SMTP Mailer vs Solid Mail (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 Solid Mail at #9. SMTP Mailer leads on all 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.
Solid Mail
Solid Mail – SMTP email and logging made by SolidWP
Email deliverability made SOLID. Connect to your chosen email provider with an intuitive set-it-and-forget-it SMTP plugin.
Who leads on what
SMTP Mailer leads on all 6 measures we track.
SMTP Mailer ranks higher on WordPress.org: #7 against #9 in Email Plugins.
SMTP Mailer has more users: 70,000+ active installs against 60,000+.
SMTP Mailer is rated higher: 4.6 out of 5 from 67 reviews, against 4.2 from 52 reviews.
SMTP Mailer has more reviews behind its score: 67 against 52.
SMTP Mailer was updated more recently, on September 7, 2026; Solid Mail on May 12, 2026.
SMTP Mailer was downloaded more in the last 30 days: 14,762 times against 5,688.
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, 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.
Solid Mail
Solid Mail does not lead on any measure we track, so pick it only for something these numbers cannot show, such as a feature you need.
SMTP Mailer vs Solid Mail side by side
| SMTP Mailer | Solid Mail | |
|---|---|---|
| Email Plugins ranking | #7 | #9 |
| Rating | 4.6 | 4.2 |
| Reviews | 67 | 52 |
| Active installs | 70,000+ | 60,000+ |
| Total downloads | 1,526,227 | 1,224,265 |
| Downloads, last 30 days | 14,762 | 5,688 |
| Last updated | Sep 7, 2026 | May 12, 2026 |
| First published | Dec 20, 2015 | Nov 10, 2012 |
| Tested up to WordPress | 7.1.3 | 6.9.10 |
| Requires PHP | – | 7.4 |
| Pricing | Free on WordPress.org | Free on WordPress.org |
Downloads per day, last 48 days
SMTP Mailer ratings
Solid Mail 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 Solid Mail can pay to appear here: the pair exists only because both plugins reached the Email Plugins top 10. Full methodology.
SMTP Mailer vs Solid Mail: common questions
Is SMTP Mailer better than Solid Mail?
SMTP Mailer leads on all 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 #9 in Email Plugins.
Which has more users, SMTP Mailer or Solid Mail?
SMTP Mailer ranks higher on WordPress.org: #7 against #9 in Email Plugins.
Which is rated higher, SMTP Mailer or Solid Mail?
SMTP Mailer has more users: 70,000+ active installs against 60,000+.
Are SMTP Mailer and Solid Mail free?
Both are free to install from WordPress.org. SMTP Mailer may also sell a paid version or add-ons. Solid Mail may also sell a paid version or add-ons.
Alternatives to SMTP Mailer and Solid Mail
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.