What Is Transactional Email?
What Is Transactional Email?
Section titled “What Is Transactional Email?”Transactional email is an automated message sent to a single recipient in response to a specific action, such as a password reset, order confirmation, or account verification. Unlike marketing email sent in bulk, transactional email is triggered by user behavior and typically achieves open rates above 80%.
Common examples include password reset emails, order receipts, shipping notifications, account verification links, and two-factor authentication codes. RelayPost delivers transactional email through a REST API and SMTP relay with automatic DKIM signing and real-time delivery tracking.
Transactional Email Examples
Section titled “Transactional Email Examples”- Password reset links
- Order confirmation receipts
- Shipping and delivery notifications
- Account verification emails
- Two-factor authentication codes
- Invoice and payment receipts
- Welcome emails after signup
- Subscription renewal notices
Transactional Email vs Marketing Email
Section titled “Transactional Email vs Marketing Email”| Aspect | Transactional Email | Marketing Email |
|---|---|---|
| Trigger | User action (purchase, signup) | Business decision (campaign) |
| Recipients | Single individual | List or segment |
| Content | Expected, action-specific | Promotional, informational |
| Open rate | 80–90% | 15–25% |
| Unsubscribe | Not required (service messages) | Required by law (CAN-SPAM) |
| Examples | Password reset, order receipt | Newsletter, product announcement |
| Sending method | API trigger from app code | Campaign builder or scheduler |
How to Send Transactional Email
Section titled “How to Send Transactional Email”- Choose an email delivery service with a REST API or SMTP relay
- Verify your sending domain with SPF and DKIM records
- Generate an API key from your provider’s dashboard
- Build the email payload with sender, recipient, subject, and HTML body
- Call the send endpoint from your application code when the triggering event occurs
- Set up webhooks to track delivery, bounces, and opens in real time
RelayPost provides both a REST API and an SMTP relay for sending transactional email.
Frequently Asked Questions
Section titled “Frequently Asked Questions”What are examples of transactional email?
Section titled “What are examples of transactional email?”Transactional emails include password resets, order confirmations, shipping notifications, account verification links, two-factor authentication codes, invoice receipts, and welcome emails triggered by user signup.
What is the difference between transactional and marketing email?
Section titled “What is the difference between transactional and marketing email?”Transactional email is triggered by a user action (like a purchase or password reset) and sent to one recipient. Marketing email is sent in bulk to a list or segment as part of a campaign. Transactional email typically has open rates above 80%, while marketing email averages 15–25%.
Do transactional emails need an unsubscribe link?
Section titled “Do transactional emails need an unsubscribe link?”No. Transactional emails are service messages triggered by user actions and are exempt from CAN-SPAM unsubscribe requirements. However, if a transactional email contains promotional content, it may be classified as marketing email and require an unsubscribe link.
What is a good open rate for transactional email?
Section titled “What is a good open rate for transactional email?”A good open rate for transactional email is 80–90%. Because these emails are expected by the recipient (password resets, order confirmations), they consistently achieve much higher engagement than marketing email.