# Resend API vs SDK

For most use cases, **the Resend SDK offers a better developer experience** than
calling the raw HTTP API directly. Resend maintains official, open source SDKs
for Node.js, PHP, Python, Ruby, Go, Rust, Java, and .NET.

:::callout{intent="info"}
**Recommendation:** Use a [Resend SDK](/guides/resources-sdks) for your language. Call the [raw
API](/guides/api-reference-introduction) directly only when no SDK exists for your
stack.
:::

## Choosing between the SDK and API

Reach for the SDK unless you have a specific reason not to. It handles
authentication, the required `User-Agent` header, request serialization, typed
responses, and error handling for you. That leaves less boilerplate to get
wrong.

|                      | Resend SDK (recommended) | Raw HTTP API                                  |
| -------------------- | ------------------------ | --------------------------------------------- |
| Auth & headers       | Handled automatically    | Set `Authorization` and `User-Agent` manually |
| Types & autocomplete | Built in                 | None                                          |
| Errors               | Structured error objects | Parse status codes and JSON yourself          |
| Maintained by        | Resend                   | You                                           |

## When to use the raw API directly

Calling the API directly is a good fit when:

- There's **no official SDK** for your language or runtime.
- You're making a one-off request and don't want to add a dependency.
- You're building your own integration or wrapper.

If you do call the API directly, remember to set the required
[`User-Agent` header](/guides/api-reference-introduction#user-agent).

## Next steps

::::card-grid
:::card{title="Official SDKs" href="/guides/resources-sdks" icon="cube"}
Install the SDK for your language.
:::

:::card{title="Quickstart" href="/guides/get-started-introduction" icon="rocket"}
Send your first email in minutes.
:::

:::card{title="API Reference" href="/guides/api-reference-introduction" icon="code"}
Full HTTP API documentation.
:::

:::card{title="MCP Server" href="/guides/resources-mcp-server" icon="robot"}
Give your AI agent access to Resend.
:::
::::

## Related pages

- [Account Management](./account-management-index.md)
- [API Keys](./api-keys-2-index.md)
- [API Keys](./api-keys-index.md)
- [API Reference](./api-reference-index.md)
- [AudiencesDEPRECATED](./audiencesdeprecated-index.md)
- [Authorized Apps](./authorized-apps-index.md)
- [Automations](./automations-index.md)
- [Broadcasts](./broadcasts-index.md)
- [Build with AI](./build-with-ai-index.md)
- [Changelog](../changelog.md)

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