Amazon SES Cheat Sheet 2025: Complete Guide to AWS Simple Email Service

Amazon Simple Email Service (SES) is of the most cost-effective and scalable email services for modern applications in 2025. Currently, there are many SaaS (software-as-a-service) application using the SES for broadcast email marketing and so on.

Whether you're sending transactional emails, marketing campaigns, or system notifications, this cheat sheet covers everything you need to know about SES, including the latest 2025 updates and best practices.

What is Amazon SES?

Amazon Simple Email Service (SES) is an email platform that provides an easy, cost-effective way for you to send and receive email using your own email addresses and domains.

Unlike consumer email providers Zoho or ClickUp, SES is built specifically for applications and high-volume sending.

Key Benefits in 2025:

• Cost-effective: A pay-as-you-go service based on the volume of emails sent and received. Starting at $0.10 per 1,000 emails (outbound & inbound emails)
• High deliverability: Built-in reputation management
• Scalable: From hundreds to millions of emails
• Integrated: Native AWS service integration with services like SNS
• Secure: Built-in security and compliance features

What's New in Amazon SES 2025

Latest Updates and Features:

• Enhanced Free Tier: 3,000 messages per month for 12 months (updated July 2023)
• Tenant Management: Manage up to 10,000 isolated tenants per account
• Advanced Analytics: Real-time deliverability insights
• Improved API v2: The API v2 provides a better performance and new endpoints
• Enhanced Security: Additional encryption and authentication options

Amazon SES Quick Reference Table

Core Features

1. Flexible Deployment Options

Shared IP Addresses (Recommended for Most Users)

• Ready to use immediately
• AWS-managed reputation
• Cost-effective for low to medium volume
• Best for: Startups, small businesses, transactional emails

Dedicated IP Addresses

• Complete control over sender reputation
• Predictable IP addresses that never change
• Isolation by email type or campaigns
• Best for: High-volume senders, marketing campaigns
• Cost: Additional monthly fees apply

Bring Your Own IP (BYOIP) - 2025 Feature

• Use your existing IP addresses
• Maintain established sender reputation
• Custom configuration options

2. Advanced Authentication & Security

Email Authentication Methods:

SPF (Sender Policy Framework)

v=spf1 include:amazonses.com ~all

DKIM (Domain Keys Identified Mail)

• Cryptographic signing of emails
• Prevents email tampering in transit
• Automatic key rotation available

DMARC (Domain-based Message Authentication)

v=DMARC1; p=quarantine; rua=mailto:dmarc@yourdomain.com

Security Features 2025:

• AWS KMS Integration: Encrypt email content
• TLS 1.2+ Support: Secure transmission
• VPC Endpoints: Private network access
• IAM Integration: Fine-grained access control

3. Comprehensive Monitoring & Analytics

Key Metrics Tracked:

• Send Rate: Messages sent per second
• Bounce Rate: Failed deliveries (keep under 5%)
• Complaint Rate: Spam reports (keep under 0.1%)
• Open Rate: Email opens (requires tracking pixels)
• Click Rate: Link clicks in emails
• Delivery Rate: Successful deliveries

2025 Analytics Enhancements:

• Real-time deliverability scoring
• Predictive sending recommendations
• Advanced segmentation insights
• Comparative industry benchmarks

Methods of Sending Emails

1. Amazon SES Console

• Best for: Testing and small-scale sending
• Features: Visual interface, template management
• Limitations: Not suitable for production applications

2. SES SMTP Interface

To send production email through Amazon SES, you can use the Simple Mail Transfer Protocol (SMTP) interface or the Amazon SES API.

Amazon SES sends email using SMTP, which is the most common email protocol on the internet. You can send email through Amazon SES by using a variety of SMTP-enabled programming languages and software to connect to the Amazon SES SMTP interface.

To send email using the Amazon SES SMTP interface, you need the following:

• The SMTP endpoint address
• The SMTP interface port number. The port number varies with the connection method.
• An SMTP user name and password. SMTP credentials are unique to each AWS Region.
• Client software that can communicate using Transport Layer Security (TLS) (mechanisms for establishing a TLS-encrypted connection: STARTTLS and TLS Wrapper).
• An email address that you've verified with Amazon SES.

To send an email, you might need to provide the following information: a source address, a destination address, and message data.

3. Amazon SES API v2 (Recommended)

When you send an email using the Amazon SES API, you specify the content of the message, and Amazon SES assembles a MIME email for you. Alternatively, you can assemble the email yourself so that you have complete control over the content of the message.

