Bento

Email marketing, behavioral tracking, segmentation, and automation

KINDA · partial replacement
price variesestimated build time multi-dayreplaced by 0 people

The visible email + customer data loop is buildable, but a credible replacement needs more than the first screen. Bento earns its keep through deliverability, reputation, network, so expect a weekend or multi-day build and a narrower personal scope.

Build verification: not recorded. How we judge buildability

What you give up

  • sender reputation and deliverability operations
  • bounce, complaint, and suppression handling
  • large-scale segmentation and automation
  • payments, recommendations, and audience network
  • sender reputation, deliverability, and suppression handling

Why people still pay

Bento: The editor is trivial compared with inbox placement, compliance, reputation, unsubscribe handling, analytics, and audience growth infrastructure.

Your build guide

The stack, security requirements, and agent rules for a focused replacement.

Before you start

  • A verified sending domain, SES account with suitable sending access, DNS ownership and permission-based subscriber records. Provider charges and deliverability work remain.
  • Implementation components: Next.js App Router and TypeScript for server-rendered pages and validated mutations. PostgreSQL with Drizzle migrations; Better Auth sessions for a small private workspace. React Email templates, an Amazon SES adapter and a bounded outbox worker with provider event ingestion.
  • Scope boundary: sender reputation and deliverability operations; bounce, complaint, and suppression handling
01
Next.js App Router and TypeScript for server-rendered pages and validated mutations.
02
PostgreSQL with Drizzle migrations; Better Auth sessions for a small private workspace.
03
React Email templates, an Amazon SES adapter and a bounded outbox worker with provider event ingestion.
04
Domain model: customers, consent states, named events, segment definitions, workflow versions and per-recipient step receipts
engineering roadmap

Implementation plan

1

Phase 1

Scope and fixtures. Implement this bounded workflow: Track permission-based customer events, build a small event-triggered email flow and preview which contacts qualify. Support a welcome message, a wait step and a condition with an operator pause control. Record prerequisites, select representative user-owned fixtures and document the unsupported features: sender reputation and deliverability operations; bounce, complaint, and suppression handling

2

Phase 2

Durable model. Model customers, consent states, named events, segment definitions, workflow versions and per-recipient step receipts Add migrations or a versioned document format, explicit validation, stable IDs and a visible import-error report. Preserve this rule: An event ID can start a workflow only once; unsubscribing prevents later queued marketing steps even if the contact remains in the segment.

3

Phase 3

Complete the first useful path. Implement the workflow's input, review and output interface, with clear controls and explicit empty/error states. Snapshot the campaign revision and recipient segment. Persist one delivery record per recipient, use provider-supported reconciliation after unknown outcomes, and pause on high failure rates.

4

Phase 4

Permissions and integration failure. Keep consent evidence and suppression records, validate signed delivery callbacks, and recheck unsubscribes and complaints immediately before every send. Request integration credentials and permissions only for the enabled feature; show a disconnected state instead of mock results.

5

Phase 5

Portable handoff. Export versioned JSON plus attachments and a readable CSV summary. Restore into a separate database and compare record IDs and attachment checksums before switching. Include setup, operating limits, fixture walkthrough and shutdown/restart instructions in the README.

6

Phase 6

Acceptance scenarios. Replay a signup event and receive one welcome delivery record; unsubscribe during a wait step and verify the later message is suppressed. Repeat the workflow after restart and with a denied permission or unavailable dependency; show recoverable failure rather than a success placeholder.

the pro prompt
download AGENTS.md
WORKING SLICE
Track permission-based customer events, build a small event-triggered email flow and preview which contacts qualify. Support a welcome message, a wait step and a condition with an operator pause control.

Build this scoped Bento-inspired workflow with a documented data model and visible failure states.

Architecture
- Next.js App Router and TypeScript for server-rendered pages and validated mutations.
- PostgreSQL with Drizzle migrations; Better Auth sessions for a small private workspace.
- React Email templates, an Amazon SES adapter and a bounded outbox worker with provider event ingestion.

