Quick answer
MailerSend - MailerSend wins for builders who want a cheaper step-up from the free tier, while Resend wins for teams that care more about a generous free sending allowance and a simpler API-first email stack.
How the free tiers compare
MailerSend and Resend both cover developer email, but they optimize for different bottlenecks. MailerSend’s free tier is very small at 500 emails and 10 verification credits, but its first paid step is inexpensive, and the paid ladder adds practical business features like more seats, templates, domains, and higher API limits. Resend gives you a larger free envelope up front: 3,000 emails per month, 100 per day, plus SDKs, React Email, webhooks, tracking, and one custom domain. Its paid plans are more usage-shaped, with extra-email charges once you go beyond the included volume. So the choice is mostly between a cheaper paid entry point with MailerSend and a better free tier with Resend, especially if you need to send a meaningful amount before paying.
MailerSend vs Resend free tier, side by side
| MailerSendFTV 37 | ResendFTV 30 | |
|---|---|---|
| Free emails per monthResend also has a 100 emails/day cap on free. | 500 | 3,000 |
| Free email verification credits | 10 | Not included |
| Free custom domains | Not stated | 1 |
| Free data retention | Not stated | 30 days |
| Free API / send limitMailerSend’s free plan description does not give a daily API limit. | Not stated | 100 emails/day |
| First paid emails per monthMailerSend Hobby is flat priced; Resend Pro includes extra-email pricing beyond the included quota. | 5,000 | 50,000 |
| First paid priceMailerSend’s first paid plan is flat; Resend’s Pro plan is usage-based. | $5.60/month | $20/month |
| Paid extra email rateOnly shown for Resend. | Not stated | $0.90 / 1,000 |
| Paid domains | 1 on Hobby, 10 on Starter | 10 on Pro |
After you outgrow the free tier
MailerSend’s first paid tier is flat-priced, starting at $5.60/month, so cost growth is predictable until you move up to larger flat tiers. Resend starts at $20/month on Pro and then adds usage-based overage at $0.90 per 1,000 extra emails, so it becomes more sensitive to volume spikes. For small teams with modest sending, MailerSend is cheaper after free. For teams that can make good use of Resend’s bigger free allowance, Resend delays payment longer but costs more once the included email volume is exceeded.
Cost at real usage
| Usage | MailerSend | Resend |
|---|---|---|
| 500 emails/mo | Free (within tier) | Free (within tier) |
| 3,000 emails/moMailerSend free only covers 500 emails/month. | Free is over cap; Hobby $5.60/mo | Free (within tier) |
| 5,000 emails/moResend Pro includes 50,000 emails/month, so no overage here. | Hobby $5.60/mo | Pro $20/mo |
| 60,000 emails/moResend overage estimate is based on 10,000 extra emails at $0.90 / 1,000. | Starter $28/mo | Pro $20/mo + ~$9.00 overage |
| 100,000 emails/moResend Scale includes 100,000 emails/month. | Starter $28/mo | Scale $90/mo |
Estimates, not quotes. Usage-based rates change - verify with the vendor's pricing page before committing.
When to pick each one
Pick MailerSend when…
- You want the lowest-cost paid upgrade after the free plan runs out.
- You need email verification credits alongside sending, and want both to scale on the same plan.
- You care about drag-and-drop editing and email threads support in the free or cheap paid tiers.
- You expect to add more seats, templates, or domains as you grow.
- You want a simple flat-price starting point at $5.60/month.
Pick Resend when…
- You need more than 500 emails but still want to stay on free as long as possible.
- You want REST API, SMTP, SDKs, React Email, scheduled sends, batch sending, and tracking included on free.
- You need one custom domain and webhook support in the free plan.
- You want a free plan with daily sending limits and automation runs for app workflows.
- You expect usage to grow gradually and want a pay-for-overage model with extra email pricing.
Bottom line
For most builders comparing free tiers, Resend is the better starting point because its free plan is meaningfully larger and includes more of the email workflow stack. But once you are past the free envelope, MailerSend is usually the cheaper next step: its first paid tier is only $5.60/month versus Resend’s $20 Pro entry. If you expect to pay soon, MailerSend is easier on the budget. If you want to stay free longer and ship with a fuller developer email toolset, Resend is the stronger fit.
Read the full listings: MailerSend 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.