If you have a WordPress site that accepts public registrations — such as a membership site or an eCommerce store — your site will need to send a significant number of transactional emails to users, including order confirmations and password resets.
However, using WordPress’ native email solution, wp_mail, may result in many of these emails ending up in recipients’ spam folders. This is obviously not the desired outcome.
A WordPress SMTP plugin offers a better method for sending emails, significantly improving deliverability. In simple terms, an SMTP plugin ensures that people actually receive the emails your WordPress site sends.
In this post, I’ll explain what SMTP is and why it’s a better solution than WordPress’ built-in email configuration. Then, I’ll share a manual code method for using SMTP, along with six of the best WordPress SMTP plugins for a simpler setup.
What is SMTP?
SMTP, or Simple Mail Transfer Protocol, is a protocol for sending and receiving emails. When you send an email, an SMTP server breaks it down and helps move it from your email client to the recipient’s email client. Most emails in your inbox likely came from an SMTP server.
How Does SMTP Improve Your WordPress Site?
By default, WordPress uses the wp_mail function to send emails via PHP mail. This means your site sends emails through the same server hosting your site, which is usually not optimised for email delivery.
The built-in method lacks proper authentication, which is why emails sent this way often end up in spam folders or are blocked entirely by some providers.
SMTP allows your WordPress site to send emails via a properly-configured SMTP server instead. Your WordPress site sends the email to the SMTP server, which then processes and sends it to the recipient’s inbox. Proper configuration and authentication improve the chances of your emails reaching recipients’ inboxes.
How to Set Up an SMTP Server
To use an SMTP server, you’ll need to either configure it manually or use an SMTP plugin. You also need an SMTP server to connect to, which you can obtain through one of three routes:
Your Host’s SMTP Server: Many hosts include email functionality in their hosting plans. If your host provides this, you can usually find the SMTP server information in their help documentation. However, not all hosts, especially cloud-based managed WordPress hosts, offer email hosting.
Free Email Services: You can use the SMTP server of many free email services, such as Gmail or Hotmail.
Third-Party SMTP Services: For businesses or those needing high deliverability, dedicated third-party SMTP services are recommended. Popular options include:
- Mailgun
- Sendgrid
- Amazon SES
- Mandrill
Even if your host supports SMTP, using a dedicated email service may offer better deliverability. These services focus exclusively on email, which often results in improved performance. Many of these services also offer generous free plans, such as Mailgun’s 10,000 free emails per month and Sendgrid’s 100 free emails per day.
Without further ado, here is our list of the best WordPress SMTP plugins.
1. FluentSMTP
FluentSMTP is the first plugin on our list, offering support for a wide range of email providers that many other plugins don’t support. With FluentSMTP, you can connect to Elastic Email, Netcore, and Postmark, in addition to the popular providers that other SMTP plugins support. Feature-wise, FluentSMTP includes email logs and native API connections, making it comparable to other plugins on our list.
A standout feature of FluentSMTP is the ability to set up daily or weekly notifications for sending statistics and failed emails. Additionally, FluentSMTP allows you to configure multiple email service providers, automatically routing both transactional and marketing emails.
Key Features of FluentSMTP:
- Intelligent Email Routing: Automatically routes emails through the most suitable provider.
- Multiple Email Providers Supported: Connect to a variety of email service providers.
- Daily/Weekly Notifications: Receive regular updates on email statistics and failures.
- Error Log: Keep track of any email delivery issues.
FluentSMTP boasts a simple interface and is feature-rich while being cost-free, unlike some other plugins. It offers similar features to Easy WP SMTP without requiring any add-ons or extra purchases. Furthermore, FluentSMTP is one of the most simplistic and lightweight options available, running as a single-page application that ensures smooth and speedy performance, so you won’t have to worry about your site slowing down.
Best For:
FluentSMTP is a dedicated SMTP plugin with no additional features beyond that. Its simplicity and straightforwardness make it an excellent choice for those who need an SMTP plugin without extra frills.
Pricing:
Free
2. Post SMTP
The next plugin on our list is Post SMTP, which is also worth considering. It features a user-friendly configuration wizard to help you get started quickly. When you enter your email address, the plugin suggests an email provider and automatically inputs the outgoing mail server for you. For example, when we connected our Gmail email address, Post SMTP recommended smtp.gmail.com, the default outgoing mail server for Gmail.
You’ll then proceed to a connectivity test, which shows the available providers for Gmail. After this, you may need to follow a link for guidance on setting up the connection. The complexity of the setup varies depending on the provider. For instance, connecting to Gmail requires you to access the Google Cloud Console, set up a new project, and create a client ID and secret, which can be challenging for beginners.
Despite the setup difficulty, Post SMTP offers various features typically requiring a premium license in other plugins. These include an email log, fallback SMTP connection, email validation, additional reply-to emails, and advanced network settings. These features can be extremely useful and save you the cost of purchasing premium licenses for other plugins with similar functionalities.
Key Features of Post SMTP Mailer/Email Log:
- Email Log: Keep track of all sent emails.
- Fallback SMTP Connection: Ensure email delivery even if the primary connection fails.
- Additional Reply-To Email Addresses: Assign extra reply-to addresses.
- Advanced Network Settings: Customise network configurations.
- Chrome Extension: Receive notifications for delivery failures.
