Use Mailgun for simpler setup, better monitoring dashboard, and GoHighLevel compatibility. Use AWS SES for maximum cost savings at high volume (5-10x cheaper). Mailgun Foundation ($35/month for 50K) vs SES (~$5/month for 50K). The trade-off: Mailgun is easier; SES is cheaper. For GoHighLevel agencies sending under 100K/month: Mailgun. For agencies at 200K+/month who have AWS experience: SES.
Mailgun vs AWS SES: Full Comparison for Email Infrastructure (2026)
Pricing (March 2026)
| Volume/Month | Mailgun Foundation | Mailgun Scale | AWS SES |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10,000 | $35 | $90 | $1 |
| 50,000 | $35 | $90 | $5 |
| 100,000 | $90 (Scale) | $90 | $10 |
| 300,000 | $175+ | $175+ | $30 |
| 500,000 | $275+ | $275+ | $50 |
| Dedicated IP | $59/mo | $59/mo | $24.95/mo |
SES is 5-10x cheaper at every volume. The question: is the savings worth the setup complexity?
Feature Comparison
| Feature | Mailgun | AWS SES |
|---|---|---|
| Setup Time | 30 minutes | 4-8 hours |
| SMTP Relay | Yes | Yes |
| API | REST API (good) | AWS SDK (complex) |
| Dashboard | Yes (delivery analytics) | CloudWatch (build yourself) |
| Bounce Handling | Automatic | Manual (SNS setup required) |
| Complaint Handling | Automatic | Manual (SNS setup required) |
| Email Validation | Built-in | No |
| Inbound Email | Yes | Yes (via SES rules + S3/SNS) |
| Dedicated IP | $59/mo | $24.95/mo |
| Auto-suspend Risk | Moderate | High (10% bounce = instant suspend) |
| Support | Included | Basic free, paid starts $29/mo |
| GHL Integration | Battle-tested | Works (after sandbox exit) |
| Sandbox Mode | No | Yes (must request production) |
The Verdict
Choose Mailgun if:
- Setup simplicity matters
- You want a built-in monitoring dashboard
- GoHighLevel integration (most tested)
- Volume under 200K/month (savings don't justify SES complexity)
- No AWS experience on your team
Choose AWS SES if:
- Cost optimization is primary (saving $200+/month at scale)
- Already in the AWS ecosystem
- Have developers who can configure SNS/CloudWatch
- Volume above 200K/month (savings are significant)
- Comfortable with more complex setup and maintenance
The hybrid approach: Mailgun for GoHighLevel (simpler integration) + SES for application email (cost savings). Different tools for different purposes.
Practitioner note: For GHL agencies, I start everyone on Mailgun Foundation ($35/month). It's the simplest, most reliable GHL integration. When an agency grows past 200K monthly emails and the cost difference becomes $200+/month, I evaluate SES migration. The migration is straightforward but the monitoring setup is what takes time.
Practitioner note: SES's auto-suspension at 10% bounce rate catches people. Mailgun is more forgiving — they warn you before taking action. If you're importing new lists or experimenting with segments, Mailgun's grace period gives you time to react. SES suspends first, asks questions later.
If you need help choosing between Mailgun and SES for your infrastructure, schedule a consultation.
Sources
- Mailgun: Pricing
- AWS: SES Pricing
v1.0 · March 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
How much cheaper is SES than Mailgun?
At 50K/month: SES $5 vs Mailgun $35 (7x cheaper). At 100K: SES $10 vs Mailgun $90 (9x cheaper). At 500K: SES $50 vs Mailgun $275 (5.5x cheaper). The absolute savings increase with volume. The relative savings are 5-10x at every tier.
Which is easier to set up?
Mailgun, significantly. Mailgun: sign up → verify domain → get SMTP credentials → done in 30 minutes. AWS SES: create AWS account → configure SES → verify domain → exit sandbox (24-48 hour wait) → create IAM user → get SMTP credentials → set up bounce handling via SNS. SES takes 4-8 hours.
Which has better monitoring?
Mailgun. Built-in dashboard shows delivered, bounced, deferred, complained, opened, clicked — all visible per domain. SES requires CloudWatch setup for basic metrics and SNS configuration for event processing. Mailgun's monitoring is usable out of the box; SES monitoring requires building.
Which is better for GoHighLevel?
Mailgun for most agencies (simpler, better tested integration, good dashboard). SES for high-volume agencies (200K+/month) who want to minimize costs and have AWS experience. Both work via SMTP in GHL's Email Services settings.
Which has better deliverability?
Comparable when properly configured. Both support dedicated IPs (Mailgun $59/mo, SES $24.95/mo), custom authentication, and standard deliverability practices. SES's automatic reputation monitoring (account suspension at 10% bounce) is actually more aggressive than Mailgun's.
Want this handled for you?
Free 30-minute strategy call. Walk away with a plan either way.