listmonk vs Sendy (2026): which should you pick?

Pick listmonk if

• Fits if you can run a server and want a mailing list you fully control
• Works for developers who want a transactional and newsletter tool without a monthly fee

Look elsewhere if

• Not for you if you do not want to host and update a server
• Skip it if you want automation journeys, which the pages do not describe
• Watch out: you supply a Postgres database and an SMTP provider, which cost money
• Watch out: the latest release shown is a v7 beta from 10 Nov 2026
• Skip it if you want one-click hosting backed by the project: third-party hosts exist, and the project says it has no affiliation with them

Pick Sendy if

• Fits if you publish to a list of tens of thousands and want to stop paying per subscriber
• Works for agencies that run a PHP host and want to give each client a branded account with its own limits

Look elsewhere if

• Skip it if the words PHP, MySQL and Amazon SES make you nervous, as you set them up
• Not for you if you want to try it first, as there's no trial, only a refund
• Tight if you run several sites, since each license covers one domain
• Watch out: major version upgrades aren't included, and the AI add-on is $39 and installation $79
• Too light for anyone wanting a phone app or a hosted service, as it runs only on your own server

listmonk

• You install, host and update it yourself, and supply a Postgres database and an SMTP provider for sending.
• It is a one-way mailing list tool; the pages read do not describe automation journeys or built-in paid subscriptions.
• The latest release shown is a v7 beta, released 10 Nov 2026.
• Third-party one-click hosting exists, but the project says it has no affiliation with those providers.

Sendy

• You host it yourself on a PHP and MySQL server and need your own Amazon SES account.
• Each license covers one domain, and major version upgrades are not included.
• The AI Assistant is a $39 one-time add-on (shown cut from $49), and installation by Sendy costs $79.
• There is no free trial; Sendy offers a refund if it does not work out.

listmonk

Lists and segmentation

Manage single and double opt-in lists with millions of subscribers, and query and segment subscribers with SQL expressions.

Templates and editors

Go-templated emails with logic and 100+ functions, written in a visual drag-and-drop builder, a WYSIWYG editor, Markdown or raw HTML.

Analytics

Built-in analytics show campaign performance, bounces and top links across campaigns.

Transactional messages

An API sends arbitrary messages from pre-defined templates, and messenger interfaces can send SMS or WhatsApp through HTTP webhooks.

Access control and privacy

OIDC single sign-on, granular roles, scoped API tokens, and subscriber data export and deletion on request.

Sendy

Sending through Amazon SES

Campaigns go out through your own Amazon SES account at Amazon's rate; SendGrid, Mailjet and Elastic Email also work natively over SMTP.

Three email editors

Switch between drag-and-drop, WYSIWYG and HTML editors when building templates.

Autoresponders, rules and webhooks

Drip sequences sent at set intervals or on dates, plus rules that send notifications, fire webhooks or move subscribers when something happens.

Segments and custom fields

Build segments from any conditions, store custom fields for personalization, and include or exclude lists and segments per campaign.

White-labeled client brands

Group lists into brands and give clients their own access, permissions, sending limits and pricing.

Live reports and list cleaning

Real-time opens, clicks, bounces, complaints and locations, with bounces and complaints removed automatically.

listmonk

• Self-hosted$0

  Free and open source; you host it yourself on a server with a Postgres database.

Sendy

• Sendy software$69

  one-time purchase, for one domain

  The self-hosted app for one domain, with free updates until the next major version. Sending through Amazon SES costs $1.6 per 10,000 emails, paid to Amazon.