Post SMTP vs SMTP Mailer (September 2026)
Updated September 7, 2026 · Data from WordPress.org, refreshed daily · How this works
Both rank in the WordPress.org Email Plugins top 10: Post SMTP at #3 and SMTP Mailer at #6. Post SMTP leads on all 5 measures we track. Every number below comes straight from WordPress.org and is refreshed every day.
Post SMTP
Post SMTP – Complete Email Deliverability and SMTP Solution with Email Logs, Alerts, Backup SMTP & Mobile App
Improve WordPress email deliverability. Connect Gmail SMTP, Microsoft 365, Brevo, SendGrid, Mailgun, Zoho, Amazon SES, etc. #1 WordPress SMTP Plugin.
SMTP Mailer
Configure a SMTP server to send email from your WordPress site. Configure the wp_mail() function to use SMTP instead of the PHP mail() function.
Who leads on what
Post SMTP leads on all 5 measures we track.
Post SMTP ranks higher on WordPress.org: #3 against #6 in Email Plugins.
Post SMTP has more users: 300,000+ active installs against 70,000+.
Post SMTP is rated higher: 4.7 out of 5 from 525 reviews, against 4.6 from 67 reviews.
Post SMTP has more reviews behind its score: 525 against 67.
Post SMTP was updated more recently, on August 25, 2026; SMTP Mailer on August 21, 2026.
Which one to pick
Each plugin is the better answer for the measure it actually leads on. Nothing here is a recommendation we invented.
Post SMTP
Pick Post SMTP if you go by where WordPress.org itself puts them, you want the plugin more sites already run, the review score matters most to you, you want the score backed by more reviews or you want the one shipping releases most recently.
SMTP Mailer
SMTP Mailer does not lead on any measure we track, so pick it only for something these numbers cannot show, such as a feature you need.
Post SMTP vs SMTP Mailer side by side
| Post SMTP | SMTP Mailer | |
|---|---|---|
| Email Plugins ranking | #3 | #6 |
| Rating | 4.7 | 4.6 |
| Reviews | 525 | 67 |
| Active installs | 300,000+ | 70,000+ |
| Total downloads | 20,136,080 | 1,482,974 |
| Downloads, last 30 days | – | – |
| Last updated | Aug 25, 2026 | Aug 21, 2026 |
| First published | Oct 15, 2017 | Dec 20, 2015 |
| Tested up to WordPress | 7.0.4 | 7.1 |
| Requires PHP | 7.1 | – |
| Pricing | Free + paid version | Free on WordPress.org |
30-day download figures appear after both plugins have 30 days of tracking.
Post SMTP ratings
SMTP Mailer ratings
How we compare these two
Every figure here is pulled from the WordPress.org plugin API every day at 03:00 UTC, for both plugins in the same run, so the two are always read on the same day. We compare only what the directory reports: active installs, the rating and how many reviews stand behind it, the last release date and, once we have a month of history, downloads over the last 30 days. Ratings are only called a win above 50 reviews each, because a handful of five-star reviews is not evidence. Nothing is weighted into an overall score, no measure is worth more than another, and neither Post SMTP nor SMTP Mailer can pay to appear here: the pair exists only because both plugins reached the Email Plugins top 10. Full methodology.
Post SMTP vs SMTP Mailer: common questions
Is Post SMTP better than SMTP Mailer?
Post SMTP leads on all 5 measures we track. Neither is better at everything, and the answer depends on which measure you weigh. Post SMTP ranks higher on WordPress.org: #3 against #6 in Email Plugins.
Which has more users, Post SMTP or SMTP Mailer?
Post SMTP ranks higher on WordPress.org: #3 against #6 in Email Plugins.
Which is rated higher, Post SMTP or SMTP Mailer?
Post SMTP has more users: 300,000+ active installs against 70,000+.
Are Post SMTP and SMTP Mailer free?
Both are free to install from WordPress.org. Post SMTP is listed as commercial, so a paid version or add-ons exist. SMTP Mailer may also sell a paid version or add-ons.
Alternatives to Post SMTP and SMTP Mailer
Plugins that score close to both in the same WordPress.org rankings and tags.
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- Email Deliverability vs SMTP Mailer
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What moved this week
One email a week, built from the same daily snapshots these rankings come from: the plugins that climbed, what launched, and one ranking worth a look.