SMTP Mailer vs SureMail (October 2026)
Updated October 23, 2026 · Data from WordPress.org, refreshed daily · How this works
Both rank in the WordPress.org Email Plugins top 10: SMTP Mailer at #7 and SureMail at #6. SureMail leads on 4 of the 6 measures we track. Every number below comes straight from WordPress.org and is refreshed every day.
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.
SureMail
SureMail – SMTP and Email Logs Plugin with Amazon SES, Postmark, and Other Providers
SureMail – SMTP and Email Logs Plugin with Amazon SES, Postmark, and Other Providers
Who leads on what
SureMail leads on 4 of the 6 measures we track.
SureMail ranks higher on WordPress.org: #6 against #7 in Email Plugins.
SureMail has more users: 200,000+ active installs against 70,000+.
Not enough reviews to compare ratings fairly: SMTP Mailer has 67, SureMail has 25. We compare ratings only above 50 reviews each.
SMTP Mailer has more reviews behind its score: 67 against 25.
SureMail was updated more recently, on October 8, 2026; SMTP Mailer on September 7, 2026.
SureMail was downloaded more in the last 30 days: 81,164 times against 14,762.
Which one to pick
Each plugin is the better answer for the measure it actually leads on. Nothing here is a recommendation we invented.
SMTP Mailer
Pick SMTP Mailer if you want the score backed by more reviews.
SureMail
Pick SureMail if you go by where WordPress.org itself puts them, you want the plugin more sites already run, you want the one shipping releases most recently or you want the one being installed faster right now.
SMTP Mailer vs SureMail side by side
| SMTP Mailer | SureMail | |
|---|---|---|
| Email Plugins ranking | #7 | #6 |
| Rating | 4.6 | 4.7 |
| Reviews | 67 | 25 |
| Active installs | 70,000+ | 200,000+ |
| Total downloads | 1,526,227 | 1,783,235 |
| Downloads, last 30 days | 14,762 | 81,164 |
| Last updated | Sep 7, 2026 | Oct 8, 2026 |
| First published | Dec 20, 2015 | Jan 22, 2025 |
| Tested up to WordPress | 7.1.3 | 7.1.3 |
| Requires PHP | – | 7.4 |
| Pricing | Free on WordPress.org | Free on WordPress.org |
Downloads per day, last 48 days
SMTP Mailer ratings
SureMail 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 SMTP Mailer nor SureMail can pay to appear here: the pair exists only because both plugins reached the Email Plugins top 10. Full methodology.
SMTP Mailer vs SureMail: common questions
Is SMTP Mailer better than SureMail?
SureMail leads on 4 of the 6 measures we track. Neither is better at everything, and the answer depends on which measure you weigh. SureMail ranks higher on WordPress.org: #6 against #7 in Email Plugins.
Which has more users, SMTP Mailer or SureMail?
SureMail ranks higher on WordPress.org: #6 against #7 in Email Plugins.
Which is rated higher, SMTP Mailer or SureMail?
SureMail has more users: 200,000+ active installs against 70,000+.
Are SMTP Mailer and SureMail free?
Both are free to install from WordPress.org. SMTP Mailer may also sell a paid version or add-ons. SureMail may also sell a paid version or add-ons.
Alternatives to SMTP Mailer and SureMail
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.