Head-to-head · September 2026
Gmail SMTP vs JWT Authentication for WP…
JWT Authentication for WP R… comes out ahead, winning 4 of 8 head-to-head checks against Gmail SMTP.
Gmail SMTP
Gmail SMTP plugin allows you to authenticate with your Gmail account to send email via Gmail SMTP server.
JWT Authentication for WP REST API
This plugin seamlessly extends the WP REST API, enabling robust and secure authentication using JSON Web…
| Metric | Gmail SMTP | JWT Authentication for WP… |
|---|---|---|
| Active installs | 10K+ | 60K+ |
| Downloads (30 days) | 4.1K | 6.6K |
| Download trend | -36.7% | +2.3% |
| Rating | 4.1/5 | 4.4/5 |
| Reviews | 103 | 53 |
| Health score | 86/100 | 60/100 |
| Last updated | 1 month ago | 7 months ago |
| Tested up to | WP 7.1.2 | WP 6.9.9 |
| Support resolved | 100% | — |
| Requires PHP | 8.1+ | 7.4.0+ |
| First released | Nov 2015 | Sep 2015 |
Daily downloads, last 90 days
Gmail SMTPJWT Authentication for…
Choose Gmail SMTP if…
You care most about reviews, health score and last updated.
- Proven at scale on 10K+ active sites
- Tested with the latest WordPress (7.1)
- Needs PHP 8.1 or newer
Choose JWT Authentication for WP… if…
You care most about active installs, downloads (30 days) and download trend.
- Proven at scale on 60K+ active sites
- Only tested up to WordPress 6.9 (latest is 7.1)
Both compete in: oauth
FAQ
Gmail SMTP vs JWT Authentication for WP…: quick answers
Straight answers, pulled from live WordPress.org data.
Live data from WordPress.org · checked Sep 28, 2026
Which is better, Gmail SMTP or JWT Authentication for WP R…?
JWT Authentication for WP R… comes out ahead, winning 4 of 8 head-to-head checks against Gmail SMTP. Choose Gmail SMTP if you care most about reviews, health score and last updated. Choose JWT Authentication for WP R… if you care most about active installs, downloads (30 days) and download trend.
Is Gmail SMTP more popular than JWT Authentication for WP R…?
JWT Authentication for WP R… is the more popular of the two with 60K+ active installs, compared with 10K+ for Gmail SMTP.
Can I use Gmail SMTP and JWT Authentication for WP R… together?
Both plugins cover oauth, so most sites only need one. Running two plugins that do the same job can cause conflicts and slow your site down — pick the one that fits best and remove the other.
Are Gmail SMTP and JWT Authentication for WP R… free?
Yes. Both are free to download from the official WordPress.org plugin directory. Either may also offer paid upgrades from its developer.
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