Quick summary
SendGrid is a sending platform from Twilio. It is known for transactional email through an API and offers marketing campaigns as an extra. Developers use it to send application mail at scale, and marketing teams use its campaign tools for newsletters and promotions.
Ternloop is a newsletter and campaign tool. It focuses on writing a campaign in a dashboard, grouping contacts, and sending or scheduling the message. It focuses on campaigns written in the dashboard. Pricing follows the number of emails you send each month.
If you need a service that sends application mail from code and campaign mail from the same account, SendGrid is designed for that combined workload. If you mostly need a writing and campaign tool, Ternloop keeps the workflow simpler.
Pricing compare
The comparison page we reviewed lists SendGrid at about $35 a month for 15,000 emails, which combines an API plan at $19.95 and a marketing plan at $15. SendGrid also has a free tier that allows 100 emails a day. Its plans change over time and depend on the features you add, so check the current prices on SendGrid's site before you decide.
Ternloop's plans are shown below.
| Ternloop plan | Monthly price | Annual price | Emails per month | Contacts |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Free | $0 | $0 | 1,000 | 500 |
| Pro 5,000 | $4 | $46 per year | 5,000 | 3,000 |
| Pro 10,000 | $8 | $92 per year | 10,000 | 6,000 |
| Pro 20,000 | $15 | $172 per year | 20,000 | 12,000 |
| Pro 50,000 | $25 | $286 per year | 50,000 | 30,000 |
| Pro 100,000 | $50 | $570 per year | 100,000 | 50,000 |
| Pro 150,000 | $70 | $810 per year | 150,000 | 80,000 |
At 15,000 emails a month, Ternloop's Pro 20,000 tier costs $15 a month and includes a 12,000 contact limit. SendGrid's combined plan at the same volume comes to about $35 a month in the comparison we reviewed. Ternloop is less expensive for campaigns, while SendGrid is built for transactional sending and an API.
If you send a newsletter and nothing else, you are paying for a sending API you do not use. If you run an app and a newsletter, one tool may be simpler, but the cost comparison should include both workloads.
Feature compare
| Feature | Ternloop | SendGrid |
|---|---|---|
| Marketing campaigns | Rich editor and block editor | Marketing campaigns extra |
| Contact management | Groups, custom fields, and CSV import on Pro | Contact lists and segments |
| Open and click tracking | Included on every plan | Included |
| Scheduling | Included on Pro | Included |
| Custom sending domain | Included on Pro | Included |
| Bounce and unsubscribe handling | Automatic, based on SES webhooks | Included |
| Free tier | 1,000 emails and 500 contacts a month | 100 emails a day |
SendGrid is a larger sending platform. It gives developers an API, SMTP relay, and tools for application mail. Its marketing product lets you build campaigns and manage lists. That breadth is useful for a team that sends many kinds of email from one account.
Ternloop is narrower. It focuses on the campaign work: the editor, contact groups, CSV import, scheduling, and delivery stats. The platform also marks bounced, complained, or unsubscribed contacts as inactive through SES webhooks, which keeps your list clean without manual work.
When to choose Ternloop
- You send newsletters or campaigns and do not need a transactional API.
- You want a campaign editor and contact tools without writing code.
- You want a lower price for a list that grows by monthly volume.
- You want scheduling, CSV import, and custom sending domains on one plan.
When to choose SendGrid
- Your application sends transactional mail, such as receipts or password resets.
- Your developers need an API, SMTP relay, or webhooks.
- You want one provider for application and marketing email.
- You are comfortable setting up lists and campaigns in a larger platform.
Your team's workload should decide the choice. A product that sends mail from code will get the most value from SendGrid. A creator or small team that writes a newsletter can keep the tools simpler and the bill lower with Ternloop.
Start with Ternloop
Start on the free plan with 1,000 emails and 500 contacts a month. Import a small list, send a campaign, and review the open and click data. When you need more volume, the Pro tiers scale with your sends. See the full breakdown on the pricing page.
Questions to ask before you switch
Start with your use case. SendGrid is known for application email sent through an API, with marketing campaigns available as an extra. If your product sends a high volume of transactional messages, keep SendGrid for that traffic. If your main job is a newsletter or promotion, a tool built for campaigns may fit better.
Next, compare costs at your volume. The comparison we reviewed estimates SendGrid at about $35 a month for 15,000 emails, based on a $19.95 API plan plus a $15 marketing extra. Ternloop's 20,000 email tier is $15 a month. SendGrid's free plan allows 100 emails a day. Check its current pricing before you decide.
Then check your sending setup. Ternloop's free plan includes three sender emails on its default domain. Pro includes 50 sender emails on the default domain and adds custom sending domains. Confirm your domain setup before the move so your messages come from the right address.
Finally, plan the move. Export your contacts, import the CSV into Ternloop on a Pro plan, and send a test campaign to a small group. Confirm that bounces and unsubscribes update your list before the full send.
Keep reading
- Ternloop vs Mailgun compares Ternloop with another developer email service.
- Ternloop vs Postmark covers a transactional email provider.
- Ternloop vs Resend looks at an email API built for developers.
- About Ternloop explains the founder's pricing approach.
- Contact the founder with questions about your sending plan.