Hey everyone,
I’m working on an app and need to send emails for stuff like account verification, password resets, and letting admins know when important things happen. I’m trying to figure out the best way to handle this.
At first, I thought about setting up SMTP on my own VPS to save some cash. But then I saw people saying it’s a headache and that I should just use a paid service like Mailgun or Brevo.
Thing is, I’m not sending a ton of emails. Mostly just account-related stuff. So I’m wondering if it’s really worth paying for a service, or if I can manage on my own without getting blocked.
Has anyone here tried running their own SMTP server for a small app? How hard is it to keep things running smoothly and avoid spam flags? I’d love to hear about your experiences!
been there, done that. self-hosted smtp is a pain. spent weeks troubleshooting deliverability issues & constantly tweaking configs. not worth the hassle for small apps imho. go with a 3rd party service & save ur sanity. mailgun’s free tier is decent for low volume. focus on ur app, not email headaches
I’ve been down this road before, and honestly, I’d recommend going with a third-party service. I tried self-hosting SMTP for a small project, and while it seemed like a good idea initially, it quickly became a time sink.
The main issues I faced were deliverability and maintenance. Even with proper SPF and DKIM setup, some emails still landed in spam folders. Plus, keeping the server secure and up-to-date was more work than I bargained for.
Switching to a service like Mailgun or SendGrid was a game-changer. Yes, there’s a cost, but the peace of mind and time saved are worth it. Most have generous free tiers for low-volume sending, so you might not even pay much, if at all, starting out.
In the end, I realized I’d rather focus on developing my app than becoming an email expert. Unless you have a specific need to control the entire stack, I’d say go with a reliable third-party service and save yourself the headache.
As someone who’s run the gamut from self-hosted to third-party services, I’ll offer a different perspective. While third-party services are convenient, they’re not always necessary for small-scale operations. I’ve successfully managed a self-hosted SMTP setup for a modest app without major issues.
The key is proper configuration and monitoring. Set up SPF, DKIM, and DMARC correctly, use a reputable VPS provider, and keep your server updated. Tools like Mail-Tester can help ensure your setup is solid. For low volume, especially transactional emails, deliverability tends to be less problematic.
That said, it does require more initial effort and ongoing attention. If you value learning and control over convenience, self-hosting can be rewarding. But if you’d rather focus solely on app development, a third-party service might be preferable. Assess your priorities and technical comfort level before deciding.