Reloop

Reloop is a transactional email service for teams that need to send and receive workflow email through an API or SMTP. It suits developers who want inbound routing, analytics and template tools alongside outbound delivery. Its free tier is useful for modest volumes, while higher send limits and more workflow resources require a paid plan or self-managed infrastructure.

Overview

Reloop combines a transactional API and SMTP relay with webhook-based inbound routing and dedicated agent inboxes. That two-way setup is useful for applications that need to process incoming messages as well as send them; teams seeking only a basic outbound sender may not need the extra workflow tools.

Analytics cover delivery, opens, clicks, bounces, complaints, SMTP responses and reputation. Template tools offer natural-language generation, live editing, previews, variables and version history. These capabilities give teams room to manage and inspect email workflows in one service, though the hosted plans impose limits on inboxes, webhooks and custom domains.

Reloop enforces STARTTLS on every delivery hop. Hosted email content is processed for delivery, service operation and infrastructure safety, not advertising or resale; the site states that Reloop supports GDPR. It is open source under Apache 2.0 with Reloop Labs use restrictions, so self-hosting avoids a Reloop license fee but still entails server and delivery costs.

Key features

• Two-way email: Send through an API or SMTP relay, and route inbound mail through webhooks to dedicated agent inboxes. This fits programmatic workflows better than a send-only setup.
• Analytics: Delivery, engagement, complaint, SMTP response and reputation data help teams monitor more than just successful sends.
• Templates: AI-assisted generation sits alongside editing, previews, variables and version history, useful for teams maintaining reusable email content.
• Delivery safeguards: Strict TLS protects messages in transit. Reloop may block or review suspicious traffic and throttle or suspend abusive accounts.
• Support: Email and Discord are the support channels, with community or dedicated support depending on plan.

Pricing

The hosted plans are billed monthly. The Free plan costs nothing and allows 3,000 emails per month, with a separate cap of 100 per day. Sending pauses when either cap is reached until the next period or an upgrade; there is no free-plan overage. It also includes one agent inbox, one webhook, one custom domain and 45 days of data retention. This is a reasonable starting point for low-volume projects, but the daily ceiling can interrupt a burst even when the monthly allowance remains.

Pro costs $10 a month for 50,000 emails, five agent inboxes, five webhooks, five custom domains and 45 days of retention. Extra email costs $0.50 per 1,000. It is the practical step up for a service outgrowing Free, though teams should account for overages rather than treating the monthly quota as a hard stop.

Growth costs $20 a month for 100,000 emails, ten each of agent inboxes, webhooks and custom domains, and 45 days of retention. Its doubled quota and resource limits suit larger workflows; overage remains $0.50 per 1,000 emails.

Enterprise has custom pricing, with custom email volume, inboxes, webhooks and domains, plus SLA support and 45 days of retention. It is aimed at teams that need tailored capacity and service terms. Self-hosted is free forever on infrastructure you control, but it is not cost-free to operate: servers and email delivery still incur costs.

Platforms

Reloop is self-hosted. First-party SDKs support Node.js, TypeScript, Python, Go, Rust, PHP and Ruby; compatible frameworks include Next.js, Django, Ruby on Rails, Laravel and modern backends. That breadth makes it adaptable to varied development stacks, while the self-hosting option requires infrastructure the team can operate.

Who it's for

Reloop is a strong fit for developers building transactional or agent-driven email workflows who value inbound routing, multiple delivery methods, and detailed analytics. Free is best for small workloads that can stay within both sending caps; Pro and Growth add capacity and workflow resources at predictable monthly prices. Teams that do not need inbound processing, template versioning or self-hosting may prefer a simpler email service.

Pros and cons

Pros

• Outbound and inbound in one service: API, SMTP relay, webhook routing and agent inboxes support complete email workflows.
• Useful monitoring breadth: Analytics include complaints, SMTP responses and reputation as well as delivery and engagement.
• Self-hosting without a Reloop license fee: Teams can run it on controlled infrastructure, while retaining responsibility for operating and delivery costs.
• Clear hosted-plan resource steps: Inbox, webhook and domain allowances rise alongside monthly email quotas from Free through Growth.

Cons

• Free sending can pause at a daily cap: Its 100-email daily limit applies even before the 3,000 monthly allowance is exhausted.
• Overages add a variable bill: Pro and Growth charge $0.50 per 1,000 emails above quota.
• Hosted resources remain capped: Even Growth includes only ten inboxes, webhooks and custom domains each.
• Self-hosting shifts operational costs to the user: No Reloop license fee does not remove server or delivery expenses.

Alternatives

Browse Transactional Email Software for more options. Consider Postmark if its separate platform choices and free tier of 100 emails per month, with no overages and no expiration, better match a very small workload. Maileroo may suit teams that want its free allowance split between 3,000 outbound and 1,000 inbound emails per month, plus two custom domains.

Mailgun is another freemium option, with a free plan that includes 100 emails per day, API and SMTP relay, one custom sending domain, tracking, analytics, webhooks and one inbound route. Choose MailerSend if its free plan's 500 monthly emails, 100 daily API requests, one domain and one template better fit a smaller setup. Plunk offers a free 1,000-email monthly plan and a pay-as-you-grow option without monthly fees or commitments.

Hyvor Relay is worth considering if self-hosted open-source email with unlimited usage, all features included and community support is the priority. Twilio SendGrid may suit teams looking for its 60-day free trial, capped at 100 emails per day and 100 contacts. Netcore Email API offers a forever-free option with 30K email credits for the first month, then 1K emails per day and 100 emails per day thereafter.

Verdict

Choose Reloop if your application needs both transactional sending and programmable inbound email, with analytics and template tools in the same service. Pro is a clear upgrade for teams exceeding Free's daily or monthly ceiling, and self-hosting suits those prepared to manage their own infrastructure. Look elsewhere if you need neither inbound workflow support nor self-hosting, or if the free sending caps are too restrictive.