Follow the Introduction and Hands-On with AWS SES to better understanding how to using SES API in production environment.

Configuration Sets & Advanced Features

Configuration sets are groups of rules that you can apply to your verified identities. A verified identity is a domain, subdomain, or email address you use to send email through Amazon SES.

Configuration Sets Benefits:

• Event Publishing: Track email events in real-time
• IP Pool Management: Organize dedicated IPs
• Custom Tracking: Advanced analytics
• Suppression Management: Handle bounces and complaints

Amazon SES Pricing 2025 💰

Updated Pricing Structure:

Free Tier (First 12 months):

• 3,000 messages/month for new AWS accounts
• No additional charges for basic features
• Shared across all SES features
• Free Tier credits: new AWS accounts will get $200 in Free Tier credits (starting July 2025)

Standard Pricing:

• Outbound emails: $0.10 per 1,000 emails, attachments:$0.12 per GB
• Inbound emails: $0.10 per 1,000 emails, and$0.09 per 1,000 chunks
• Dedicated IPs: $24.95/month per IP
• Data Transfer: $0.09/GB outbound

Common Use Cases & Best Practices

Below are some use cases commonly used in real-life:

1. Transactional Emails
2. Marketing Campaigns
3. System Notifications

• Server alerts: Automated monitoring notifications
• User notifications: Password resets, account updates
• Application events: Webhook failures, system status

Troubleshooting Common Issues

Issue 1: High Bounce Rate

Symptoms: Bounce rate above 5% Solutions:

• Validate email addresses before sending
• Use double opt-in for subscriptions
• Regular list cleaning
• Monitor suppression list

Issue 2: Low Deliverability

Symptoms: Emails going to spam folder Solutions:

• Implement SPF, DKIM, DMARC
• Warm up dedicated IPs gradually
• Maintain consistent sending patterns
• Monitor sender reputation

Issue 3: Rate Limiting

Symptoms: API throttling errors Solutions:

• Implement exponential backoff
• Request quota increases
• Use multiple configuration sets
• Distribute sending across regions

Security Best Practices 2025 🔒

1. IAM Policy Example:

{
  "Version": "2012-10-17",
  "Statement": [
    {
      "Effect": "Allow",
      "Action": [
        "ses:SendEmail",
        "ses:SendTemplatedEmail",
        "ses:SendRawEmail"
      ],
      "Resource": "arn:aws:ses:us-east-1:ACCOUNT-ID:identity/quizcld.com",
      "Condition": {
        "StringEquals": {
          "ses:FromAddress": [
            "no-reply@labs.quizcld.com",
            "support@labs.quizcld.com"
          ]
        }
      }
    }
  ]
}

2. Encryption Best Practices:

• Use HTTPS/TLS for all API calls
• Encrypt email content with AWS KMS
• Store credentials in AWS Secrets Manager
• Rotate SMTP credentials regularly

Frequently Asked Questions ❓

Q: How do I move from sandbox to production?

A: Submit a case to AWS Support requesting production access. Include your use case, expected volume, and bounce/complaint handling procedures.

Q: What's the difference between SES API v1 and v2?

A: API v2 offers better performance, new features like configuration sets v2, and improved error handling. v1 is still supported but v2 is recommended for new projects.

Q: Can I send emails from any domain?

A: No, you must verify ownership of domains or email addresses before sending. This prevents spam and abuse.

Q: How do I handle email bounces and complaints?

A: Set up SNS notifications for bounce and complaint events, then automatically remove those addresses from your sending lists.

Q: Is there a way to test emails without affecting my reputation?

A: Yes, use the SES mailbox simulator with test addresses like success@simulator.amazonses.com.

Conclusion

We’re excited to see how you will use the Amazon SES service to transform your email operations, boost efficiency, and create better experiences for your users. To get started with Amazon SES simply visit the Amazon SES console.

The key to success with SES is understanding your use case, implementing proper authentication, monitoring your metrics closely, and following email best practices.

Quick Action Items:

1. Set up domain authentication (SPF, DKIM, DMARC)
2. Create configuration sets for better tracking
3. Implement proper error handling in your applications
4. Monitor bounce and complaint rates regularly
5. Plan for scaling with appropriate quotas
6. Build your own SaaS app using the service to build a Email Marketing System

Additional Resources:

• AWS SES Developer Guide
• SES API Reference v2
• Email Authentication Best Practices
• Improve email deliverability with tenant management