: Own SMTP server vs SendGrid/PostmarkApp/CritSend/SMTP.com/etc Wondering what the benefits are from switching from our own SMTP server to an SMTP service. They all seem to talk about handling the

@Samaraweera270

We are blocking majority of 3rd-party mailers such as SendGrid because of extremely high volumes of spam.

For example, since blocking the entire SendGrid network few months ago with Linux command:

iptables -I INPUT -s 167.89.0.0/17 -j DROP;


Attempted SendGrid Connections: 1,227,000 !

Data: 75M

These 1.2 million emails/connections are 100% SPAM, were not solicited and did not have any relation to any transaction. I know this because of the unique nature of our server and email accounts.

As a webmaster, I highly recommend using your own server to send emails if you are a legitimate sender:


You avoid getting mixed up in the crowd of spammers who are using those
3rd party services and using the same IP's that your emails would be going out of.
It's easy.
It's cheaper.


If you are a spammer, then you probably benefit from having your spam relayed by these 3rd party services rather than having your own IP blocked.

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@Nimeshi995

Like with most things, it is partly science and partly art. You have done a nice job handling the “science” piece of sending emails by implementing proper best practices from server config to a general reputation measurement. The other side of the coin is the “art” of improving your sending performance per ISP along with the probability of inbox delivery. This is an intentionally dynamic landscape comprised of filters, ISP discretion, thresholds and unpredictable user behavior (designating you as spam). It requires constant monitoring comprised of tools, people and actions.

Customers of our SMTP service come to us because they don’t have the expertise and/or resources to allocate. For example, you can set up FBLs with each ISP, but you need someone to monitor, interpret complaints and react with a remedy. Or, you send out a marketing email and AOL blocks your IP because they determine the email to be suspect based on any number of factors. Who contacts AOL to unblock your IP. What happens 3 weeks later when it gets blocked again.

So, when you ask what an SMTP service provider does for you, they should be watching your back, providing visibility to your deliveries and advising you on needed actions to maintain a good sender status. If they are simply handling the science or mechanical end, then you will be no better off.

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@Debbie626

Key Advantages of a Third Party Mail Sending Solution:


Onus of deliverability falls on them; no having to figure out issues by yourself
Have the infrastructure to be able to handle larger marketing initiatives and dedicated IPs to build your reputation with
Can buy as necessary; don't need it after three months? No problem, you can close up your account and be done until you need it again
Reporting and metrics; when you need to find out how many were successfully sent, how many bounced back, how many were opened, how many clicks you received, etc


Disadvantages of a Third Party Mail Sending Solution:


Not all of them support marketing campaigns or bulk emails
Costs money


However, I will say that the costs of a third party provider are not that bad - especially when you compare them to having to build and maintain your own solution. (Remember that your time is a cost as well!)

If you are looking for just the reporting aspect, you should check out PostageApp, it can be built into your existing SMTP infrastructure so you can achieve a better level of control with the emails you are sending out.

(Full Disclosure: I am the Product Manager of PostageApp.)

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