I'm really frustrated with trying to get production access for AWS Simple Email Service (SES). I've been at it for DAYS, trying to send basic transactional emails, like signup verifications and password resets. Every time I submit my request, I get vague rejections or just silence from them. I've rewritten my request multiple times, clarified how I plan to use it, and made sure to follow all their compliance guidelines. My domain is verified, DKIM is set up, and I'm following all the recommended practices, yet I'm still being ghosted. Has anyone recently managed to get production access for SES? My case ID is 176191486600170.
5 Answers
I switched to using Resend.com and found it way smoother than SES. I was able to send my first email just minutes after signing up!
Totally agree! I was up and running in no time with Resend.
I finally got my production access after showing I was running a real business, not just a personal account. I included sample code, explained that I'd only send transactional emails (not marketing ones), and made it clear I had experience handling email compliance. They seem to look for assurance that you know what you're doing, which likely helps your case. Don't get too hung up on DKIM—it’s more about the details you include in your request.
That's a good point! I've found that having a thorough, well-structured request can really make a difference for these approvals.
Exactly! They want to see you're serious about compliance and not just trying to spam.
If you have a decent support plan, like at least a developer plan, that might help. Using chat support has been effective for me in the past.
Make sure to check the region you're applying for access. I've never had issues with the Frankfurt region; they usually grant access within a couple of hours. You can even run your lambdas in one region while applying for SES access in another if you're having a hard time.
Hang in there! My last request took about a month and a ton of back-and-forth messages, but you can get through it!
How does their pricing compare to AWS? I like the $1 for 10,000 emails with AWS.