SendGrid vs. Constant Contact: a data-backed comparison
Explore how SendGrid and Constant Contact compare across features, pricing, and ideal use cases to help you determine which email platform aligns with your technical requirements and marketing goals.
SendGrid vs. Constant Contact at a glance
SendGrid and Constant Contact both handle email marketing but serve different user types and technical needs. SendGrid provides developer-focused email infrastructure with robust APIs and transactional email delivery, making it ideal for technical teams managing high-volume, automated communications.
Constant Contact, in contrast, offers user-friendly marketing tools with drag-and-drop editors and pre-built templates, suited for small businesses and non-technical marketers who prioritize ease of use over customization.
Metrics | SendGrid | Constant Contact |
|---|---|---|
Relative cost | – | 82% lower cost than category average |
Adoption trend | 7% QoQ adoption growth | 13% QoQ adoption growth |
Primary user segment | – | – |
Best for | Startups and small teams who need reliable email delivery infrastructure without complex enterprise requirements. | Constant Contact is best for small businesses and nonprofits seeking user-friendly email marketing with excellent customer support and pre-built templates. |
SendGrid overview
SendGrid is an email infrastructure platform built for developers. It handles both transactional and marketing emails and gives teams API-level control over sending, tracking, and deliverability.
It’s commonly used by SaaS companies, marketplaces, and ecommerce platforms that send high volumes of transactional email. Its scalability and deliverability are its main strengths, along with flexible automation via integrations and workflows.
SendGrid key features
Features | Description |
|---|---|
Transactional email API | Integrates email sending directly into applications with comprehensive documentation and multiple programming languages support |
SMTP relay | Offers reliable email delivery without requiring API implementation |
Email authentication | Automatically implements SPF, DKIM, and DMARC protocols to improve deliverability |
Deliverability tools | Provides IP reputation monitoring, bounce management, and throttling to maximize inbox placement |
Email validation | Verifies email addresses before sending to reduce bounces and protect sender reputation |
Basic marketing tools | Includes template builder, basic automation, and campaign scheduling features |
Detailed analytics | Tracks opens, clicks, bounces, spam reports, and engagement across all email sends |
Webhook integration | Enables real-time email event processing within your application |
Constant Contact overview
Constant Contact is an all-in-one email marketing tool made for small businesses and non-technical users. It offers customizable templates, audience segmentation, and simple automation through a visual editor.
Beyond email, it includes tools for social posting, ads, events, and surveys. It’s especially popular with nonprofits, service-based businesses, and local organizations that want basic digital marketing without coding.
Constant Contact key features
Features | Description |
|---|---|
Email templates | Drag-and-drop editor with industry-specific, mobile-responsive layouts. |
Automation | Triggered welcome emails, drip campaigns, and birthday reminders. |
Event management | Create and promote events with registration, ticketing, and attendee tracking. |
Surveys & polls | Build surveys and polls to gather customer feedback. |
Social campaigns | Schedule and post directly to Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter. |
List segmentation | Group contacts by engagement, demographics, or custom fields. |
Pros and cons
Tool | Pros | Cons |
|---|---|---|
SendGrid |
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Constant Contact |
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Use case scenarios
SendGrid fits companies with strong developer resources and a need for scalable transactional messaging, while Constant Contact works better for small teams running promotional campaigns, events, or audience engagement through email and social media.
When SendGrid is the better choice
- Ideal for sending large volumes of transactional emails like password resets and order confirmations.
- Best suited to teams comfortable working with APIs and technical integrations.
- Offers fine-grained control over email authentication and deliverability settings.
- Integrates seamlessly with other Twilio communication tools for a unified messaging stack.
- Provides detailed performance monitoring and real-time analytics for optimization.
- Scales well for high-growth applications where programmatic control is key.
When Constant Contact is the better choice
- Ideal for sending large volumes of transactional emails like password resets and order confirmations.
- Best suited to teams comfortable working with APIs and technical integrations.
- Offers fine-grained control over email authentication and deliverability settings.
- Integrates seamlessly with other Twilio communication tools for a unified messaging stack.
- Provides detailed performance monitoring and real-time analytics for optimization.
- Scales well for high-growth applications where programmatic control is key.
Other email marketing tools
- Klaviyo: E-commerce-first platform with predictive analytics, built-in revenue tracking, and powerful segmentation.
- Mailchimp: General-purpose email marketing platform with broad feature coverage, good for small businesses and agencies.
- ActiveCampaign: Combines email, CRM, and automation. Best for businesses that need sales and marketing alignment, not just email.
- Brevo (formerly Sendinblue): All-in-one platform with CRM, SMS, WhatsApp, and marketing automation. Good for teams needing multichannel campaigns beyond ecommerce.