Quick Decision

Your situation	Best choice
No existing email platform	Mailgun (Managed) — we handle everything
Already use Klaviyo	Connect Klaviyo
Already use Mailchimp	Connect Mailchimp
Already use Resend	Connect Resend
Want maximum control over deliverability	Resend or your existing ESP
E-commerce with existing flows/segments	Klaviyo

Managed vs. Bring Your Own Account

ILLIXIS offers two approaches to email sending:

Mailgun — Managed by ILLIXIS

ILLIXIS owns the Mailgun account and handles all email infrastructure on your behalf. You provide your sending domain and add DNS records — that's it. No API keys, no external accounts to manage.

Best for:

Users new to email marketing who don't have an existing platform
Users who want the simplest possible setup
Users who don't want to manage another SaaS subscription

How it works:

Go to Settings > Integrations > Email Marketing
Enter your sending domain (e.g., mail.yourbrand.com)
ILLIXIS generates DNS records (SPF, DKIM, CNAME)
Add those DNS records to your domain provider (GoDaddy, Cloudflare, Namecheap, etc.)
Click "Check Verification" — once DNS propagates, you're ready to send

What ILLIXIS handles:

Mailgun API authentication
Deliverability optimization
Bounce and complaint processing
Suppression list management

What you handle:

Adding DNS records to your domain provider
Choosing which emails to send through ILLIXIS

Klaviyo, Mailchimp, Resend — Bring Your Own Account

Connect your existing email platform to ILLIXIS. You manage the account and billing directly with the provider. ILLIXIS sends campaigns, sequences, and digests through their API on your behalf.

Best for:

Users who already have an email platform with existing subscribers
Users who want advanced features (Klaviyo flows, Mailchimp automations)
Users who need full control over their sender reputation

Setup varies by platform:

Platform	What you provide	Setup method
Klaviyo	Private API Key (with required scopes)	Paste key in ILLIXIS
Mailchimp	OAuth authorization	Click "Connect" and authorize
Resend	API Key	Paste key in ILLIXIS

Platform Comparison

Feature	Mailgun (Managed)	Klaviyo	Mailchimp	Resend
Setup effort	Low (DNS only)	Medium (API key + scopes)	Low (OAuth click)	Medium (API key + domain)
External account needed	No	Yes	Yes	Yes
Additional cost to you	Included with ILLIXIS	Your Klaviyo plan	Your Mailchimp plan	Your Resend plan
Advanced email flows	Via ILLIXIS sequences	Klaviyo flows + ILLIXIS	Mailchimp automations + ILLIXIS	Via ILLIXIS sequences
E-commerce features	Basic	Best-in-class	Limited	Basic
Audience management	Via ILLIXIS	Klaviyo segments	Mailchimp audiences	Resend audiences
Sender reputation	Managed by ILLIXIS	Your own	Your own	Your own

What You Can Send Through Any Platform

Regardless of which platform you choose, ILLIXIS can send:

Email Digests — AI-generated newsletters from your published content
Email Sequences — Multi-step automated campaigns with delays and conditions
Broadcast Emails — One-time campaigns to your subscriber lists
Decision Digest Emails — Data-driven executive reports

Related Guides

Email Digest Builder — Creating and sending email newsletters
Email Automation Triggers — Setting up automated email workflows
Trial Email Sequences — Pre-built onboarding sequences
Broadcast Emails — Sending one-time email campaigns

Automation Schedule

Not applicable — this is a setup guide.

Choosing an Email Provider