Sequenzy vs AWS SES: Managed Platform vs Raw Infrastructure
Comparing Sequenzy and Amazon SES for transactional email. Full-featured platform with billing integrations versus low-cost raw email infrastructure.
Overview
Sequenzy and AWS SES represent opposite ends of the email platform spectrum. SES provides raw email sending at minimal cost. Sequenzy provides a full platform with templates, marketing automation, and native billing integrations.
| Feature | Sequenzy | AWS SES |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing Model | $19/mo subscription | $0.10 per 1,000 emails |
| Setup Complexity | Simple | Significant |
| Template Management | Visual editor | Basic API only |
| Billing Integrations | Stripe, Polar, Creem, Dodo | None |
| Marketing Automation | Full sequences | None |
| Bounce Handling | Automatic | Manual setup |
| Reputation Management | Managed | Self-managed |
Key Differences
Cost vs Complexity
AWS SES is the cheapest option at $0.10 per 1,000 emails with no monthly minimum. However, you manage everything: templates, bounce handling, reputation monitoring, deliverability optimization, and warm-up processes.
Sequenzy costs more but handles these concerns for you. Templates, deliverability, bounce processing, and reputation management are built in.
Setup and Maintenance
AWS SES requires significant setup. New accounts start in sandbox mode. You must request production access, warm up your sending, and configure SNS topics for bounce and complaint handling. Ongoing maintenance is required.
Sequenzy works out of the box. Add your domain, verify DNS records, and start sending. No warm-up process or sandbox limitations.
Features Beyond Sending
Sequenzy provides marketing automation, sequences, and native billing integrations. Subscriber data includes MRR, LTV, and plan information from Stripe, Polar, Creem, or Dodo.
AWS SES is purely email sending infrastructure. Everything else requires additional services or custom code.
Cost Comparison Example
Sending 50,000 emails per month:
- AWS SES: ~$5 (just sending, not counting engineering time)
- Sequenzy: $19 (includes everything)
The cost savings from SES diminish when you factor in development time for templates, bounce handling, and monitoring.
When to Choose Sequenzy
- You want a managed platform that just works
- Native billing integrations save development time
- Marketing automation is needed
- You value your engineering time highly
When to Choose AWS SES
- You send very high volume and cost is critical
- You have AWS expertise on your team
- You are willing to invest in custom infrastructure
- You already run everything on AWS
The Bottom Line
Choose Sequenzy if you want a complete email platform without infrastructure management. The billing integrations and automation features provide value beyond raw sending.
Choose AWS SES if minimizing email costs is critical and you have the engineering resources to build and maintain custom infrastructure.