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Beware of Large Free Tiers: You Might Be Paying with Deliverability

Free tiers are great for trying out a tool — but when a service promises unusually high free limits, it’s worth asking how that’s possible.

Every email that leaves a platform costs something. Reliable delivery depends on large-scale infrastructure — systems like Amazon Web Services (AWS), Google Cloud, or SendGrid — that manage authentication, IP reputation, and compliance across millions of messages. Many email tools quietly rely on these platforms behind the scenes, even if they don’t mention it. For example, Formtabulous GroupPost uses AWS infrastructure for consistent, verifiable deliverability.

That’s not a bad thing — in fact, it’s what guarantees good deliverability. These global networks have the reach, stability, and trust that smaller self-hosted servers can’t match. But they’re not free. Every message sent through them carries a small cost, which adds up quickly when thousands of “free” users are sending at once.

So when a company offers an extremely large free tier, they’re either absorbing those costs (which rarely lasts long) or cutting corners to make the math work — often by sending through less reliable mail servers. The result? Messages that technically send, but quietly end up in spam folders.

Even the biggest providers have to be careful. Large visibility means large bills, and free users don’t always become paying customers. That’s why sustainable platforms keep their free tiers modest: enough to explore the product, not enough to run mass campaigns for free. That’s the same principle behind GroupPost by Formtabulous — a system built for quality sending at realistic, transparent limits.

If you value reliability and deliverability, it’s worth supporting the infrastructure that makes it possible. Learn how GroupPost handles this with verified AWS SES sending and full delivery tracking. A small paid plan isn’t just about unlocking features — it helps maintain the systems that keep your messages trusted and secure.

And if your needs are small, don’t chase the biggest free number. Look for a provider willing to tailor a plan for you — one that values transparency and long-term quality over inflated “free” numbers.