Benchmark
How many lines of code to send an email?
A rough complexity sketch of transactional email APIs: setup steps, dependencies, and happy-path sample size — not a marketing scorecard.
Line counts are approximate happy-path sketches from public docs patterns, not a controlled benchmark lab. Confirm current SDKs and required dashboard steps on each vendor’s site.
| Provider | Setup | Deps | ~LOC | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Notify | API key → verify domain → one fetch | None (fetch / curl) | ~15–25 | x-api-key + JSON body |
| Resend | API key → install SDK → send | `resend` package typical | ~20–40 | SDK-first docs path |
| Postmark | Server token → API or SDK → send | SDK or HTTP | ~25–45 | Server API JSON |
| SendGrid | API key → SDK or mail/send → send | Often `@sendgrid/mail` | ~30–60 | ESP surface around send |
| Mailgun | Domain + key → messages API | HTTP or SDK | ~30–55 | Form or JSON variants |
| AWS SES | IAM + region + leave sandbox → SDK | AWS SDK + IAM | ~40–80+ | Sandbox / ops tax dominates |
Notify happy path
- Create API key
- Verify domain
POST /api/email/send- Read logs; add webhooks on Pro+
Also: pricing comparison · what is an email API.
Best for
Developers comparing DX friction before picking an email API.
Not for
Procurement teams that need formal SLAs or compliance matrices.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need an SDK to send email?
Not with Notify. One fetch with x-api-key is enough. Other providers often lead with official SDKs — useful, but optional if you prefer raw HTTP.
Why does SES look harder?
IAM, regions, and sandbox production approval often dominate time-to-first-email more than the SendEmail call itself.
Is fewer lines always better?
No. Prefer clear auth, logs, and webhooks. Notify optimizes for a small surface — not for winning a code golf contest.