Quick answer
Resend - For most builders, Resend wins because its free tier is genuinely free, broader on developer workflow features, and easier to grow into with clear usage-based pricing.
How the free tiers compare
EmailLabs is the better fit if your main goal is a higher free sending cap and you want a simple SMTP plus REST relay with a shared IP. Its free tier allows up to 9,000 emails per month, which is materially higher than Resend’s 3,000, and it requires no credit card. The tradeoff is that the free plan is thinner on modern developer workflow features and has only 1 day of log retention. Resend’s free tier is smaller but more builder-friendly: it includes SDKs, scheduled and batch sending, open and link tracking, React Email, one custom domain, 30 days of retention, one webhook endpoint, automation runs, and AI credits. After the free tier, EmailLabs is mostly flat-priced, while Resend scales by usage and adds overages.
EmailLabs vs Resend free tier, side by side
| EmailLabsFTV 65 | ResendFTV 30 | |
|---|---|---|
| Free emails per monthEmailLabs allows more free sending volume. | Up to 9,000 | 3,000 |
| Daily sending limitBoth free tiers cap daily volume. | 300 emails/day | 100 emails/day |
| Log retentionResend keeps logs much longer on the free plan. | 1 day | 30 days |
| Custom domainsResend includes one custom domain in the free tier. | Not listed on free tier | 1 |
| Webhook accessEmailLabs gates webhooks above free; Resend includes them free. | Higher plans only | 1 webhook endpoint on free tier |
| Automation runsThis is a Resend free-tier feature, not an EmailLabs one. | Not listed | 10,000 |
After you outgrow the free tier
EmailLabs is mostly flat-priced after free: the first paid tier is Essential 30 at 23 EUR/month, then PRO 100 at 69 EUR/month, then Enterprise by quote. Resend uses usage-based pricing: Pro starts at $20/mo with 50,000 emails and $0.90 per 1,000 extra emails, then Scale at $90/mo with 100,000 emails and the same overage rate, then Enterprise by quote. For small teams, EmailLabs is cheaper at the entry paid tier only if you need its package features; Resend is cheaper to start and easier to scale because overages are explicit.
Cost at real usage
| Usage | EmailLabs | Resend |
|---|---|---|
| 50,000 emails/moResend Pro includes 50,000 emails/mo before overages. | 23 EUR/mo tier does not fit; next listed tier is 69 EUR/mo if you need higher volume | $20/mo |
| 100,000 emails/moResend Scale includes 100,000 emails/mo. | 23 EUR/mo tier includes up to 100,000 emails/mo | $90/mo |
| 120,000 emails/moResend estimate uses $90/mo for 100,000 plus 20,000 extra at $0.90 per 1,000. | Requires Enterprise / contact sales | $108/mo est. |
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 the highest no-cost monthly email cap and can live within a 300-per-day limit.
- You want a simple SMTP relay or REST API with templates and basic analytics for transactional email.
- You do not need much log history and only need 1 day of retention on the free plan.
- You want to test sending from a shared IP before committing to a paid plan.
Pick Resend when…
- You want a free plan with SDKs, React Email, scheduled sending, batch sending, and tracking included.
- You need 30 days of data retention, one webhook endpoint, and access to all webhook events on day one.
- You are building around a modern developer workflow and want clear upgrade paths with overages.
- You want a free tier with sending and receiving, not just sending.
- You prefer a product whose paid plans spell out usage-based growth instead of jumping from one flat tier to the next.
Bottom line
For the most common builder use case, Resend is the better pick because it gives you a real free plan with modern developer features and a clear path to scale with usage-based pricing. EmailLabs is the better choice if your priority is simple email sending and a higher free monthly cap, especially if 9,000 emails per month is enough. If you expect to grow beyond hobby volume, Resend is usually easier to reason about and cheaper to start.
Read the full listings: EmailLabs and Resend. Scores use the FTV methodology at /ftv. Browse more head-to-heads on /compare, or see the top-ranked free tiers on /top.