SendGrid Alternatives for Email Deliverability

Not all deliverability problems need a new sending platform. Here is how to diagnose what you actually need.

Important distinction: If emails are going to spam, the cause is often not your sending platform - it is misconfigured SPF, DKIM, or DMARC DNS records. Switching from SendGrid to another service will not fix a DNS authentication problem. Before looking for a SendGrid alternative, check whether your domain authentication is the actual issue.

Check your DNS before switching platforms

The most common reason emails go to spam has nothing to do with the sending platform. It comes down to three DNS records: SPF, DKIM, and DMARC. If any of these are missing or wrong, mail servers will mark your email as suspicious regardless of whether you use SendGrid, Mailgun, Postmark, or your own mail server.

Run a free InboxGreen check to see exactly what your domain's authentication looks like before spending time migrating platforms.

search Check My Domain Free

SendGrid alternatives for email sending

If you have confirmed your DNS is correct and the issue is with the sending platform itself, here are the main alternatives:

Service Best for Free tier Paid pricing
Postmark Transactional email - fast delivery and high reliability 100 emails/month From $15/mo (10k emails)
Mailgun Developer-focused API with good log and event data 100 emails/day From $15/mo (50k emails)
Amazon SES High volume at lowest cost - requires more setup 3,000 emails/day (from EC2) $0.10 per 1,000 emails
Resend Developer-friendly API with React email template support 3,000 emails/month From $20/mo (50k emails)
Brevo (ex-Sendinblue) Marketing + transactional in one platform 300 emails/day From $25/mo (20k emails)

What no sending platform fixes for you

Every sending service above sets up DKIM for emails sent through their platform. But your domain still needs:

Correct SPF record

Your SPF record must include the sending service's servers. If you switch from SendGrid to Postmark, your SPF include: needs to change. Use the SPF Generator to build the right record.

DMARC policy

DMARC is a domain-level policy that is independent of your sending platform. Most small businesses have no DMARC record or are stuck at p=none. Use the DMARC Generator to create one.

DKIM for your custom domain

When you set up a new sending platform, you need to publish new DKIM CNAME or TXT records. The DKIM Checker confirms your records are live and correct.

How InboxGreen helps when switching platforms

  • Check your current SPF, DKIM, and DMARC before migrating so you know your starting point.
  • After migration, verify the new sending platform's DKIM records are live and SPF is updated correctly.
  • Get copy-paste DNS records formatted for Cloudflare, Namecheap, GoDaddy, or whichever DNS provider you use.
  • Set up ongoing monitoring so you get alerted if records break during or after the migration.
search Run Free Domain Check

Frequently asked questions

Will switching from SendGrid to Postmark or Mailgun improve my deliverability?

It depends on the cause of the problem. If your SPF, DKIM, or DMARC are misconfigured, switching platforms will not help because the DNS authentication problem follows your domain. If the issue is SendGrid's shared IP reputation or specific restrictions, then switching to a platform with dedicated IPs or better reputation for your use case may help. Diagnose the DNS side first before migrating.

What should my SPF record include after switching from SendGrid?

Remove the include:sendgrid.net from your SPF record and add the include for your new provider. Common examples: include:spf.postmarkapp.com for Postmark, include:mailgun.org for Mailgun. Check your provider's documentation for the correct include value. Use the SPF Generator to rebuild the record cleanly.

Why do emails from my new sending platform still go to spam?

After switching, confirm that the new DKIM records are published and resolving, that SPF includes the new provider, and that DMARC passes. New sending IPs also take time to build reputation - spam folders are common during an IP warming period even with correct authentication. Run an InboxGreen check to rule out DNS issues first.

How long does it take to migrate from SendGrid?

The technical migration (API integration, DKIM/SPF DNS changes) typically takes a few hours to a day. DNS propagation for new records takes minutes to a few hours. IP reputation warming for cold or shared IPs can take 2-4 weeks of gradual volume increase for high-volume senders. For low-volume senders on dedicated IPs, warmup is minimal.