SMTP Mailer vs WP Mail Logging (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 WP Mail Logging at #8. WP Mail Logging leads on 5 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.
WP Mail Logging
Log, view, and resend all emails sent from your WordPress site. Great for resolving email sending issues or keeping a copy for auditing.
Who leads on what
WP Mail Logging leads on 5 of the 6 measures we track.
SMTP Mailer ranks higher on WordPress.org: #7 against #8 in Email Plugins.
WP Mail Logging has more users: 300,000+ active installs against 70,000+.
WP Mail Logging is rated higher: 4.7 out of 5 from 374 reviews, against 4.6 from 67 reviews.
WP Mail Logging has more reviews behind its score: 374 against 67.
WP Mail Logging was updated more recently, on October 14, 2026; SMTP Mailer on September 7, 2026.
WP Mail Logging was downloaded more in the last 30 days: 459,268 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 go by where WordPress.org itself puts them.
WP Mail Logging
Pick WP Mail Logging if 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.
SMTP Mailer vs WP Mail Logging side by side
| SMTP Mailer | WP Mail Logging | |
|---|---|---|
| Email Plugins ranking | #7 | #8 |
| Rating | 4.6 | 4.7 |
| Reviews | 67 | 374 |
| Active installs | 70,000+ | 300,000+ |
| Total downloads | 1,526,227 | 5,420,255 |
| Downloads, last 30 days | 14,762 | 459,268 |
| Last updated | Sep 7, 2026 | Oct 14, 2026 |
| First published | Dec 20, 2015 | Jun 13, 2014 |
| 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
WP Mail Logging 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 WP Mail Logging can pay to appear here: the pair exists only because both plugins reached the Email Plugins top 10. Full methodology.
SMTP Mailer vs WP Mail Logging: common questions
Is SMTP Mailer better than WP Mail Logging?
WP Mail Logging leads on 5 of the 6 measures we track. Neither is better at everything, and the answer depends on which measure you weigh. SMTP Mailer ranks higher on WordPress.org: #7 against #8 in Email Plugins.
Which has more users, SMTP Mailer or WP Mail Logging?
SMTP Mailer ranks higher on WordPress.org: #7 against #8 in Email Plugins.
Which is rated higher, SMTP Mailer or WP Mail Logging?
WP Mail Logging has more users: 300,000+ active installs against 70,000+.
Are SMTP Mailer and WP Mail Logging free?
Both are free to install from WordPress.org. SMTP Mailer may also sell a paid version or add-ons. WP Mail Logging may also sell a paid version or add-ons.
Alternatives to SMTP Mailer and WP Mail Logging
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.