Lvs
Loops vs Mailgun
Comparing two transactional email platforms on pricing, features, free tier, and trade-offs.
Quick summary
Loops — Email for modern software. Loops is a modern email platform combining transactional and marketing email with an approachable UI.
Mailgun — Transactional email API service. Mailgun offers powerful transactional email APIs with email validation and routing capabilities.
Feature comparison
| Feature | Loops | Mailgun |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing model | Freemium | Paid |
| Starting price | $49/mo | $15/mo |
| Free tier | Yes | Yes |
| Open source | No | No |
| Webhooks | Yes | Yes |
| Free Tier | 1,000 contacts | 100 emails/day (trial) |
| React Email | No | No |
| Batch Sending | Yes | Yes |
| Inbound Email | No | Yes |
| EU Data Residency | No | Yes |
L
Loops
Email for modern software
Pros
- Unified transactional + marketing
- Great UI
- Good for SaaS lifecycle emails
Cons
- Newer and smaller
- Fewer integrations
- Contact-based pricing
Mailgun
Transactional email API service
Pros
- Good deliverability
- Powerful routing
- Email validation add-on
Cons
- Pricing complexity
- Free trial only, no permanent free tier
Which should you choose?
Choose Loops if a free tier is important for your stage. Choose Mailgun if a free tier is important for your stage, and you need production-grade features and are ready to pay.
Frequently asked questions
Which is better, Loops or Mailgun?
There is no universal “better.” For most teams, Mailgun is the safer default because Mailgun has a larger community and more third-party integrations, which often translates to better long-term support. For edge cases, the comparison table above highlights where each tool wins.
Is Loops cheaper than Mailgun?
Loops starts at $49/mo, while Mailgun starts at $15/mo. Exact costs depend on usage — check both vendors' calculators before committing.
Can I migrate from Loops to Mailgun?
Migration difficulty depends on how deeply Loops-specific features (APIs, SDK conventions, data schemas) are baked into your app. Most transactional email migrations take days to weeks. Both vendors typically publish migration guides — check their docs.
Is Loops or Mailgun open source?
No — both Loops and Mailgun are proprietary managed services. If open source is a requirement, see our alternatives pages.
Does Loops or Mailgun have a free tier?
Both Loops and Mailgun offer a free tier.
Which is best for startups and indie hackers?
Startups usually optimize for the lowest friction to ship and the cheapest possible free tier. The one with the most generous free tier here is Mailgun. For production workloads, revisit the trade-offs in the feature table above.