Why it's an alternative to SendGrid: Transactional email API combined with marketing email and automation in the same account.
made by
Jesse Hanley
Jesse Hanley2 indie alternatives · Developer Tools
Indie alternatives to SendGrid (2026)
SendGrid, owned by Twilio, is a large email delivery API. Developers often want better support and deliverability tooling from a smaller provider. Below are 2 alternatives built by independent makers — Bento and PostShiba — with what each does differently, who makes it and any revenue they have shared publicly.
SendGrid alternatives at a glance
Jump to any product for the full write-up.
The 2 best indie alternatives to SendGrid
Each product is made and run by an independent maker or a small, self-directed team.
Why it's an alternative to SendGrid: Email infrastructure for platforms that send on behalf of their customers, with delivery diagnostics.
made byJesse Hanley
Jesse HanleyWhy choose an indie-made tool?
You talk to the maker
With a small product, support requests and feature ideas usually reach the person who wrote the code, and many makers build in public and reply to users directly.
Focused and fairly priced
Small teams tend to do one job well instead of bundling every feature into enterprise tiers, and many indie tools offer one-time licenses, open-source editions or free plans.
Built by real people
These 2 alternatives come from 1 maker in Japan. Paying them funds a sustainable, independent business.
Meet the makers: Jesse Hanley.
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SendGrid alternatives FAQ
What are the best indie alternatives to SendGrid?
IndieMakerList lists 2 indie-made alternatives to SendGrid: Bento (by Jesse Hanley) and PostShiba (by Jesse Hanley).
Why do people look for alternatives to SendGrid?
SendGrid, owned by Twilio, is a large email delivery API. Developers often want better support and deliverability tooling from a smaller provider.
Who builds these SendGrid alternatives?
They are built by 1 independent maker from 1 country, including Japan, rather than a large company. Each maker has a profile on IndieMakerList with their other products and links.
Are these SendGrid alternatives still maintained?
Yes. As far as IndieMakerList knows, all 2 are active and still run by the makers who built them.
Built an indie alternative to SendGrid? Submit a maker to IndieMakerList →