System SMTP vs Own SMTP — which should you pick?
Two ways to send bulk email, one destination: the inbox. Here's the simple way to choose the right one for your budget and volume.
When you sign up to send bulk email, the first big decision is how the emails actually leave the building. GO MAILBOX gives you two models — System SMTP (we send for you) and Own SMTP (you send through your own provider). Let's make the choice obvious.
The one-line version
System SMTP is like taking a taxi — pay per ride, nothing to own. Own SMTP is like owning a car — pay once, drive unlimited. The more you drive (send), the more owning a car saves you.
System SMTP — managed sending
With System SMTP, your emails go out through GoMailbox's managed servers. You don't configure anything technical. You buy sending credits — one credit sends one email — and top up as you grow.
- Zero setup. Sign up and send the same day.
- Pay per email. Simple, predictable monthly plans.
- We handle deliverability. Warmup, bounce handling and suppression are built in.
Best for: small-to-medium senders, people new to email, and anyone who values ease over squeezing out the last rupee.
Own SMTP — bring your own
With Own SMTP, you connect your own sending provider — Amazon SES, Mailgun, SendGrid, SparkPost, Elastic Email, or any standard SMTP server — and send unlimited email through it. You pay GO MAILBOX a flat yearly fee based on how many contacts you have, and pay your provider their (usually very cheap) raw sending rate.
- Unlimited sending. No per-email cap.
- Lowest cost at scale. Amazon SES is roughly ₹8 per 1,000 emails.
- Full control. Your own IPs, your own reputation.
Best for: high-volume senders, agencies, developers, and cost-conscious teams.
The money math
Say you send 1,000,000 emails a month. On a managed credit plan that's a large monthly bill. On Own SMTP, you'd pay a Pro plan (₹14,999/year, about ₹1,250/month) plus Amazon SES at ~₹8 per 1,000 — roughly ₹8,000/month. That's around ₹9,250/month total versus ₹1,20,000+ on pure credits. At scale, Own SMTP can cut costs by up to 90%.
So, which one?
If you want the easiest possible start and send modest volumes, pick System SMTP. If you send a lot and want the lowest cost with full control, pick Own SMTP. And if you're not sure — start on the free 14-day trial of either and switch any time.