Post SMTP also offers an optional Chrome extension that notifies you of any delivery failures, helping you monitor and resolve email deliverability issues promptly. Addressing these issues is crucial to maintaining email subscribers, boosting sales, and effectively engaging with your site visitors. Additionally, the plugin offers various add-ons for extended functionality, including:
- Zoho Mail Pro: Connect your Zoho account.
- Mail Control: Configure the types of emails sent.
- Twilio: Integrate live chat.
- Office 365 Support
- Better Email Add-on: Design email marketing campaigns.
Best For:
Post SMTP is a robust SMTP plugin offering numerous additional features for those who need them. With a free download, it includes an email log, fallback SMTP connections, and a Chrome extension. The various add-ons extend the plugin’s capabilities, providing better control over customer interactions. However, if you need more integrations, you might find Sendinblue’s SMTP plugin to be a better fit.
Pricing:
Free, with add-ons starting at $39.99 per year.
3. Easy WP SMTP
The next plugin on our list is Easy WP SMTP. This plugin offers a simple and lightweight alternative to other SMTP plugins, making it an excellent choice for those who prefer a streamlined approach.
While it may lack some of the advanced features found in other plugins, Easy WP SMTP remains a capable and reliable option. It supports multiple email providers, including SendLayer, Mailgun, Sendinblue, and SMTP.com, and allows you to configure your own connections.
Unlike the previous two plugins, Easy WP SMTP does not have a setup wizard. However, if you have some technical know-how, setting up your connection should not be an issue. You will need to input details such as your host, type of encryption, port, and other settings.
Key Features of Easy WP SMTP:
- Lightweight: Minimal impact on your site’s performance.
- Manual SMTP Connection: Set up without a wizard.
- Send Test Emails: Ensure the plugin is working correctly.
- Email Debugging: Troubleshoot any issues with email delivery.
Easy WP SMTP is equipped with features to help you troubleshoot any issues that may arise. You can send a test email to verify the plugin is functioning correctly, and debug events related to email sending errors and email sending debug. This is particularly useful if you encounter any problems with email delivery.
Best For:
Easy WP SMTP is ideal for anyone seeking a straightforward solution to ensure email deliverability via SMTP. While it lacks the advanced features of other plugins, it is a reliable and cost-free option that effectively gets the job done.
Pricing:
Free
4. WP Mail SMTP
The next plugin on our list is WP Mail SMTP, which boasts over 3 million installs, making it the most popular option available. Several factors contribute to its large user base. Firstly, setting up SMTP with WP Mail SMTP is straightforward. The plugin offers a handy configuration wizard, enabling you to start sending emails through your desired provider in just a few simple steps.
Key Features of WP Mail SMTP:
- Easy Setup Wizard: Streamlined configuration process.
- Support for Major SMTP Email Providers: Compatible with SendLayer, Sendinblue, Gmail, Mailgun, SendGrid, Zoho Mail, and more.
- One-Click Migration: Easily switch from other SMTP plugins.
- Email Tracking: Monitor site-wide and WooCommerce-specific emails.
- Multisite Support: Manage email logs and track emails across all sub-sites.
WP Mail SMTP stands out for its extensive support for different email service providers. It supports a wide range of mailers, giving you the flexibility to choose the provider that best meets your needs. Many of the more popular options are available with the free version of the plugin. While WP Mail SMTP offers recommendations for email service providers to streamline the setup process, you can ultimately select the provider that best suits your needs. For example, choosing Gmail will prompt a warning about its suitability for small email volumes due to rate limitations.
Advanced Features in the Pro Version:
- Email Log: Easily resend or forward emails directly from the WordPress dashboard.
- Advanced Tracking: Monitor email performance with metrics such as opens and clicks, especially useful for WooCommerce users.
- Multisite Support: Manage email logs and track emails across all sub-sites, saving time for users managing multiple sites.
- Alerts, Additional Connections, and Smart Routing: Enhance email management and routing capabilities.
Best For:
WP Mail SMTP is ideal for those seeking an SMTP plugin with advanced features and capabilities. It is particularly suited for users who need to manage multiple WordPress sites within a multisite environment, as it provides seamless integration and support for all sub-sites. Additionally, WP Mail SMTP offers a wide range of email service providers to choose from, allowing you to select the one that best suits your needs.
Pricing:
Free, with a pro license starting at $49 per year.
5. WP SMTP
The final plugin in our list is WP SMTP, developed by the creators of the popular image gallery plugin, Modula. WP SMTP takes a no-frills approach, providing just what you need to set up a secure SMTP connection without any configuration wizards, add-ons, or additional functionalities.
To use WP SMTP, you’ll need to manually configure your settings. This involves entering details such as the SMTP host, SMTP port, and authentication and security options like SSL or TLS. Note that WP SMTP does not provide these details, so you’ll need to obtain them from your email provider.
Key Features of WP SMTP:
- Simple SMTP Plugin: Straightforward setup without extra features.
- Email Log with Export to CSV: Allows you to export the email log for detailed analysis.
WP SMTP offers a useful feature that lets you export the email log as a CSV file. This enables you to search through the entries for any issues with email deliverability, such as bounces or errors, and track whether emails were clicked. This information can be incredibly useful for gaining insights into how your website interacts with your audience, allowing you to optimize your email strategy accordingly.
Best For:
WP SMTP is ideal for users who don’t need a fancy interface or assistance in setting up a secure SMTP connection. It is particularly beneficial for those who prefer to download email logs for meticulous scrutiny. However, if you need more advanced features, consider WP Mail SMTP or Sendinblue’s SMTP plugin.
Pricing:
Free
