Email Deliverability 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: Email Deliverability at #9 and SMTP Mailer at #6. SMTP Mailer leads on 3 of the 5 measures we track. Every number below comes straight from WordPress.org and is refreshed every day.
Email Deliverability
Email Deliverability – SMTP Replacement, Email API Deliverability & Email Log
Effortlessly manage transactional emails with Email Deliverability. High deliverability, logs and statistics, and no SMTP plugins needed.
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
SMTP Mailer leads on 3 of the 5 measures we track.
SMTP Mailer ranks higher on WordPress.org: #6 against #9 in Email Plugins.
Email Deliverability has more users: 200,000+ active installs against 70,000+.
Not enough reviews to compare ratings fairly: Email Deliverability has 16, SMTP Mailer has 67. We compare ratings only above 50 reviews each.
SMTP Mailer has more reviews behind its score: 67 against 16.
SMTP Mailer was updated more recently, on August 21, 2026; Email Deliverability on July 16, 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.
Email Deliverability
Pick Email Deliverability if you want the plugin more sites already run.
SMTP Mailer
Pick SMTP Mailer if you go by where WordPress.org itself puts them, you want the score backed by more reviews or you want the one shipping releases most recently.
Email Deliverability vs SMTP Mailer side by side
| Email Deliverability | SMTP Mailer | |
|---|---|---|
| Email Plugins ranking | #9 | #6 |
| Rating | 2.3 | 4.6 |
| Reviews | 16 | 67 |
| Active installs | 200,000+ | 70,000+ |
| Total downloads | 2,458,348 | 1,482,974 |
| Downloads, last 30 days | – | – |
| Last updated | Jul 16, 2026 | Aug 21, 2026 |
| First published | Sep 16, 2024 | Dec 20, 2015 |
| Tested up to WordPress | 7.0.4 | 7.1 |
| Requires PHP | 7.4 | – |
| Pricing | Free on WordPress.org | Free on WordPress.org |
30-day download figures appear after both plugins have 30 days of tracking.
Email Deliverability 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 Email Deliverability nor SMTP Mailer can pay to appear here: the pair exists only because both plugins reached the Email Plugins top 10. Full methodology.
Email Deliverability vs SMTP Mailer: common questions
Is Email Deliverability better than SMTP Mailer?
SMTP Mailer leads on 3 of the 5 measures we track. Neither is better at everything, and the answer depends on which measure you weigh. SMTP Mailer ranks higher on WordPress.org: #6 against #9 in Email Plugins.
Which has more users, Email Deliverability or SMTP Mailer?
SMTP Mailer ranks higher on WordPress.org: #6 against #9 in Email Plugins.
Which is rated higher, Email Deliverability or SMTP Mailer?
Email Deliverability has more users: 200,000+ active installs against 70,000+.
Are Email Deliverability and SMTP Mailer free?
Both are free to install from WordPress.org. Email Deliverability may also sell a paid version or add-ons. SMTP Mailer may also sell a paid version or add-ons.
Alternatives to Email Deliverability and SMTP Mailer
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.