Loops

Overview

Loops is an email service provider established in 2022, focusing on a developer-centric approach for managing both transactional and marketing email communications. The platform is designed to provide a unified solution for various email needs, from automated welcome sequences to large-scale marketing campaigns. It targets early-stage startups and development teams seeking to integrate email functionality directly into their applications.

The service offers an API for sending emails programmatically, supported by SDKs in languages such as Node.js, Python, Go, Ruby, and PHP. This multi-language support aims to provide flexibility for development teams working with different tech stacks. Loops emphasizes ease of integration and developer experience, providing clear documentation and code examples to facilitate implementation Loops documentation.

Beyond basic email sending, Loops includes features for audience management, allowing users to segment their contact lists based on various criteria. This segmentation capability supports targeted marketing efforts and personalized user experiences. The platform also offers automation tools to create multi-step email sequences, useful for onboarding new users, re-engaging inactive ones, or nurturing leads.

Loops positions itself as an alternative to established email service providers by aiming to simplify the process of sending different types of emails under one roof. Its free tier allows up to 2,000 contacts and 10,000 emails per month, making it accessible for projects in their initial stages. The platform's compliance with GDPR addresses data privacy concerns for users operating in regions with strict data protection regulations.

For developers, the focus on a well-documented API and available SDKs is intended to streamline the development workflow, reducing the overhead typically associated with integrating email services. The platform supports common use cases such as sending password resets, order confirmations, and promotional newsletters from a single account, aiming for operational efficiency.

The market for email APIs continues to evolve, with providers like Loops emerging to address specific niches, often emphasizing developer experience and bundled services. The ability to manage both marketing and transactional emails through a single API is a key differentiator, as many traditional providers specialize in one or the other. This consolidation can simplify infrastructure and reduce vendor management complexity for development teams, a trend noted in modern API-first service adoption ThoughtWorks on API-first design.

Key features

• Transactional Email API: Programmatic sending of essential emails such as password resets, order confirmations, and account notifications via a dedicated API.
• Marketing Email Campaigns: Tools for creating, sending, and managing bulk email campaigns, including newsletters and promotional messages.
• Email Automation: Workflow builders to set up automated email sequences based on user actions or time delays, for use cases like onboarding or re-engagement.
• Audience Segmentation: Ability to segment contact lists based on custom properties, engagement, or other criteria for targeted messaging.
• Analytics and Reporting: Dashboards to track email performance metrics such as open rates, click-through rates, and delivery success.
• Email Template Editor: A visual builder and code editor for designing responsive email templates.
• GDPR Compliance: Adherence to General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) standards for data handling and privacy.
• Multiple SDKs: Client libraries available for Node.js, Python, Go, Ruby, and PHP, simplifying API integration Loops API reference.

Pricing

Loops offers a tiered pricing model based on the number of contacts and email volume. A free tier is available for initial use. As of May 2026, the pricing structure is:

For the most current pricing details and additional plan specifics, refer to the official Loops pricing page.

Common integrations

Loops is designed for direct API integration into applications. While it does not list specific third-party integrations as pre-built connectors, its API allows for custom integration with various systems:

• CRM Systems: Sync user data and email preferences from platforms like Salesforce or HubSpot to Loops for targeted campaigns.
• E-commerce Platforms: Integrate with Shopify, WooCommerce, or custom storefronts to send transactional emails (order confirmations, shipping updates) and marketing emails (abandoned cart reminders, product recommendations).
• Authentication Services: Connect with identity providers to trigger welcome emails, password resets, and account verification emails upon user signup or login.
• Analytics Platforms: Export email performance data to tools like Google Analytics or Mixpanel for consolidated reporting.
• Internal Tools: Integrate with custom backend systems or internal dashboards to automate email sending based on business logic.

Alternatives

• Postmark: Focuses primarily on transactional email delivery with emphasis on speed and reliability.
• Resend: A developer-focused email API designed for simplicity and modern integrations.
• SendGrid: A comprehensive email platform offering both transactional and marketing email services, with extensive features and scalability.

Getting started

To send a basic email using the Loops Node.js SDK, you'll need to install the SDK and configure it with your API key. This example demonstrates sending a simple transactional email.

import { LoopsClient } from 'loops';

const loops = new LoopsClient({
  apiKey: process.env.LOOPS_API_KEY, // Ensure your API key is set as an environment variable
});

async function sendWelcomeEmail() {
  try {
    const response = await loops.sendTransactional({ 
      transactionalId: 'welcome_email_template_id', // Replace with your actual transactional template ID
      to: '[email protected]',
      data: {
        firstName: 'Jane',
        // Add any other dynamic data required by your template
      },
    });
    console.log('Email sent successfully:', response);
  } catch (error) {
    console.error('Failed to send email:', error);
  }
}

sendWelcomeEmail();

Before running this code, ensure you have a transactional template set up in your Loops account and replace 'welcome_email_template_id' with its actual ID. Your Loops API key should be securely stored and accessed, ideally via environment variables.