Quick answer
Mailjet - Mailjet wins for most readers who want the larger free email allowance and no-credit-card signup, while Resend wins if you care more about developer workflow features than raw free-tier volume.
How the free tiers compare
Mailjet’s free tier is built like a small marketing and transactional email starter package: 6,000 emails per month, 1,000 contacts, a 200 emails/day cap, and basics like APIs, SMTP relay, webhooks, an advanced editor, statistics, and forms. It is the more generous free tier on volume, and the free plan does not require a credit card. Resend’s free tier is narrower on volume, with 3,000 emails per month and 100/day, but it includes a more developer-centered toolkit: REST API, SDKs, SMTP, React Email, scheduled and batch sending, open and link tracking, one custom domain, webhook access, automation runs, and AI credits. After free, Mailjet’s pricing is simpler and flatter, while Resend uses a usage-based model with extra-email charges.
Mailjet vs Resend free tier, side by side
| MailjetFTV 53 | ResendFTV 30 | |
|---|---|---|
| Emails per monthMailjet allows twice as many monthly emails on the free tier. | 6,000 | 3,000 |
| Emails per dayBoth free plans have a daily sending cap. | 200 | 100 |
| Contacts / domainsThese are different quota types, so they are not directly comparable. | 1,000 contacts | 1 custom domain |
| Automation runsResend includes automation runs in free; Mailjet does not list this on the provided free tier. | Not listed | 10,000 |
| API and sending accessBoth support developer sending, but Resend exposes more SDK-oriented workflow tools. | APIs, SMTP Relay, Webhooks | REST API, SMTP relay, SDKs |
| Tracking / email toolsMailjet’s free tier is more editor and campaign oriented; Resend’s is more app integration oriented. | Advanced Email Editor, Basic Statistics, Form Builder | Scheduled emails, batch sending, open tracking, link tracking, React Email |
| Credit card requiredMailjet explicitly says no credit card is required; Resend explicitly requires one. | No | Yes |
After you outgrow the free tier
Mailjet’s paid plans are flat monthly tiers: Starter at $9/month, Essential at $17/month, Premium at $27/month, then custom enterprise pricing. The main cost jumps come from higher email caps and features like segmentation, automations, and no-logo branding. Resend starts at $20/month for Pro and $90/month for Scale, but it adds usage-based overage at $0.90 per 1,000 extra emails. That makes Resend cheaper only while you stay within its included volume and more expensive as you push beyond it. For typical small-team sending, Mailjet is the cheaper paid path.
Cost at real usage
| Usage | Mailjet | Resend |
|---|---|---|
| 10,000 emails/moMailjet Starter includes 8,000 emails/month, so 10,000 would require moving up to Essential at $17/month if you need that volume. Resend Pro includes 50,000 emails/month. | ~$9/mo | ~$20/mo |
| 50,000 emails/moMailjet’s provided plans top out at 15,000 emails/month on the listed self-serve tiers; higher volume points to custom enterprise plans. Resend Pro includes 50,000 emails/month. | Contact sales / not priced in provided plans | $20/mo |
| 100,000 emails/moResend Scale includes 100,000 emails/month. Mailjet says Custom enterprise plans are for high-volume senders, but no monthly rate was provided. | Contact sales / not priced in provided plans | $90/mo |
| 120,000 emails/moResend Scale includes 100,000 emails/month plus extra emails at $0.90 per 1,000, so 20,000 overage adds about $18. | Contact sales / not priced in provided plans | ~$108/mo |
Estimates, not quotes. Usage-based rates change - verify with the vendor's pricing page before committing.
When to pick each one
Pick Mailjet when…
- You want the bigger free monthly sending allowance for a side project or small newsletter.
- You need a free plan without entering a credit card.
- You want basic marketing-email tooling in the free tier, like an editor, forms, and contact management.
- You expect to stay under 1,000 contacts and want a simple free starting point for mixed marketing and transactional email.
Pick Resend when…
- You are building an app and want an API-first email workflow with SDKs and React Email.
- You need scheduled emails, batch sending, and tracking features in the free tier.
- You want to test with a custom domain and webhook-driven integrations before paying.
- You care more about developer ergonomics than total free send volume.
Bottom line
For most builders comparing free tiers, Mailjet is the better starting point because it gives you more free sends, a higher daily cap, and no credit-card requirement. Resend is the better fit if you are wiring email into an application and want developer-friendly features in the free plan, especially React Email, SDKs, scheduled sending, and webhooks. If your main question is “which free tier gets me farther before I pay?”, Mailjet wins. If your question is “which free tier feels more like an app integration tool?”, Resend wins.
Read the full listings: Mailjet 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.