# SMTP

> SMTP has 700+ active installs, a 2.5/5 rating from 4 reviews and 143 downloads in the last 30 days. Health score 27/100, keyword rankings, version adoption and the best alternatives.

**Verdict: Consider an alternative.** SMTP shows warning signs in 2026 — compare the alternatives below before installing. It runs on 700+ sites, is rated 2.5/5 and was last updated 9 years ago, and scores 27/100 on our health check.

**This plugin configures WordPress to use a SMTP server when sending emails instead of the default PHP mail() function.**

## Key facts

- **Overall rank:** —
- **Active installs:** 700+
- **Total downloads:** 82,994
- **Downloads (30 days):** 143 (+20.2% vs previous 30 days)
- **Rating:** 2.5/5 from 4 reviews
- **Health score:** 27/100 (At risk)
- **Version:** 1.1.2
- **Last updated:** Nov 28, 2017
- **Tested up to:** WordPress 3.3.2
- **Requires:** WordPress 3.0+
- **Support resolved:** 0 of 0 threads (last 2 months)
- **Developer:** soso (https://pageforge.pro/directory/authors/necoda/)
- **WordPress.org:** https://wordpress.org/plugins/smtp/

## Category rankings

| Category | Rank | Plugins |
|---|---|---|
| [email](https://pageforge.pro/directory/plugins/tag/email/) | >100 | 1,097 |
| [mail](https://pageforge.pro/directory/plugins/tag/mail/) | #28 | 205 |
| [mailer](https://pageforge.pro/directory/plugins/tag/mailer/) | #7 | 35 |
| [smtp](https://pageforge.pro/directory/plugins/tag/smtp/) | #46 | 300 |
| [wp_mail](https://pageforge.pro/directory/plugins/tag/wp_mail/) | #12 | 63 |

## WordPress.org search positions

| Keyword | Position | Results |
|---|---|---|
| email | >100 | 10,000 |
| mail | >100 | 4,216 |
| mailer | >100 | 317 |
| smtp | >100 | 1,378 |
| wp_mail | >100 | 804 |

## Version adoption

- 1.1: 98.1%
- 1.0: 1.9%

## Alternatives

| # | Name | Active installs | Rating | Updated | Health |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | [WP Mail SMTP by WPForms – The Most Popular SMTP and Email Log Plugin](https://pageforge.pro/directory/plugins/wp-mail-smtp/) | 4M+ | 4.8/5 (5,202) | Jun 25, 2026 | 81/100 |
| 2 | [MC4WP: Mailchimp for WordPress](https://pageforge.pro/directory/plugins/mailchimp-for-wp/) | 1M+ | 4.8/5 (1,497) | Sep 16, 2026 | 97/100 |
| 3 | [Easy WP SMTP – WordPress SMTP and Email Logs: Gmail SMTP, Office 365, Outlook, Custom SMTP, and more](https://pageforge.pro/directory/plugins/easy-wp-smtp/) | 500K+ | 4.6/5 (707) | Aug 12, 2026 | 91/100 |
| 4 | [WP Mail Logging](https://pageforge.pro/directory/plugins/wp-mail-logging/) | 300K+ | 4.7/5 (372) | Sep 21, 2026 | 96/100 |
| 5 | [Mailchimp for WooCommerce](https://pageforge.pro/directory/plugins/mailchimp-for-woocommerce/) | 200K+ | 4/5 (725) | Sep 23, 2026 | 84/100 |
| 6 | [Email Deliverability – SMTP Replacement, Email API Deliverability & Email Log](https://pageforge.pro/directory/plugins/site-mailer/) | 200K+ | 2.3/5 (16) | Jul 16, 2026 | 67/100 |
| 7 | [SureMail – SMTP and Email Logs Plugin with Amazon SES, Postmark, and Other Providers](https://pageforge.pro/directory/plugins/suremails/) | 200K+ | 4.7/5 (25) | Aug 20, 2026 | 78/100 |
| 8 | [Klaviyo](https://pageforge.pro/directory/plugins/klaviyo/) | 100K+ | 2.8/5 (24) | Aug 17, 2026 | 61/100 |
| 9 | [Check & Log Email – Easy Email Testing & Mail logging](https://pageforge.pro/directory/plugins/check-email/) | 100K+ | 4.8/5 (290) | Sep 2, 2026 | 95/100 |
| 10 | [Kadence WooCommerce Email Designer](https://pageforge.pro/directory/plugins/kadence-woocommerce-email-designer/) | 90K+ | 4.5/5 (142) | Sep 21, 2026 | 89/100 |

## Frequently asked questions

### Is SMTP free?
Yes. SMTP is free to download and use from the official WordPress.org plugin directory.

### Is SMTP safe to use in 2026?
SMTP shows warning signs in 2026 — compare the alternatives below before installing. It runs on 700+ sites, is rated 2.5/5 and was last updated 9 years ago, and scores 27/100 on our health check.

### How many websites use SMTP?
SMTP is active on 700+ WordPress websites and has been downloaded 82,994 times since it launched in June 2011. It was downloaded 143 times in the last 30 days.

### Does SMTP work with WordPress 7.1?
SMTP is officially tested up to WordPress 3.3.2, while the latest release is 7.1.2. It may still work, but try it on a staging site first.

### When was SMTP last updated?
The latest version, 1.1.2, was released on November 28, 2017 (9 years ago).

### Who makes SMTP?
SMTP is developed and maintained by soso.

### What are the best alternatives to SMTP?
The most popular alternatives to SMTP are WP Mail SMTP by WPForms (4M+ installs), MC4WP: Mailchimp for WordPr… (1M+ installs) and Easy WP SMTP (500K+ installs).


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Source: live WordPress.org data · HTML version: https://pageforge.pro/directory/plugins/smtp/ · Generated 2026-09-29 23:59 UTC by PageForge