MJML vs Unlayer
MJML
mjml.ioUnlayer
unlayer.comSide by side
| Figure | MJML | Unlayer |
|---|---|---|
| Price from | Free | $250/mo |
| Free plan | Yes | Yes |
| Free trial | — | Yes |
| Open source | Yes | — |
| Web | Yes | Yes |
| Windows | Yes | — |
| macOS | Yes | — |
| Linux | Yes | — |
| API | Yes | Yes |
| Self-hosted | Yes | Yes |
| Plans published | 3 | 5 |
| Spec score · Email Design Software | 8.6 (#7) | 8.4 (#10) |
| Spec score · Email Template Software | 8.7 (#6) | 8.4 (#9) |
| API | The MJML REST API is free to use and renders MJML into responsive HTML. | The Cloud API is documented as OpenAPI 3.0.0 with bearer authentication using project API keys or personal access tokens. |
| Integrations | The documented ecosystem includes Mailjet, Parcel, IntelliJ IDEA, Gradle, Neos CMS, and Easy-email. | G2 reports integrations with 28 platforms, while Unlayer's help guidance names Amazon SES, SendGrid, Mailgun and Postmark as delivery services users can connect. |
| Rating on G2 | 5.0 out of 5 from 1 review | 4.4 out of 5 from 57 reviews |
| Security | MJML ignores includes by default and restricts enabled include paths to approved roots with canonical boundary checks. | Unlayer’s enterprise page states SOC 2 Type II certification, GDPR and CCPA compliance, and encryption at rest and in transit. |
| Self-hosting | Because the compiler is open source and installable from npm, teams can run MJML locally or in their own build and CI systems. | On-premise or offline deployment is listed as an Enterprise capability rather than a standard plan feature. |
| Support | MJML invites users to contact [email protected] and participate through Slack and GitHub. | Enterprise plans include 24/7 priority support, a named customer success manager, a technical account manager, and custom SLAs. |
| What it does | MJML is a markup language and compiler that turns semantic email markup into responsive HTML using nested tables, inline CSS and client-specific workarounds. | Unlayer provides embeddable drag-and-drop builders for emails, web pages, documents and popups that SaaS products can add to their own applications. |
Plans
Unlayer
- FreeFree
- Launch$250 a month
- Scale$750 a month
- Optimize$2,000 a month
- EnterprisePriced on request
In their own words
MJML
MJML is a markup language for building responsive email layouts. Its engine converts MJML into email HTML made with nested tables and inline CSS, with responsive behavior for popular email clients, including Outlook. Reusable, extensible components provide a starting point, and users can create their own components. MJML is open source under the MIT license and free to use. Its online editor supports writing and rendering MJML, and its free REST API renders markup into responsive HTML. The command-line interface can compile files, watch for changes, and save generated HTML to a chosen file. Local installation is available through npm on macOS, Linux, and Windows; plugins are available for Visual Studio Code and Sublime Text, alongside a desktop app. API accounts receive an Application ID and two API keys, with public and secret keys intended for browser and back-end use. Includes are ignored by default, and enabled include paths are restricted to approved roots. Once the HTML is rendered, users must send it through an email service provider or directly from a shell. The mj-button component is not fully clickable because of email-client support.
Unlayer
Unlayer is an embeddable developer platform for adding email, page, popup, and document builders to software products. Its AI-assisted drag-and-drop email editor is described as rendering across Gmail, Outlook, and more than 90 other email clients. The page builder creates responsive landing pages and web content with sections, columns, and breakpoints. The document builder supports dynamic templates, merge tags, collaborative editing, and PDF or HTML export. Developer tools include an embeddable SDK, REST APIs, React Elements, a CLI, agent skills, and events. Unlayer offers React, Angular, and Vue integrations, while its JavaScript SDK is described as technology agnostic. Exports include HTML, PDF, images, plain text, and ZIP, with server-side or client-side options. A free plan includes all four builder types. Paid plans start at $250/mo and include 1 TB bandwidth; extra bandwidth is sold in recurring 500 GB packs for $50 per month. Enterprise plans include custom contracts and support and allow self-hosting inside a customer VPC.