SMTP Mailer vs WP Mail SMTP (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: SMTP Mailer at #6 and WP Mail SMTP at #1. WP Mail SMTP leads on 4 of the 5 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 SMTP
WP Mail SMTP by WPForms – The Most Popular SMTP and Email Log Plugin
Make email delivery easy for WordPress. Connect with SMTP, Gmail, Outlook, SendGrid, Mailgun, SES, Zoho, + more. Rated #1 WordPress SMTP Email plugin.
Who leads on what
WP Mail SMTP leads on 4 of the 5 measures we track.
WP Mail SMTP ranks higher on WordPress.org: #1 against #6 in Email Plugins.
WP Mail SMTP has more users: 4 million+ active installs against 70,000+.
WP Mail SMTP is rated higher: 4.8 out of 5 from 5,188 reviews, against 4.6 from 67 reviews.
WP Mail SMTP has more reviews behind its score: 5,188 against 67.
SMTP Mailer was updated more recently, on August 21, 2026; WP Mail SMTP on June 25, 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.
SMTP Mailer
Pick SMTP Mailer if you want the one shipping releases most recently.
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 or you want the score backed by more reviews.
SMTP Mailer vs WP Mail SMTP side by side
| SMTP Mailer | WP Mail SMTP | |
|---|---|---|
| Email Plugins ranking | #6 | #1 |
| Rating | 4.6 | 4.8 |
| Reviews | 67 | 5,188 |
| Active installs | 70,000+ | 4 million+ |
| Total downloads | 1,482,974 | 83,545,084 |
| Downloads, last 30 days | – | – |
| Last updated | Aug 21, 2026 | Jun 25, 2026 |
| First published | Dec 20, 2015 | Sep 12, 2007 |
| Tested up to WordPress | 7.1 | 7.0.4 |
| 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.
SMTP Mailer 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 SMTP Mailer nor WP Mail SMTP 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 SMTP: common questions
Is SMTP Mailer better than WP Mail SMTP?
WP Mail SMTP leads on 4 of the 5 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 #6 in Email Plugins.
Which has more users, SMTP Mailer or WP Mail SMTP?
WP Mail SMTP ranks higher on WordPress.org: #1 against #6 in Email Plugins.
Which is rated higher, SMTP Mailer or WP Mail SMTP?
WP Mail SMTP has more users: 4 million+ active installs against 70,000+.
Are SMTP Mailer and WP Mail SMTP free?
Both are free to install from WordPress.org. SMTP Mailer may also sell a paid version or add-ons. WP Mail SMTP may also sell a paid version or add-ons.
Alternatives to SMTP Mailer 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.