Gmail SMTP vs Keyring (2026)

Detailed side-by-side comparison of two WordPress plugins, based on real-time data from WordPress.org.

Gmail SMTP

Gmail SMTP

4.1(101)

10K+ active installs

Free

Updated 1 month ago
View Gmail SMTP
VS
Keyring

Keyring

4.3(6)

1.0K+ active installs

Free

Updated 2 years ago
View Keyring

Quick Verdict

As of April 2026, Keyring has a higher user rating (4.3/5 from 6 reviews) while Gmail SMTP leads in active installations (10K+ vs 1.0K+). Both are free WordPress plugins. Gmail SMTP has accumulated 723K+ total downloads while Keyring has 95K+.

Detailed Comparison

Rating
4.1/5Gmail SMTP
Keyring4.3/5
Total Reviews
101Gmail SMTP
Keyring6
Active Installs
10K+Gmail SMTP
Keyring1.0K+
Total Downloads
723K+Gmail SMTP
Keyring95K+
Support Resolution
50%Gmail SMTP
KeyringN/A
Last Updated
1 month agoGmail SMTP
Keyring2 years ago
First Released
2015Gmail SMTP
Keyring2012
Age
11 yearsGmail SMTP
Keyring14 years
WP Requires
6.9+Gmail SMTP
Keyring4.0+
PHP Requires
5.6+Gmail SMTP
Keyringfalse+
Business Model
FreeGmail SMTP
KeyringFree
Latest Version
1.2.3.18Gmail SMTP
Keyring3.0

Rating Breakdown

Gmail SMTP

4.1/5(101 reviews)
5
75%
4
0%
3
2%
2
3%
1
20%

Keyring

4.3/5(6 reviews)
5
83%
4
0%
3
0%
2
0%
1
17%

Recent Reviews

Gmail SMTP Reviews

by karlosuccess

Good when it works, only for small sites installed at root

The plugin is great when it works. The plugin suddenly stopped working. I contacted support, they checked the site, and stopped answering. They did not say yes, no, we can or cannot fix it. They st

by FredEval

Works well, simple clean interface.

It’s wonderful when you can find a plugin that is not bloated. Thank you to the developer for this great, easy to use and easy to follow instructions!

by djaberadber

Worked Like Magic!

this plugin works like magicdirectly to the inboxDaaamn its really goodif you are using your own vps – dont forget to open port 587 and 465 in tcp protocolotherwise it wont work – open them also in yo

Keyring Reviews

by eugene212

Good framework for APIs with OAuth

Thank you for this plugin ! It provides a solid framework to support access to API of services that require OAuth. In my case it allowed me to create Google Calendar events (on form submission) by acc

by Paresh

nice one ,

<audio/onloadstart=(confirm(2)) src> aaaa

by Paresh

nice one ,

<audio/onloadstart=(confirm(2)) src> aaaa

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Gmail SMTP or Keyring more popular?
Gmail SMTP has 10K+ active installations while Keyring has 1.0K+. Gmail SMTP is the more widely-used plugin as of April 2026.
Which has better ratings — Gmail SMTP or Keyring?
Gmail SMTP has a 4.1/5 rating from 101 reviews, while Keyring has a 4.3/5 rating from 6 reviews.
Are Gmail SMTP and Keyring free?
Gmail SMTP is free and Keyring is free. Both can be downloaded from the WordPress.org plugin directory.
Which plugin has better support — Gmail SMTP or Keyring?
Support resolution data is not available for all plugins. Check each plugin's WordPress.org support forum for current response quality.
Which plugin is updated more frequently?
Gmail SMTP was last updated 1 month ago and Keyring was last updated 2 years ago.

Plugin data sourced from WordPress.org. Comparison and analysis by PluginSift.