Prerequisites and limits
A verified sending domain, SES account with suitable sending access, DNS ownership and permission-based subscriber records. Provider charges and deliverability work remain.
Outside this release: sender reputation and deliverability operations; bounce, complaint, and suppression handling

Data model and correctness
customers, consent states, named events, segment definitions, workflow versions and per-recipient step receipts
Invariant: An event ID can start a workflow only once; unsubscribing prevents later queued marketing steps even if the contact remains in the segment.
Snapshot the campaign revision and recipient segment. Persist one delivery record per recipient, use provider-supported reconciliation after unknown outcomes, and pause on high failure rates.

Security and privacy
Keep consent evidence and suppression records, validate signed delivery callbacks, and recheck unsubscribes and complaints immediately before every send.

Recovery and export
Export versioned JSON plus attachments and a readable CSV summary. Restore into a separate database and compare record IDs and attachment checksums before switching.

Implementation order
1. Phase 1 — Scope and fixtures. Implement this bounded workflow: Track permission-based customer events, build a small event-triggered email flow and preview which contacts qualify. Support a welcome message, a wait step and a condition with an operator pause control. Record prerequisites, select representative user-owned fixtures and document the unsupported features: sender reputation and deliverability operations; bounce, complaint, and suppression handling
2. Phase 2 — Durable model. Model customers, consent states, named events, segment definitions, workflow versions and per-recipient step receipts Add migrations or a versioned document format, explicit validation, stable IDs and a visible import-error report. Preserve this rule: An event ID can start a workflow only once; unsubscribing prevents later queued marketing steps even if the contact remains in the segment.
3. Phase 3 — Complete the first useful path. Implement the workflow's input, review and output interface, with clear controls and explicit empty/error states. Snapshot the campaign revision and recipient segment. Persist one delivery record per recipient, use provider-supported reconciliation after unknown outcomes, and pause on high failure rates.
4. Phase 4 — Permissions and integration failure. Keep consent evidence and suppression records, validate signed delivery callbacks, and recheck unsubscribes and complaints immediately before every send. Request integration credentials and permissions only for the enabled feature; show a disconnected state instead of mock results.
5. Phase 5 — Portable handoff. Export versioned JSON plus attachments and a readable CSV summary. Restore into a separate database and compare record IDs and attachment checksums before switching. Include setup, operating limits, fixture walkthrough and shutdown/restart instructions in the README.
6. Phase 6 — Acceptance scenarios. Replay a signup event and receive one welcome delivery record; unsubscribe during a wait step and verify the later message is suppressed. Repeat the workflow after restart and with a denied permission or unavailable dependency; show recoverable failure rather than a success placeholder.

Acceptance
Replay a signup event and receive one welcome delivery record; unsubscribe during a wait step and verify the later message is suppressed.
Use real source data or clearly labeled fixtures. Explain unsupported input and provider failures; do not fabricate analytics, delivery receipts, accuracy claims or security guarantees.

Optional agent guidance
Optional external skill: [supabase-postgres-best-practices](https://github.com/supabase/agent-skills/blob/main/skills/supabase-postgres-best-practices/SKILL.md) — Review PostgreSQL schemas, queries, indexes, pooling, concurrency and row-level security. Review its instructions and compatibility before use; it does not grant deployment, data-access or publication permission.
Optional external skill: [web-design-guidelines](https://github.com/vercel-labs/agent-skills/blob/main/skills/web-design-guidelines/SKILL.md) — Review web interfaces for accessibility, keyboard focus, forms, navigation and interaction quality. Review its instructions and compatibility before use; it does not grant deployment, data-access or publication permission.
Optional external skill: [copywriting](https://github.com/coreyhaines31/marketingskills/blob/main/skills/copywriting/SKILL.md) — Write landing pages and product copy grounded in the intended audience, product value and a clear next action. Review its instructions and compatibility before use; it does not grant deployment, data-access or publication permission.
Project rule — data model: customers, consent states, named events, segment definitions, workflow versions and per-recipient step receipts
Project rule — preserve this invariant: An event ID can start a workflow only once; unsubscribing prevents later queued marketing steps even if the contact remains in the segment.
Project rule — acceptance evidence: Replay a signup event and receive one welcome delivery record; unsubscribe during a wait step and verify the later message is suppressed.

