- SMTP plugins for WordPress at a glance
- Ten SMTP plugins, one line each
- The plugin sends the email; your domain vouches for it
- Rating counts tell you more than install counts
- Email logs save a lot of guessing
- Start with the mail service you already use
- My plain advice on SMTP plugins
- Frequently asked questions
A WordPress SMTP plugin sends your site's emails through an email service or SMTP server instead of the PHP mail() function. That sorts out the sending side. Your domain's authentication records and spam rate aren't the plugin's job, they're yours. Ten free plugins follow in no particular order, with directory numbers as of Oct 2026.
When WordPress emails go missing, the first thing to look at is how they're sent. An SMTP plugin connects WordPress to a mail service such as Gmail, Outlook, Amazon SES or Brevo, so contact form messages and order emails go out through that service rather than straight from your web server.
The ten plugins below are listed alphabetically and in no particular order, each described from its own WordPress.org directory page. Before you blame the plugin for missing emails, run through my email deliverability checklist.
SMTP plugins for WordPress at a glance
All ten are free plugins in the WordPress.org plugin directory, as of Oct 2026, so the free plan column says Yes. The mail service you connect to has its own plans and sending limits, so check them before you rely on it.
| Tool | Type | Good for | Free plan |
|---|---|---|---|
| Easy WP SMTP | WordPress plugin | Gmail and Outlook SMTP setup | Yes |
| FluentSMTP | WordPress plugin | Free SMTP with Gmail and more | Yes |
| GoSMTP | WordPress plugin | Pick your SMTP provider | Yes |
| Meow Mailer | WordPress plugin | Free SMTP through your provider | Yes |
| Post SMTP | WordPress plugin | Email delivery and logs | Yes |
| SmartSMTP | WordPress plugin | Reliable email delivery | Yes |
| SMTP Mailer | WordPress plugin | Send mail from your own SMTP server | Yes |
| SureMail | WordPress plugin | SMTP with Amazon SES, Postmark and email logs | Yes |
| WP Mail SMTP | WordPress plugin | SMTP, Gmail and other mailers | Yes |
| YaySMTP | WordPress plugin | Email logs with open and click tracking | Yes |
Ten SMTP plugins, one line each
Easy WP SMTP
Best for: Configuring Gmail, Outlook, Brevo, SendGrid, Mailgun or SendLayer, or connecting any SMTP server, with an easy setup.
FluentSMTP
Best for: Fixing email deliverability for free through Gmail, Amazon SES, SendGrid, Mailgun, Postmark, Cloudflare, Brevo or any SMTP.
GoSMTP
Best for: Sending email through the SMTP provider you prefer, from Gmail and Outlook to AWS, Zoho, Brevo and Mailgun.
Meow Mailer
Best for: Reliable sending through your own provider, with a real email log, one-click resend, failure alerts and offline mode.
Post SMTP
Best for: Fixing delivery by connecting Gmail SMTP, Microsoft 365, Brevo, SendGrid, Zoho or Amazon SES, with logs of what went out.
SmartSMTP
Best for: Owners who want a plugin focused on one thing: reliable email delivery from their WordPress site.
SMTP Mailer
Best for: Pointing WordPress at your own SMTP server so wp_mail() uses SMTP instead of the PHP mail() function.
SureMail
Best for: Sending through Amazon SES, Postmark and other providers, with email logs to check what went out.
WP Mail SMTP
Best for: Connecting WordPress to SMTP, Gmail, Brevo, SendGrid, Amazon SES and more to make email delivery easier.
YaySMTP
Best for: Email logs with open and click tracking, reports, charts, CSV export and a WooCommerce email preview.
The plugin sends the email; your domain vouches for it
An SMTP plugin only changes how WordPress hands your email over. Google Workspace Admin Help's email sender guidelines for Gmail put the weight elsewhere: SPF or DKIM on your sending domain, a spam rate reported in Postmaster Tools below 0.3%, and one-click unsubscribe on marketing mail. Senders of more than 5,000 messages a day to Gmail accounts have extra requirements.
SPF and DKIM are records in your domain's DNS, not settings in WordPress. So a perfectly configured SMTP plugin can still send mail that Gmail doesn't trust if those records are missing. Set them up with whoever manages your domain or your email service, then send yourself a test.
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It's worth knowing which kind of email you're sending, too. Password resets and order receipts aren't marketing mail, but a newsletter sent from the same domain is, and that's the mail that needs one-click unsubscribe.
Rating counts tell you more than install counts
Look at both numbers in the directory, as of Oct 2026. GoSMTP shows 500,000+ installs but only 10 ratings (86/100), while WP Mail SMTP has 4,000,000+ installs and 5,209 ratings (96/100). A big install count with very few ratings gives you little to go on.
Email logs save a lot of guessing
Several plugins here keep an email log, and one adds open and click tracking. A log shows whether WordPress tried to send a message at all, which tells you whether the problem sits with your site or with the mail service. One of them also offers one-click resend and failure alerts, so a failed order email doesn't go unnoticed.
Running webinars or meetups from your site? Our list of event plugins covers the calendar and ticketing side.
Start with the mail service you already use
- Gmail or Google Workspace: half of the plugins here name Gmail in their descriptions.
- Microsoft 365 or Outlook: look for Outlook or Microsoft 365 in the description.
- Amazon SES or Postmark: several name them, including one built around both.
- Your own mail server: a plugin that points WordPress at any SMTP server you give it.
Do you make a WordPress SMTP plugin? Tool makers can ask to be considered for a featured place on this list.
My plain advice on SMTP plugins
Pick the plugin that names the mail service you already use and keeps a log, then sort out SPF and DKIM on your domain before you judge the result. If you send marketing email from the same domain, add one-click unsubscribe and keep an eye on your spam rate in Postmaster Tools.
If your list is the problem rather than the plugin, my guide to cleaner email lists for better deliverability is the next read.
Want your tool on this list? Featured spots and reviews here are paid partnerships. Here's how to partner with me.
Frequently asked questions
What does a WordPress SMTP plugin do?
It makes WordPress send email through an SMTP server or email service, such as Gmail, Outlook or Amazon SES, instead of the PHP mail() function.
Will an SMTP plugin stop my emails going to spam?
Not on its own. Gmail's sender guidelines ask for SPF or DKIM on your domain, a spam rate below 0.3% and one-click unsubscribe on marketing mail, and those sit outside the plugin.
Can I use Gmail with a WordPress SMTP plugin?
Yes. Half of the plugins here name Gmail as one of the services you can connect.
Do I need an email log?
It helps. A log shows whether WordPress tried to send a message, so you know whether to look at your site or your mail service.
Are WordPress SMTP plugins free?
All ten here are free plugins in the WordPress.org plugin directory, as of Oct 2026. The mail service you connect may have its own plans.
