | Postmark | RelayPost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Transactional email | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ |
| Campaign/marketing email | ✅ (Broadcasts) | ✅ (Bulk API) | ✅ (Full) |
| SMTP support | Yes | Full | Full |
| REST API | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ |
| React Email integration | ✅ (built-in) | ❌ | Via API |
| Webhooks | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ |
| Free tier | 3,000/mo (100/day) | 100/mo | 1,000/mo |
| Starting paid price | $20/mo (50K) | $15/mo (10K) | $5/mo (10K) |
| Dedicated IPs | $30/mo (Scale+) | $50/mo (Pro+, 300K+) | Pro plan |
| Team members | Limited by plan | Limited by plan | Unlimited |
Resend: modern DX, API-first
Resend is built for modern developer workflows. Their React Email integration is a standout feature — you can build email templates as React components and send them directly through the API.
Strengths:
- Clean, modern API design
- React Email integration for component-based templates
- Good TypeScript SDK
- Generous free tier (3,000 emails/month)
Limitations:
- Broadcasts via Audiences are basic compared to full campaign builders
- SMTP support is newer — less battle-tested than Postmark
- Newer platform — less track record than Postmark
- Dedicated IPs only on Scale plan ($30/mo add-on)
Postmark: deliverability-focused, transactional-only
Postmark has been around since 2009 and is known for fast, reliable transactional email delivery. They intentionally don't support marketing email to keep their sending infrastructure clean.
Strengths:
- Excellent deliverability and fast delivery times
- Mature, battle-tested platform
- Full SMTP support for legacy integrations
- Unlimited team members on all plans
- Message Streams for separating email types
Limitations:
- Bulk API for marketing is basic — no visual campaign builder
- Limited free tier (100 emails/mo)
- API design is older compared to Resend
- Now owned by ActiveCampaign — some concern about independence
The gap both leave open
Both Resend and Postmark have recently added basic marketing email features (Resend via Audiences/Broadcasts, Postmark via Bulk API). However, neither offers a full campaign builder with visual editing, advanced segmentation, scheduling, and A/B testing. If you need mature campaign features alongside transactional email, RelayPost provides both in a single platform.
Pricing comparison
| Volume | Resend | Postmark | RelayPost |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1,000/mo | Free | Free (100/mo) | Free |
| 10,000/mo | $20/mo | $15/mo | $5/mo |
| 50,000/mo | $20/mo | ~$65/mo | $25/mo |
| 100,000/mo | $90/mo | ~$85/mo | $25/mo |
When to choose each
- Choose Resend if you're building with React and want component-based email templates with a modern DX
- Choose Postmark if you need proven transactional delivery with the longest track record and don't need campaign email
- Choose RelayPost if you need both transactional and campaign email in one platform with transparent pricing
Frequently asked questions
Is Resend better than Postmark?
It depends on your needs. Resend has a more modern developer experience and React Email integration. Postmark has a longer track record and faster delivery times. Neither supports both transactional and campaign emails in one platform — RelayPost does.
Does Postmark support marketing emails?
Postmark recently added a Bulk API for marketing/broadcast email. It's functional but basic compared to dedicated campaign platforms. For advanced campaign features (visual builder, segmentation, scheduling), RelayPost offers a more complete solution.
Does Resend have SMTP support?
Yes, Resend now supports SMTP relay. However, it's a newer addition — if your application relies heavily on SMTP (WordPress, legacy systems, IoT devices), Postmark or RelayPost offer more mature SMTP implementations.
Which is cheaper, Resend or Postmark?
Resend starts free (100 emails/day, 3,000/month). Postmark starts at $15/month for 10,000 emails (Basic plan). For low volume, Resend is cheaper. For high volume (100K+), both are in the $70-90/mo range. RelayPost offers 1,000 free emails/month, then $25/mo for 100K — significantly cheaper at scale.
Why not both?
RelayPost combines transactional reliability with campaign support. One API, one bill.
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