Resend vs SendGrid in 2026
Resend vs SendGrid is a newer email API built for developers against Twilio's long-running email platform. Resend's free plan sends 3,000 emails a month (100 a day) with no end date, and Pro starts at $20 a month for 50,000 emails. SendGrid offers a 60-day free trial at 100 emails a day, then Essentials from $19.95 a month and Pro from $89.95 a month with dedicated IPs.
Facts and prices checked on against the sources listed below.
Quick verdict
Pick Resend for a new app that sends transactional email, a free plan that does not expire, and simple per-volume pricing.
SendGrid
Starts atEssentials $19.95/mo
Pick SendGrid if you need dedicated IPs, subusers and single sign-on on a mid-tier plan, or you already use Twilio for SMS and voice.
Resend vs SendGrid at a glance
| Feature |  Resend | SendGrid |
|---|---|---|
| Free option | Free plan: 3,000 emails a month, 100 a day, 3 domains | Free trial: 100 emails a day for 60 days, no card |
| Entry paid plan | Pro, $20 a month for 50,000 emails | Essentials, from $19.95 a month |
| Next plan | Scale, from $90 a month for 100,000 emails | Pro, from $89.95 a month |
| Overage | $0.90 per 1,000 emails on Pro, lower on bigger Scale tiers | Price depends on volume and plan |
| Dedicated IP | Scale add-on, $30 a month | Included on Pro and Premier |
| Team features | Domains: 10 on Pro, 1,000 on Scale | Pro adds subusers, single sign-on and email testing |
| Marketing email | Free for 1,000 contacts; Pro marketing from $40 for 5,000 | Marketing Campaigns, priced separately |
| Data retention | 30 days on every transactional plan | Not listed on the pricing summary |
Pricing and free tier (checked Oct 2026)
Resend publishes every tier. The free transactional plan sends 3,000 emails a month with a limit of 100 a day, on 3 domains, with 30 days of data retention. Pro costs $20 a month for 50,000 emails or $35 for 100,000, with 10 domains, no daily limit and $0.90 per extra 1,000. Scale starts at $90 a month for 100,000 emails and goes up to $1,150 for 2.5 million, with up to 1,000 domains, overage from $0.90 down to $0.46 per 1,000, and a dedicated IP add-on at $30 a month. Marketing email is priced by contacts: free for 1,000, then Pro marketing from $40 a month for 5,000 contacts.
SendGrid, now part of Twilio, starts with a free trial: 100 emails a day for 60 days, with no credit card. Paid Email API plans start with Essentials from $19.95 a month and Pro from $89.95 a month; Premier is custom. The exact price depends on your monthly volume and the features you need, and SendGrid shows it after you pick a volume. Marketing Campaigns is a separate product with its own prices.
Free plan or free trial
This matters most for side projects. Resend's free plan does not expire, so a small app can send its sign-up and password reset emails for free for as long as it stays under 3,000 a month and 100 a day. SendGrid's trial ends after 60 days, so plan for at least Essentials.
Deliverability and IPs
SendGrid's Pro and Premier plans include dedicated IPs, with the option to buy more. Resend offers a dedicated IP as a $30 a month add-on on Scale, for senders above 3,000 emails a day. Below that volume, shared IPs managed by the provider are the normal choice on both.
Team features
SendGrid Pro adds subuser management, single sign-on and email testing. Resend's plans differ mostly by volume and number of domains (3, 10 or 1,000).
When to pick Resend
- You send transactional email from a new app.
- You want a free plan that does not expire.
- You want prices you can read off one page.
When to pick SendGrid
- You need dedicated IPs, subusers and SSO on a mid-tier plan.
- You send large volumes and want volume discounts.
- You already use Twilio for SMS or voice.
For analytics, see PostHog vs Mixpanel, and for API testing, Postman vs Insomnia.
FAQ
Is Resend free?
Yes. Resend's free plan sends 3,000 emails a month with a daily limit of 100, on up to 3 domains, with 30 days of data retention. It does not expire.
Does SendGrid still have a free plan?
SendGrid now offers a free trial instead: 100 emails a day for 60 days, with no credit card. After that you need a paid plan, starting with Essentials at $19.95 a month at the time of writing.
Which is cheaper at 100,000 emails a month?
Resend Pro costs $35 a month for 100,000 emails. SendGrid's price depends on volume and features, so pick 100,000 in its pricing calculator; Essentials starts at $19.95 and Pro at $89.95 a month.
When do I need a dedicated IP?
When you send enough volume to build your own sending reputation. Resend offers a dedicated IP as a $30 a month add-on on Scale for senders above 3,000 emails a day. SendGrid includes dedicated IPs on Pro and Premier.
Sources, checked October 30, 2026
Prices and plans change often. If something here is out of date, tell us through the contact page.