Unlayer (the library behind react-email-editor) is the most commonly embedded email editor — but it costs $149–$2,499/month, is not open-source, and locks you into their hosted infrastructure. GrapesJS with the MJML preset gives developers a free, MIT-licensed, self-hosted alternative with the same drag-and-drop email editing capabilities and better long-term flexibility.
GrapesJS vs Unlayer — feature comparison
| Feature | GrapesJS | Unlayer |
|---|---|---|
| Open source | ✓ MIT | ✗ Proprietary |
| Pricing | Free | $149–$2,499/mo |
| Self-hosted | ✓ | ✗ Hosted only |
| MJML support | ✓ Native | ✗ |
| White-label | ✓ Free | Paid plans only |
| Custom blocks | Unlimited | Limited |
| Page builder | ✓ | ✗ Email only |
| Plugin ecosystem | GJS.Market (100+) | None |
| Framework support | Any | React wrapper only |
GrapesJS email plugins on GJS.Market
Email$29
MJML Newsletter Preset
Full MJML email builder with responsive blocks
Blocks$19
Email Block Library
Header, footer, CTA, text, and image blocks
UIFree
Responsive Preview
Test at mobile, tablet, and desktop sizes
ExportFree
HTML Export Pro
Inlined HTML export for any email service provider
GrapesJS vs Unlayer FAQ
Replace Unlayer with a free alternative
GrapesJS + GJS.Market email plugins: everything Unlayer offers, at zero ongoing cost.
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