Post SMTP vs WP Mail SMTP (October 2026)
Updated October 22, 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 WP Mail SMTP at #1. WP Mail SMTP leads on all 6 measures we track. Every number below comes straight from WordPress.org and is refreshed every day.
Post SMTP
Post SMTP – Complete Email Delivery and SMTP Solution with Email Logs, Alerts, Backup SMTP & Mobile App
Install Post SMTP (WordPress SMTP Plugin) to fix WordPress email delivery. Connect Gmail SMTP, Microsoft 365, Brevo, SendGrid, Zoho, Amazon SES, etc.
WP Mail SMTP
WP Mail SMTP by WPForms – SMTP for Reliable Email Delivery with Gmail, Outlook, Amazon SES, Brevo, Other SMTP & More
Make email delivery easy for WordPress. Connect with SMTP, Gmail, Brevo, SendGrid, Amazon SES + more, with powerful WordPress SMTP Email plugin.
Who leads on what
WP Mail SMTP leads on all 6 measures we track.
WP Mail SMTP ranks higher on WordPress.org: #1 against #3 in Email Plugins.
WP Mail SMTP has more users: 4 million+ active installs against 300,000+.
WP Mail SMTP is rated higher: 4.8 out of 5 from 5,206 reviews, against 4.7 from 528 reviews.
WP Mail SMTP has more reviews behind its score: 5,206 against 528.
WP Mail SMTP was updated more recently, on October 20, 2026; Post SMTP on September 24, 2026.
WP Mail SMTP was downloaded more in the last 30 days: 5,942,224 times against 263,111.
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
Post SMTP does not lead on any measure we track, so pick it only for something these numbers cannot show, such as a feature you need.
WP Mail SMTP
Pick WP Mail 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, you want the one shipping releases most recently or you want the one being installed faster right now.
Post SMTP vs WP Mail SMTP side by side
| Post SMTP | WP Mail SMTP | |
|---|---|---|
| Email Plugins ranking | #3 | #1 |
| Rating | 4.7 | 4.8 |
| Reviews | 528 | 5,206 |
| Active installs | 300,000+ | 4 million+ |
| Total downloads | 20,451,859 | 89,753,700 |
| Downloads, last 30 days | 263,111 | 5,942,224 |
| Last updated | Sep 24, 2026 | Oct 20, 2026 |
| First published | Oct 15, 2017 | Sep 12, 2007 |
| Tested up to WordPress | 7.1.3 | 7.1.3 |
| Requires PHP | 7.1 | 7.4 |
| Pricing | Free + paid version | Free on WordPress.org |
Downloads per day, last 48 days
Post SMTP ratings
WP Mail SMTP 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 WP Mail SMTP can pay to appear here: the pair exists only because both plugins reached the Email Plugins top 10. Full methodology.
Post SMTP vs WP Mail SMTP: common questions
Is Post SMTP better than WP Mail SMTP?
WP Mail SMTP leads on all 6 measures we track. Neither is better at everything, and the answer depends on which measure you weigh. WP Mail SMTP ranks higher on WordPress.org: #1 against #3 in Email Plugins.
Which has more users, Post SMTP or WP Mail SMTP?
WP Mail SMTP ranks higher on WordPress.org: #1 against #3 in Email Plugins.
Which is rated higher, Post SMTP or WP Mail SMTP?
WP Mail SMTP has more users: 4 million+ active installs against 300,000+.
Are Post SMTP and WP Mail SMTP free?
Both are free to install from WordPress.org. Post SMTP is listed as commercial, so a paid version or add-ons exist. WP Mail SMTP may also sell a paid version or add-ons.
Alternatives to Post SMTP and WP Mail SMTP
Plugins that score close to both in the same WordPress.org rankings and tags.
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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.