Quick answer
Maileroo - Maileroo wins for most builders because its free tier is broader and closer to the paid product, while EmailLabs only wins if you need a higher free sending cap and more room before paying.
How the free tiers compare
These two free tiers solve slightly different problems. EmailLabs gives you more outbound volume on the free plan, with up to 9,000 emails per month and 300 per day, plus SMTP and REST API access, templates, basic analytics, and a shared IP. That makes it better if your main constraint is message count. Maileroo is smaller on volume at 3,000 outbound emails per month, but the free tier is much more feature-complete: it includes inbound routing, webhooks, verification, tracking, retention, support, and a dedicated IP. Its paid path also looks more like a lightweight email platform, with campaigns and automations in the Starter plan. If you want a sending API first, EmailLabs is the simpler fit. If you want a free tier you can build more around without paying immediately, Maileroo is the stronger default.
EmailLabs vs Maileroo free tier, side by side
| EmailLabsFTV 65 | MailerooFTV 64 | |
|---|---|---|
| Outbound emails per monthEmailLabs has the larger free sending cap. | Up to 9,000 | Up to 3,000 |
| Daily sending limitOnly EmailLabs gives a daily cap in the provided free-tier data. | 300 emails/day | Not stated |
| Inbound emailsMaileroo includes inbound handling on the free tier. | Not stated | 1,000 |
| Dedicated IPMaileroo includes a dedicated IP on the free plan. | Shared IP included | Free dedicated IP address |
| Log retentionMaileroo keeps logs longer on the free tier. | 1 day | 14 days |
After you outgrow the free tier
Both products use flat-price entry plans, then move to contact-sales tiers above that. EmailLabs starts at 23 EUR/month for Essential 30, which raises the sending cap to 100,000 emails/month and removes the daily sending limit. Maileroo starts at $15/month for Starter, but the free tier already includes a lot of the product surface, so the paid jump is more about campaigns, automations, and account limits than core delivery. For typical small-team use, Maileroo is cheaper to enter, while EmailLabs gives a larger free volume cushion before any payment is needed.
Cost at real usage
| Usage | EmailLabs | Maileroo |
|---|---|---|
| 3,000 outbound emails/moMaileroo's free cap fits exactly here. | Free (within tier) | Free (within tier) |
| 5,000 outbound emails/moMaileroo's free plan is capped at 3,000 outbound emails/month, while Starter covers 5,000. | Free (within tier) | $15/mo |
| 9,000 outbound emails/moEmailLabs free tier still fits; Maileroo would need a paid plan. | Free (within tier) | $15/mo |
| 100,000 outbound emails/moEmailLabs lists 100,000 emails/month on Essential 30; Maileroo's provided paid tiers do not state a volume-priced plan for this level. | 23 EUR/month | Custom / contact sales |
Estimates, not quotes. Usage-based rates change - verify with the vendor's pricing page before committing.
When to pick each one
Pick EmailLabs when…
- You need up to 9,000 outbound emails per month on the free tier.
- You mainly want SMTP relay or an email REST API for transactional sends.
- You want a higher daily sending cap, since EmailLabs lists 300 emails per day.
- You care more about email volume than extra workflow or campaign tools.
Pick Maileroo when…
- You want inbound routing on the free tier.
- You want webhooks, bounce handling, complaint handling, and verification included without paying.
- You want message retention, tracking, and reporting features on the free plan.
- You want a free dedicated IP included from the start.
- You plan to move into campaigns or automations after the free tier.
Bottom line
For most builders choosing a free tier, Maileroo is the better default because it gives you more of the surrounding email workflow for free, not just sending. If you only care about maximizing free outbound volume, EmailLabs is better, since its free cap is higher and its paid entry point is still straightforward. The split is simple: EmailLabs for volume-first sending, Maileroo for a more complete email stack you can test and build on before paying.
Read the full listings: EmailLabs and Maileroo. Scores use the FTV methodology at /ftv. Browse more head-to-heads on /compare, or see the top-ranked free tiers on /top.