10 Outstanding SMTP Plugins for WordPress: Boost Your Email Deliverability Today!

Emails form the backbone of many functionalities on your WordPress website. From registration confirmations to newsletter distributions, ensuring these emails land in the recipient’s inbox is paramount. Leveraging Simple Mail Transfer Protocol SMTP plugins is your ticket to bolstered email deliverability. In this extensive guide, we’re diving deep into the best SMTP plugins for WordPress that will elevate your email game.

1. WP Mail SMTP by WPForms

WP Mail SMTP by WPForms has stood out in the WordPress community, boasting millions of installations. With its seamless integration into popular mailing services and an intuitive user interface, this plugin is a must-have.

• Features: Advanced email logging, Microsoft and Amazon SES integrations, and more.
• Pros: High reliability and extensive documentation.
• Cons: Pro features might be pricey for some.

2. Sendinblue SMTP Plugins

Sendinblue isn’t just an SMTP tool; it’s an entire email marketing machine. This robust platform offers email campaigns, automation, transactional emails, and more.

• Features: A/B testing, real-time stats, and drag-and-drop design.
• Pros: Versatile marketing features alongside SMTP.
• Cons: The learning curve can be steep for beginners.

3. Mailgun for WordPress

For developers and advanced users, Mailgun offers powerful features that optimize email deliverability.

• Features: Email validation, detailed logs, and influential sending infrastructure.
• Pros: Precise control over settings.
• Cons: Requires more technical knowledge.

4. SMTP Mailer

A minimalist yet potent tool, SMTP Mailer prioritizes ease of use. With straightforward settings and a clean UI, it’s perfect for those who want a no-fuss solution.

• Features: SSL and TLS encryption, SMTP authentication.
• Pros: Simple to configure.
• Cons: It might lack advanced features for some.

5. Post SMTP Mailer/Email Log

Post SMTP is more than just an SMTP plugin. With features like email logs and failure notifications, you’re always in the know.

• Features: OAuth 2.0, Chrome extension for easy debugging.
• Pros: Highly informative with its logging capabilities.
• Cons: Interface can be a tad overwhelming.

6. Easy WP SMTP

True to its name, Easy WP SMTP offers an uncomplicated setup process, ensuring your emails find their way.

• Features: SSL/TLS encryption, debug logging.
• Pros: Hassle-free and beginner-friendly.
• Cons: Limited advanced features.

7. Pepipost

Pepipost promises lightning-fast email delivery. As an API-based SMTP service, it’s built for scale.

• Features: Real-time reports and sub-user management.
• Pros: Extremely scalable for large sites.
• Cons: The API-centric approach may be daunting for some.

8. WP Offload SES Lite

Amazon’s Simple Email Service (SES) is a beast when sending emails. WP Offload SES Lite acts as the bridge between WordPress and Amazon SES.

• Features: Analytics, query logs, and bounce handling.
• Pros: Robust Amazon SES integration.
• Cons: Exclusively for Amazon SES users.

9. MailerLite

MailerLite’s simplicity and extensive features make it a favorite for bloggers and small businesses.

• Features: Beautiful templates, rich-text editor.
• Pros: All-in-one solution for email marketing.
• Cons: SMTP features can be overshadowed by marketing features.

10. Gmail SMTP

For those reliant on Google services, Gmail SMTP is a no-brainer. It brings the reliability of Google’s infrastructure to your WordPress emails.

• Features: OAuth 2.0 authentication, secure delivery.
• Pros: Harnesses Google’s trusted infrastructure.
• Cons: Limited to Gmail and Google Workspace accounts.

In Conclusion

Boosting your WordPress website’s email deliverability is crucial; these SMTP plugins are the golden ticket. The options are abundant, from simple solutions like SMTP Mailer to extensive platforms like Sendinblue. Explore these tools and ensure your emails consistently hit their mark.

FAQs

What is the SMTP plugin for WordPress?

An SMTP (Simple Mail Transfer Protocol) plugin for WordPress is a tool that allows you to configure and manage the way your WordPress website sends email notifications and messages. By default, WordPress uses the server’s built-in mail function to send emails. Still, an SMTP plugin can offer more control over email delivery and improve the chances of your emails reaching recipients’ inboxes.

Here’s how an SMTP plugin for WordPress works and why it’s useful:

How an SMTP Plugin Works: An SMTP plugin replaces the default WordPress email-sending method with a dedicated SMTP server or third-party email service. SMTP is a standardized protocol used for sending emails over the Internet. When you set up an SMTP plugin, you’re directing your WordPress website to communicate with the SMTP server to send emails.

Why an SMTP Plugin Is Useful:

1. Improved Deliverability: Using an SMTP plugin can enhance the deliverability of your email notifications. SMTP servers often have better reputations than shared web hosting servers, reducing the chances of your emails being marked as spam.
2. Authentication: SMTP plugins allow you to authenticate your email account using credentials (username and password) with the SMTP server. This adds an extra layer of security and prevents unauthorized access.
3. Reliability: SMTP servers are specifically designed for email delivery, making them more reliable than generic web hosting email functions.
4. Tracking and Logs: Some SMTP plugins offer features to track email delivery status, read receipts, and log emails. This can be helpful for troubleshooting and ensuring emails are successfully delivered.
5. Compatibility: SMTP plugins work with various email services, such as Gmail, Outlook, Yahoo, and more. They can also handle transactional emails, like password resets and order confirmations, from e-commerce websites.
6. Customization: SMTP plugins allow you to configure email settings, such as the “From” and reply-to addresses, giving you more control over the email headers.

Popular SMTP plugins for WordPress include:

• WP Mail SMTP
• Easy WP SMTP
• Post SMTP Mailer/Email Log
• SendinBlue SMTP

To set up an SMTP plugin, you’ll need the SMTP server details provided by your email service provider or hosting company, including the server address, port, and authentication credentials. The plugin’s settings interface will guide you through the setup process.

An SMTP plugin can help ensure that your WordPress website’s email notifications are sent reliably and avoid common issues associated with email deliverability.

Is the WP SMTP Plugin free?

Yes, many SMTP plugins for WordPress offer both free and premium versions. The free versions of these plugins typically provide basic functionality to configure and manage your WordPress website’s email delivery using an SMTP server. Here’s a bit more information about the accessible version of the WP SMTP plugin:

WP Mail SMTP Plugin:

• WP Mail SMTP is a popular SMTP plugin for WordPress that helps you improve email deliverability and ensure that your emails are sent reliably.
• The plugin provides an interface to configure your SMTP server settings, including the server name, port, encryption method, and authentication credentials.
• It allows you to choose from different SMTP providers or your server.
• The free version of WP Mail SMTP is available in the WordPress plugin repository: https://wordpress.org/plugins/wp-mail-smtp/
• The free version offers basic SMTP functionality, making setting up and managing your email delivery easier.

While the accessible version of the WP Mail SMTP plugin provides essential SMTP configuration features, there might be limitations compared to the premium version. Premium versions of SMTP plugins often offer advanced features such as email logging, additional SMTP providers, white-labeling, priority support, and more.

When considering an SMTP plugin, review the features of both the free and premium versions to determine if the free version meets your needs or if upgrading to the premium version offers additional benefits worth the investment.