Why teams switch from SendGrid to Mailhooks
Inbound is an afterthought in SendGrid
SendGrid's Inbound Parse requires you to configure a domain, create a parse setting, and set up route filters. Mailhooks gives you a simpler path: add DNS records, create a webhook, done.
Locked into Twilio's ecosystem
Since the Twilio acquisition, SendGrid has been absorbed into a broader communications platform. The inbound email features haven't kept pace. Mailhooks is independent and focused on inbound email.
Better developer experience
Mailhooks provides a TypeScript SDK, clean JSON payloads with attachment URLs (not base64 blobs), real-time webhook delivery, and integrations with Notion, Discord, and n8n — all out of the box.
Feature comparison
| Feature | Mailhooks | SendGrid |
|---|---|---|
| Inbound email webhooks | ||
| Setup time | 5 min | 20+ min |
| Free tier | 100 emails/mo | 100 emails/day (credit card required) |
| Pricing model | Per-email, simple | Per-email + tier add-ons |
| Structured JSON payloads | ||
| Attachment URLs | ||
| IMAP client access | ||
| Notion integration | ||
| Discord integration | ||
| n8n integration | ||
| TypeScript SDK | ||
| BYO cloud storage | ||
| Inbound parse config | 1 step | Domain + route + filter |
| Outbound email sending | ||
| Email marketing |
Where Mailhooks shines
Inbound-first design
Every feature is built around receiving and processing email. No outbound features cluttering the dashboard or the pricing.
No ecosystem lock-in
Mailhooks sends webhooks to your server. Standard HTTP, standard JSON. No proprietary SDKs required to process inbound events.
Developer-friendly payloads
Clean, typed JSON with attachments as downloadable URLs — not base64 blobs that inflate your webhook payload size.
When SendGrid might be the right choice
SendGrid is a strong choice if you need a full-service email platform. Consider sticking with SendGrid if:
You need outbound email delivery (transactional or marketing)
You want email marketing and automation features
Your team is already deep in the Twilio ecosystem