InboxGreen vs Amazon SES

Email sending infrastructure vs email authentication diagnostics - what each one does and when you need both.

Short answer: Amazon SES (Simple Email Service) is a high-volume email sending API built for developers and AWS users. InboxGreen is an email authentication tool that checks and fixes the DNS records (SPF, DKIM, DMARC) that determine whether emails sent through SES actually reach the inbox. SES is one of the cheapest ways to send at scale. InboxGreen makes sure the authentication is correct so that scale doesn't go to spam.

Amazon SES

Cloud email sending service

Send transactional and marketing emails via API, SMTP, or AWS SDK. Built into the AWS ecosystem. Requires AWS account and setup. Lowest cost per email at scale.

Free: 3,000 emails/day from EC2

$0.10 per 1,000 emails outside free tier

InboxGreen

Email authentication diagnostics

Check SPF, DKIM, and DMARC for your sending domain. Get copy-paste DNS fix records. Works with Amazon SES and any other sending service.

Free check - no account needed

FixKit $29 one-time - Monitor from $19/mo

Feature comparison

FeatureInboxGreenAmazon SES
Send email via API or SMTP No Yes - REST API, SMTP relay, AWS SDK
Check SPF / DKIM / DMARC in DNS Yes - free, instant, no account No standalone DNS check
Generate copy-paste DNS fix records Yes - formatted per DNS provider No
DKIM setup for custom domain Check + generate DKIM records free Provides DKIM via CNAME or Easy DKIM for verified identities
SPF record generator Free - try it No
DMARC record generator Free - try it No
Bounce and complaint handling No Yes - SNS notifications for bounces and complaints
Dedicated IPs available No (not a sending service) Yes - dedicated IPs from $24.95/mo each
Ongoing DNS monitoring + alerts Yes - from $19/mo No
Blacklist check Free - try it No
No AWS account required Yes - free tools work without signup AWS account required

What Amazon SES does not handle for you

SES is powerful but hands-off on the authentication side. When you set up a custom sending domain in SES, it provides DKIM records via Easy DKIM, but several things are left entirely to you:

  • SPF record - SES does not manage your SPF. You need to add include:amazonses.com to your SPF record (or use a MAIL FROM subdomain with its own SPF).
  • DMARC policy - SES does not set up DMARC. Without DMARC, Gmail and Yahoo will not fully trust your authentication even if SPF and DKIM pass.
  • DKIM alignment - If you use SES's default sending domain rather than a verified custom domain, DMARC alignment fails because the From domain doesn't match.
  • Sandbox mode - New SES accounts start in sandbox and can only send to verified addresses. Many developers fix authentication issues before or during the sandbox-to-production move.

A free InboxGreen check shows exactly what is set up and what is missing.

search Check My Domain Free

When to use Amazon SES

  • You need to send high-volume transactional or marketing emails at the lowest possible cost.
  • Your team is already on AWS and wants native integration without a separate ESP account.
  • You are a developer comfortable with AWS IAM, SNS, and some additional configuration overhead.

When to use InboxGreen alongside Amazon SES

  • You have set up SES but emails are landing in spam or being rejected by Gmail or Yahoo.
  • You need to verify SPF is correct and DKIM records from Easy DKIM are live in DNS.
  • You want to add a DMARC policy to complete your authentication setup.
  • You want ongoing monitoring so you know if SES DKIM records change or stop resolving.
Amazon SES set up but emails still going to spam?
A free InboxGreen check will show whether SPF, DKIM, and DMARC are correctly configured for your sending domain.
search Run Free Domain Check policy DMARC Generator

Frequently asked questions

Does Amazon SES set up SPF automatically?

No. SES provides DKIM signing via Easy DKIM, but SPF configuration is your responsibility. You need to add include:amazonses.com to your domain's SPF record, or configure a custom MAIL FROM subdomain with its own SPF. Use the SPF Generator to build the correct record.

My SES domain verification shows verified but emails go to spam - why?

SES domain verification confirms your identity but does not check your full authentication posture. If DMARC is missing or SPF has issues, emails from verified SES domains can still land in spam. Run an InboxGreen check to see the complete picture.

What is Amazon SES Easy DKIM?

Easy DKIM is an SES feature that automatically signs outbound emails with DKIM. It provides 2048-bit RSA keys and generates CNAME records you publish in your DNS. Once the CNAMEs are live, SES handles key rotation automatically. Use the DKIM Checker to confirm the CNAME records are resolving correctly.

Is InboxGreen an Amazon SES alternative?

No. InboxGreen does not send emails. It is an email authentication diagnostic tool. If you are looking for an alternative to Amazon SES's email sending service, look at Postmark, Mailgun, or SendGrid. If you want to check and fix your authentication records regardless of which platform you use, InboxGreen is the right tool.