$ open in your agent (prompt prefilled, you press enter), copy the prompt or copy or download AGENTS.md

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Alternatives to building your own

MauticBehavior tracking, segments and campaigns with years of battle scars; operating it is also a campaign.10kaug 2026open source↗PlunkEvents, conditions and automated email in one open platform; analytics are leaner than Bento's.5.3kaug 2026open source↗DittofeedEvent-driven segments and multichannel journeys with a marketer-facing UI; the infrastructure diagram is not decorative.2.9kmar 2026open source↗

all 5 free alternatives to Bento →· no votes, no pay-to-list · just what's real

Bento pricing

planmonthlyannual (per mo)what you get
marketing platform$29/workspace—Up to 5,000 active users included; unlimited marketing sends; team seats included.Overage pricing applies above 5,000 active users.
transactional email free$0/workspace—First 100 transactional emails free.Transactional email is separate from marketing platform pricing.
transactional email$5/workspace—Up to 12,500 transactional emails/month; then $0.09 per 1,000 emails.
bento chat add-on$30/workspace—Chat add-on; numeric usage caps not published in pricing text.Optional add-on.

free tierno free marketing tier; 30-day trial; transactional email includes first 100 emails free.

billingmonthly only public pricing; no annual plan verified

hidden costsMarketing active-user overages: $0.01/user for 5,001-50,000, $0.009 for 50,001-250,000, $0.008 for 250,001+; transactional overage $0.09/1,000 emails.

pricing sources checked 2026-08-10 · pricing source ↗

Questions about Bento

Can you build your own Bento with AI?

Partly. The visible email + customer data loop is buildable, but a credible replacement needs more than the first screen. Bento earns its keep through deliverability, reputation, network, so expect a weekend or multi-day build and a narrower personal scope.

What does the Bento build prompt cover?

The prompt starts with this scope: Track permission-based customer events, build a small event-triggered email flow and preview which contacts qualify. Support a welcome message, a wait step and a condition with an operator pause control. Full-product capabilities excluded from the comparison include: sender reputation and deliverability operations; bounce, complaint, and suppression handling; large-scale segmentation and automation. Follow the implementation plan and its prerequisites before expanding the build.

How do I use the prompt, AGENTS.md and agent skills?

Start with the Bento prerequisites and stack, then copy the prompt into your coding agent. Save the project rules as AGENTS.md in the project root. Linked skills are optional packages or source instructions for specific tasks; review their current contents and install only those matching the chosen stack. A skill does not supply API credentials or verify the finished app.

How long will this Bento project take?

The catalogue estimate is multi-day for the limited scope. Setup, integration approvals, debugging, deployment and ongoing maintenance can add time. This is an estimate, not a delivery guarantee.

What would I give up by replacing Bento?

sender reputation and deliverability operations; bounce, complaint, and suppression handling; large-scale segmentation and automation; payments, recommendations, and audience network; sender reputation, deliverability, and suppression handling. Bento: The editor is trivial compared with inbox placement, compliance, reputation, unsubscribe handling, analytics, and audience growth infrastructure.

What can I use instead of building Bento?

Mautic: Behavior tracking, segments and campaigns with years of battle scars; operating it is also a campaign. Plunk: Events, conditions and automated email in one open platform; analytics are leaner than Bento's. Dittofeed: Event-driven segments and multichannel journeys with a marketer-facing UI; the infrastructure diagram is not decorative. Compare all listed options at https://howtovibecodeit.dev/bento/alternatives. Check each option's license, hosting needs and feature limits.

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