MailVet vs Abstract API
Abstract costs less than MailVet at 5,000 a month and runs an SMTP check. If that's what you need, pick Abstract.
The facts
| Fact | Abstract API | MailVet |
|---|---|---|
| Mailbox check over SMTP | Yes. A live SMTP check, is_smtp_valid. Abstract advises against blocking a signup on an SMTP failure. | No. MailVet never contacts the mailbox, so it can't tell you one exists. |
| Catch-all detection | Yes, is_catchall_email. | No. That takes an SMTP probe. |
| Disposable domains | Yes, is_disposable_email. | Yes, from open lists refreshed daily. Domains not on them yet can get a suspect signal, with partial coverage. |
| Role addresses | Yes, is_role_email. | Yes, role. |
| Typo suggestions | Yes, autocorrect. | Yes, did_you_mean, for typos of big providers. |
| Mail server (MX) check | Yes, is_mx_found. Paid plans only: free plans get null. | Yes, mx and accepts_mail. |
| Your own allow and block rules | Domain whitelisting. Their page doesn't list block rules. | Yes, by domain. 10 rules on Free, up to 10,000 on Scale. |
| Many addresses at once | CSV upload up to 50,000 rows. Their docs show no batch endpoint. | 100 per API request. Up to 10,000 rows in the dashboard's CSV cleaner. |
| Free to start | 100 requests, no card. | 100 checks a month, no card. |
| Price | From $17 a month for 5,000 requests. | $19 a month for 5,000 checks, up to $99 for 100,000. |
| Addresses stored | Not compared. Read their privacy policy. | No. Our app doesn't store or log addresses, only the domains it has seen. Send them by POST to keep them out of URLs and host logs. |
Vendor pricing changes. Checked November 5, 2026. If their page says otherwise, trust their page.
Pick Abstract API if
- You want an SMTP check, and $17 for 5,000 beats MailVet's $19.
- You want to upload CSVs of more than 10,000 rows.
- You want sender, domain, risk and breach data from the same API. Those are on their higher plans.
Pick MailVet if
- You want to send 100 addresses in one API request.
- You need more than 3 requests a second. Abstract's plans list 3, MailVet allows 10.
- You want MX results on the free plan.
- You want your own block rules.
- You want a stated hard cap: over quota answers 429 and never bills extra. Abstract's page doesn't say what happens at the limit.
Sources
MailVet’s column comes from our docs and pricing. MailVet isn’t affiliated with Abstract API. The name belongs to its owner.