How EmailConnect compares
An honest look at inbound email services, focused on what matters: data location, privacy, and developer experience.
Overview
| EmailConnect | Postmark | Mailgun | SendGrid | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hosting | EU only (Germany, Netherlands) | US (Oregon, Virginia) | US (Rackspace) | US (Twilio/AWS) |
| GDPR approach | EU-only infra, no US transfers | DPA available, US processing | DPA available, US processing | DPA available, US processing |
| Free tier | Yes (3 aliases) | No (paid only) | Yes (limited) | Yes (limited) |
| Focus | Inbound only | Inbound + outbound | Inbound + outbound | Primarily outbound |
| Parent company | Independent (EU) | ActiveCampaign (US) | Sinch (Sweden, US ops) | Twilio (US) |
| Webhook format | JSON | JSON | JSON or MIME | JSON |
Why we built an inbound-only service
EmailConnect started because we needed it ourselves. Previously, we were building Rate My Meeting, a virtual meeting analysis tool, we needed to parse calendar invitations sent by email. The simplest requirement — extract an ICS attachment from an incoming message — turned into an infrastructure project.
"SES, off to a S3 bucket, triggering a Lambda function, sending off a payload to my server. Three AWS services to do one thing: parse an ICS attachment. And alternatives were not much different. Or limited in features, as to them, inbound is clearly an afterthought besides their existing transactional email service."
— Xander, founder of EmailConnect, IndieHackers
Every inbound email service we evaluated was bolted onto an outbound platform. Inbound parsing was a checkbox feature, not the core product. We wanted something simpler: point MX records at a service, get structured JSON at a webhook. No outbound complexity, no sending reputation to manage, no marketing email tiers in the pricing.
At the same time, we were building for European customers who needed real data sovereignty, not a DPA layered on top of US infrastructure, but processing that never leaves the EU. So we built EmailConnect as a focused, inbound-only service with EU-only infrastructure from day one.
That focus shapes every comparison below. The established platforms are excellent at what they do, but they solve a different problem. Here is how they compare for inbound email processing specifically.
EmailConnect vs Postmark
Postmark is a well-respected service with over a decade of track record. They have built a reputation for excellent email delivery, thorough documentation, and a developer-friendly API. Their inbound email processing is reliable and mature, and the team behind it is known for genuine care about email deliverability. For many teams, Postmark is a strong choice.
Where EmailConnect takes a different approach is infrastructure location and data sovereignty. Postmark processes email through US-based servers in Oregon and Virginia. They offer a Data Processing Agreement for GDPR compliance, but the data still transits and is processed on US infrastructure, which means it falls under US legal jurisdiction including the CLOUD Act. EmailConnect runs exclusively on EU infrastructure in Germany and the Netherlands, with no US data transfers at any point in the processing chain. GDPR compliance is architectural, not contractual.
Other differences: EmailConnect focuses exclusively on inbound email processing, which means simpler pricing and a product designed around one job. EmailConnect also offers a free tier (3 aliases), while Postmark is paid-only. And as an independent EU company, EmailConnect has no US parent entity with potential data access obligations.
If you need a battle-tested platform with massive scale and a comprehensive outbound + inbound toolkit, Postmark is excellent. If EU data residency and GDPR compliance by design are requirements for your project, EmailConnect was built specifically for that.
EmailConnect vs Mailgun
Mailgun, now part of Sinch, offers a feature-rich email platform with strong routing capabilities. Their email validation tools are among the best in the industry, and the flexible routing rules allow for sophisticated inbound email workflows. The API is mature and well-documented, and the Sinch acquisition has brought additional resources and communication channel integrations.
The sovereignty picture with Mailgun is nuanced. Sinch is a Swedish company, which sounds European, but their email infrastructure operations run on US-based Rackspace servers. Email data processed through Mailgun passes through US infrastructure, and Sinch's US operational presence means the data can be subject to US legal jurisdiction. EmailConnect's infrastructure is entirely EU-based with no US processing layer at all.
Other differences: EmailConnect uses a webhook-first architecture designed specifically for inbound processing, rather than being part of a broader outbound platform. This means simpler pricing without the complexity of outbound tiers, and a focused developer experience around receiving and parsing email.
If you need powerful email validation, flexible routing rules, and an integrated outbound + inbound platform backed by a large communications company, Mailgun delivers that. If you want EU data sovereignty without any US infrastructure involvement and a focused inbound-only tool, EmailConnect is designed for that use case.
EmailConnect vs SendGrid
SendGrid, part of the Twilio ecosystem, is one of the largest email platforms in the world. Their outbound email infrastructure handles enormous volume with excellent deliverability, and their marketing email tools are comprehensive. The Twilio integration means you can combine email with SMS, voice, and other communication channels. For outbound email at scale, SendGrid is a market leader.
SendGrid's inbound email parsing (Inbound Parse) works, but it is not their primary focus. The product is optimized for sending, and the inbound features reflect that. Infrastructure runs on US-based AWS, and Twilio as a US-headquartered company is subject to the CLOUD Act, meaning US authorities can compel access to data regardless of where it is stored. EmailConnect, as an independent EU company with EU-only infrastructure, is not subject to these US legal frameworks.
Other differences: EmailConnect is purpose-built for inbound email to webhook processing. There is no outbound email layer, no marketing email complexity, and no Twilio platform lock-in. The webhook payloads are designed specifically for structured inbound email data, not adapted from an outbound-first platform.
If your primary need is high-volume outbound email with inbound as a secondary feature, or you want the Twilio ecosystem integration, SendGrid is a proven choice. If you need a dedicated inbound email processing service with EU-only infrastructure and no US corporate parent, EmailConnect was designed from the ground up for that.
The right choice depends on your priorities
If you need massive scale for outbound email, sophisticated marketing automation, or don't have data residency requirements, the established players are excellent choices with years of refinement and proven reliability. They have earned their reputations.
If your team needs EU data residency, GDPR compliance by architecture (not just policy), and a focused inbound email processing tool without outbound complexity, EmailConnect was designed from the ground up for exactly that. Different priorities, different tools.