Top Lob Alternatives for Streamlined Print and Mail Automation

Lob has established itself as a robust solution for developers looking to integrate printing and mailing capabilities into their applications via a REST API. It virtualizes commercial print & mail infrastructure, offering on-demand access for various documents, postcards, and checks. However, depending on your specific needs, such as email marketing, transactional email, or even different types of automation, you might be seeking a Lob alternative. This article explores several excellent options that can provide similar or complementary functionalities to enhance your business operations.

Best Lob Alternatives

While Lob excels in the realm of physical mail, many businesses require comprehensive communication tools, including robust email services, marketing automation, and more. Here are some of the best alternatives and complementary services that offer diverse functionalities, from email delivery to broader marketing platforms, which might be a better fit depending on your project's scope.

Mailchimp

Mailchimp is an all-in-one Marketing Platform that helps small businesses with smarter marketing to grow faster. While not a direct print & mail alternative, it's a powerful Lob alternative if your primary need is digital communication, offering Email automation, Email template editor, Email deliverability, Marketing automation, and Newsletter features across Web, Android, iPhone, Android Tablet, iPad, and even Apple Watch, with Freemium and paid tiers.

Sendgrid

SendGrid is a scalable email delivery service focused on transactional email. It transparently handles DKIM, SPF, ISP rate limits, content inspection, bounces, and spam reports. As a robust Lob alternative for digital communication, it offers SMTP and API features, ideal for developers needing reliable email delivery from their web applications. It operates on a Freemium model and is available on the Web.

Mailgun

Mailgun is an email automation platform specifically designed for developers. It provides REST APIs to effortlessly send, receive, and track email from your website or application. As a Lob alternative for digital communication, it stands out with features like pricing per email sent and robust SMTP capabilities, available as a Commercial service on the Web.

Elastic Email

Elastic Email is an all-in-one email delivery platform that includes an SMTP Relay, API, and a full suite of tools via its browser-based UI. It's a comprehensive Lob alternative for digital transactional and marketing email, offering features such as Email Analytics, Email API, Email automation, Email deliverability, Email integration, Email scheduling, Email template editor, Email tracking, SMTP, and Transactional Email. It's a Commercial service available on the Web.

Mailjet

Mailjet is an email service provider that helps brands create, send, and optimize marketing and transactional emails. As a strong Lob alternative for email communications, it offers Email API, Email automation, Email deliverability, Email template editor, Email tracking, SMTP, SMTP integration, and Transactional Email. It is available as a Freemium and Commercial Software as a Service (SaaS) on the Web.

Shiftmail

Shiftmail focuses on Cloud Email Analytics, providing professional deep-dive email analytics software solely made to measure and analyze email engagement. While not a direct print & mail service, it's a useful Lob alternative for understanding your digital communication effectiveness, offering Email automation, Email tracking, and IP geolocation features. It is a Commercial Web-based platform.

Mailforge

Mailforge is an easy-to-use email marketing platform for sending professional-looking newsletters and growing leads through advanced popups on your website. As a versatile Lob alternative for digital marketing, it features Customer Segmentation, Drag 'n' drop editor, Email tracking, Lead Generation, Multiple languages, and Newsletter creation. It's a Freemium and Commercial Web service.

Postmark

Postmark is known as a fast and reliable transactional email service, ensuring your transactional emails get to the inbox on time, every time. As a specialized Lob alternative for critical digital communications, it offers robust Transactional Email, API, and SMTP capabilities, available as a Commercial Software as a Service (SaaS).

SendQuik

Sendquik.com is a comprehensive tool for email marketing, ads, landing pages, and CRM, designed to help businesses grow effortlessly. While Lob focuses on physical mail, SendQuik offers a powerful digital marketing alternative with Email automation features across multiple platforms including Mac, Windows, Linux, Web, Android, iPhone, Android Tablet, iPad, and as a Software as a Service (SaaS) with Freemium and Commercial options.

SMTP2GO

SMTP2GO is an outgoing email service provider dedicated to delivering transactional and marketing emails from websites and apps. It's an excellent Lob alternative for reliable email delivery, providing Delivery reports, SMTP, and Transactional Email features. It is a Commercial Web-based service.

While Lob provides a unique and powerful API for physical mail, the world of digital communication offers a vast array of sophisticated tools. Whether you need an advanced email marketing platform, a robust transactional email service, or in-depth email analytics, the alternatives listed above provide compelling features to streamline your business operations. Evaluate your specific requirements to choose the best Lob alternative or complementary service that aligns with your automation and communication goals.