Email clients render HTML from 2003. Building responsive, attractive emails that work everywhere is painful. Three modern tools lessen that pain.
Tool Overview
React Email: Write emails with React components. Renders to email-compatible HTML. Used by Vercel, Cal.com, and others.
MJML: Markup language for responsive emails. Write MJML tags, compile to HTML. Created by Mailjet.
Maizzle: Tailwind CSS for emails. Write HTML with Tailwind utilities, compile to email-compatible output.
Comparison
| Factor | React Email | MJML | Maizzle |
|---|---|---|---|
| Syntax | JSX (React components) | Custom XML tags | HTML + Tailwind CSS |
| Learning curve | Low (if you know React) | Low (custom tags) | Low (if you know Tailwind) |
| Responsive | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Dark mode | Supported | Limited | Supported |
| Preview | Built-in dev server | MJML app + online editor | Built-in dev server |
| TypeScript | Native | No | Via config |
| Component reuse | React components | MJML includes | Tailwind components |
| Email client support | Excellent | Excellent | Excellent |
| Outlook rendering | Good | Good | Good |
| Gmail clipping | Handles well | Handles well | Handles well |
| Dynamic content | React props | Handlebars/templating | Front matter + templating |
| CSS inlining | Automatic | Automatic | Automatic |
| File size optimization | Automatic | Automatic | Purged CSS |
| Integration with ESP | Resend, SendGrid, etc. | Mailjet, any ESP | Any ESP |
| Community | Growing fast | Mature | Growing |
| Templates | Official examples | Community templates | Maizzle starters |
Code Comparison
React Email
import { Html, Head, Body, Text, Button } from '@react-email/components'
export function WelcomeEmail({ name }) {
return (
<Html>
<Head />
<Body style={{ fontFamily: 'Arial' }}>
<Text>Welcome, {name}!</Text>
<Button href="https://example.com">Get Started</Button>
</Body>
</Html>
)
}
MJML
<mjml>
<mj-body>
<mj-section>
<mj-column>
<mj-text>Welcome!</mj-text>
<mj-button href="https://example.com">Get Started</mj-button>
</mj-column>
</mj-section>
</mj-body>
</mjml>
When React Email Wins
- React/Next.js projects: Same language, same components
- TypeScript teams: Full type safety for email props
- Dynamic emails: Props-driven content (order confirmations, etc.)
- Resend integration: Same ecosystem
- Component sharing: Reuse React components across emails
When MJML Wins
- Non-React teams: No JavaScript framework required
- Designer-friendly: Simpler syntax, visual editors available
- Mailjet users: Same company, tight integration
- Marketing teams: Easier for non-developers to edit
- Established ecosystem: More templates and community resources
When Maizzle Wins
- Tailwind CSS teams: Use the same utility classes
- Maximum control: HTML with Tailwind, not abstracted tags
- Complex layouts: Fine-grained control over email structure
- Build pipeline: Integrates with existing build tools
- Multi-ESP: Works with any email service provider
Our Recommendation
We use React Email for all transactional and application emails. Writing emails as React components with TypeScript props makes them maintainable, testable, and consistent with our codebase. Pair it with Resend for sending and you have a complete email system.
Build your email system with modern tools.