A Belgian alternative to SendGrid
2Mail is a Belgian alternative to SendGrid for developers and businesses in the EU that send transactional email through SMTP or an API and want to keep their data inside the EU. SMTP relay, REST API with signed webhooks and campaigns come in one account, with personal follow-up by phone. If you need a free or pay-as-you-go tier or use the integrations with the Twilio ecosystem, SendGrid is the better fit.
SendGrid is an American email API and SMTP relay for mail sent from applications: password resets, order confirmations, notifications. The search for an alternative usually comes from a customer, a DPO or an accountant: where are those emails processed, and what does the record of processing activities say about it?
The second reason is follow-up when something goes wrong. A reputation problem on a shared IP address or a rise in bounces calls for someone who knows your domain. At 2Mail you call support in Dutch, French or English.
Why companies switch from SendGrid to 2Mail
Your data stays in the EU
According to its own documentation, SendGrid processes data in the United States. 2Mail runs on JAAN bv's own servers in Belgium. Sending, storage, logging and open tracking stay inside the EU. A data processing agreement is available on request and you do not have to document any transfer outside the EU.
Priced per sending domain, no price per email
For each sending domain you choose a volume tier from 1,000 to 250,000 emails a month. No price per email, no setup fee. Sharing volume across several domains is possible on request. Your monthly invoice is fixed in advance. The tiers are listed on the pricing page.
SMTP, API and webhooks
SMTP with STARTTLS on port 587 and a separate login per application. REST API with an API key per application, with expiry date and IP restriction, and signed webhooks for seven events, from accepted to rejected. If the receiving server defers a message, it is retried automatically. Works with Laravel, WordPress, WooCommerce, Odoo, PrestaShop, Magento, Microsoft 365 and any SMTP client.
Personal follow-up included
Support in Dutch, French and English on +32 9 328 03 83. During onboarding, 2Mail follows the build-up of your sending volume with you. The platform has an SLA of 99.99% availability, handover to the receiving server within 10 seconds and 24/7 monitoring. You send newsletters from the same account with the campaign module.
SendGrid and 2Mail side by side
SendGrid is a email API and SMTP relay for developers based in United States. Below are the points on which an email platform really differs in practice. The SendGrid column only reflects what the brand publishes itself; always check the current terms on its own website.
| Criterion | SendGrid | 2Mail |
|---|---|---|
| Headquarters and data location | United States; processing in the US according to its own documentation | Belgium (JAAN bv, Zelzate); own servers in Belgium, processing and storage inside the EU |
| Pricing model | Subscription based on monthly email volume, according to its website | Per volume tier and per sending domain; no price per email, no setup fee; 12-month term |
| Sending channel (SMTP, API, campaigns) | SMTP relay and API; campaigns as a separate product according to its website | SMTP relay (port 587, STARTTLS), REST API with signed webhooks and campaigns, in one account |
| Support and language | Ticket or chat depending on the plan, mainly in English according to its website | Phone and email in Dutch, French and English; personal follow-up during onboarding |
| Authentication (SPF, DKIM, DMARC) | SPF and DKIM through domain authentication according to its documentation | DKIM key and DNS records generated and checked from the dashboard; you publish them with your own DNS provider |
| Per-message visibility | Activity log and webhooks according to its website | Status per message with the reply from the receiving server; dashboard per domain; CSV export of the reports |
Information about SendGrid is general and may change; 2Mail is not affiliated with this brand. Brand names belong to their respective owners.
Switching from SendGrid to 2Mail
A migration is not a big bang. These three steps keep your deliverability intact while you move.
Set up your domain and authentication
Add your sending domain in the 2Mail dashboard. The dashboard generates the DKIM key and shows the SPF, DKIM and DMARC records. Publish them with your DNS provider and check them from the dashboard. Leave the SendGrid records in place until the last application has been switched over.
Switch your applications over
Create a separate SMTP login or API key per application and replace the details in its configuration. Register your webhook URL and verify the signature. If you also send to a list, import only active, confirmed addresses.
Build up volume gradually
Switch one application or one type of message first and follow delivery in the dashboard for a few days. Then move the rest. 2Mail follows up personally during the first weeks.
Who is 2Mail the better choice for — and who isn't it for?
2Mail suits you if…
- Developers and software companies in the EU that send transactional email through SMTP or an API and want to show the data location in their record of processing activities
- Web shops, SaaS applications and ERP environments that prefer a fixed price per sending domain over a price per email volume
- Anyone who wants someone on the phone who knows the domain when a reputation or delivery problem comes up
Stay with SendGrid if…
- Anyone who needs a free or pay-as-you-go tier: 2Mail works with a subscription per volume tier and a 12-month term
- Anyone who actively uses the integrations with the Twilio ecosystem
Other comparisons
Looking for an alternative to another platform? Same exercise, always with the facts side by side.