SMTP and API mailers for WordPress email
WP Mail SMTP replaces WordPress’s default mail-sending route with authenticated SMTP or a provider connection. Its free mailer options include Gmail, Brevo, SendGrid and Other SMTP; Amazon SES is available with Pro. Provider APIs can still send mail when a host blocks SMTP ports, so sites with restrictive hosting may have another route to delivery.
Setup guidance and provider-specific choices
The Setup Wizard and documentation help guide provider selection and configuration.
- Setup help: Use the wizard and detailed documentation to work through the connection process; most mailer options also let you set the outgoing sender name and email address.
- SendLayer: Its trial includes hundreds of free emails, making it an option to assess before choosing a provider.
- SMTP.com: The stated allowance is 50,000 free emails in the first 30 days, which may suit an initial period of higher-volume sending.
- Brevo: The stated free allowance is 300 emails per day, a useful limit to consider against regular site volume.
- Gmail authentication: OAuth connects a Gmail or Google Workspace account without storing the Google password on the site; Pro also offers one-click setup.
Email logs, reports and failover in Pro
Pro adds tools to review email activity and respond when delivery fails.
- Email history: View message details including recipients, content, headers, delivery status, and open and click activity; resend messages individually or in bulk, forward them, store attachments, and export or print logs.
- Reports: Review sent and failed email totals, with opens and clicks grouped by subject line; weekly summaries provide a way to monitor activity without logging into WordPress.
- Alerts: Get notified through Slack, Microsoft Teams, Discord, SMS via Twilio, webhooks, or email when sending stops.
- Backup and retries: Configure a secondary connection to take over if the primary fails, with automatic retries for failed emails.
- Conditional routing: Direct different types of email through different connections, which can help sites with distinct sending needs.
A widely adopted plugin with room to improve support resolution
WP Mail SMTP has adoption among the directory’s highest and an excellent user rating backed by many reviews. It was updated recently, while 67% of 24 support threads are marked resolved. That resolution share is worth weighing against your own support expectations: check whether the available support is adequate for the importance of your site’s email.
