Quick answer
Mailjet - Mailjet wins for most builders because its free tier allows more monthly sending and a lower step-up to paid, while Maileroo wins only if you need stronger delivery and inbound-routing features on a smaller send volume.
How the free tiers compare
These two free tiers solve different problems. Maileroo is the more delivery-focused option: it gives you SMTP relay, REST API access, inbound routing, full message retention, bounce and complaint handling, custom tracking domains, and even a free dedicated IP, but it caps outbound volume at 3,000 emails per month and 1,000 inbound emails. Mailjet is broader for teams building both marketing and transactional flows: the free plan allows 6,000 emails per month, 200 per day, 1,000 contacts, and access to APIs, SMTP Relay, webhooks, the editor, stats, and forms. The tradeoff is feature depth. Mailjet pushes segmentation, automation, advanced stats, no-logo branding, and higher sending limits into paid tiers. Maileroo’s starter plan is simple and flat-priced, while Mailjet’s ladder is cheaper to enter and scales more gradually for common small-team needs.
Maileroo vs Mailjet free tier, side by side
| Maileroo FTV 64 | Mailjet FTV 53 | |
|---|---|---|
| Outbound emails per month Mailjet also limits free sending to 200 emails/day. | Up to 3,000 | 6,000 |
| Inbound emails Maileroo includes inbound routing on the free tier. | 1,000 | Not listed |
| Contacts on free plan Mailjet includes 1,000 contacts free. | Not listed | 1,000 |
| SMTP relay Both support SMTP sending on the free tier. | Included | Included |
| REST/API access Both expose developer sending APIs on the free tier. | Included | Included |
| Webhooks Both list webhook access on the free plan. | Included | Included |
| Dedicated IP Mailjet only mentions a dedicated IP on 100k+ Premium plans. | Free dedicated IP included | Not listed on free |
After you outgrow the free tier
Maileroo uses a simple flat starter plan at $15/month, then custom enterprise pricing. Mailjet also uses flat pricing, but with a lower entry point: Starter at $9/month, then Essential at $17/month and Premium at $27/month. For small teams, Mailjet is cheaper to start and offers more gradual feature upgrades. Maileroo is pricier at the first paid step, but its free tier is more delivery-oriented. Neither input provides usage-based rates, so there are no per-volume cost calculations beyond the listed flat plans.
When to pick each one
Pick Maileroo when…
- You send transactional email from an app or website and want inbound routing included on the free tier.
- You care more about deliverability tooling, logs, bounce handling, suppression lists, and tracking than list-building features.
- You only need up to 3,000 outbound emails per month and would rather get a free dedicated IP than more volume.
- You want a no-credit-card free tier with strong SMTP/API basics and are fine with a lower send cap.
Pick Mailjet when…
- You need the higher free send cap of 6,000 emails per month.
- You want a free plan that already includes a visual editor, forms, webhooks, and basic stats.
- You are building marketing email with contacts management and expect to move into segmentation or automation later.
- You want the cheapest paid jump from free, since Mailjet starts at $9/month versus Maileroo’s $15/month starter.
Bottom line
For the most common builder use case, Mailjet is the better free-tier pick because it gives you more outbound volume, a lower paid entry point, and enough starter tools to cover both transactional and marketing email. Maileroo is the better choice when the free tier is mainly a delivery layer for an app, especially if inbound routing, retention, and deliverability controls matter more than contacts, segmentation, or editor-driven campaigns.
Read the full listings: Maileroo and Mailjet. Scores use the FTV methodology at /ftv. Browse more head-to-heads on /compare, or see the top-ranked free tiers on /top.