Mailgun for WordPress vs SMTP Mailer (2026)
Detailed side-by-side comparison of two WordPress plugins, based on real-time data from WordPress.org.
Quick Verdict
As of April 2026, SMTP Mailer has a higher user rating (4.5/5 from 65 reviews) while Mailgun for WordPress leads in active installations (80K+ vs 70K+). Both are free WordPress plugins. Mailgun for WordPress has accumulated 2.6M+ total downloads while SMTP Mailer has 1.4M+.
Detailed Comparison
| Metric | Mailgun for WordPress | SMTP Mailer | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rating | 3.8/5 | ► | 4.5/5 |
| Total Reviews | 48 | ► | 65 |
| Active Installs | 80K+ | ◄ | 70K+ |
| Total Downloads | 2.6M+ | ◄ | 1.4M+ |
| Support Resolution | 0% | N/A | |
| Last Updated | 2 months ago | ► | 1 month ago |
| First Released | 2012 | 2015 | |
| Age | 14 years | 11 years | |
| WP Requires | 5.6+ | 6.9+ | |
| PHP Requires | 7.4+ | false+ | |
| Business Model | Free | Free | |
| Latest Version | 2.1.10 | 1.1.25 |
Rating Breakdown
Mailgun for WordPress
SMTP Mailer
Download Trends
Over the past 30 days, Mailgun for WordPress averaged approximately 573 daily downloads while SMTP Mailer averaged 449.
Recent Reviews
Mailgun for WordPress Reviews
Simple, Reliable, and Honest
I’ve seen the negative reviews, but honestly my experience has been the opposite: the plugin just works, exactly as it should. Updates are rare, but that’s simply because the plugin is straightforward
Better than ever
I’ve been using this plugin for 5+ years now, and I’ve hardly ever experienced an issue. It allows me to easily use Mailgun to send emails on the WordPress sites I manage, and it’s always done its job
Sends email from WordPress via Mailgun service, that’s all, does it well.
Mailgun is an email delivery service aimed at sending transactional email for software developers. If you are not already using Mailgun to send email, then you don’t need or want this plugin. If you d
SMTP Mailer Reviews
A basic and effective plugin. The best.
For my WordPress site, I didn’t want complex plugins with lots of options or that consumed a lot of resources. I was looking for something simple. At first, it didn’t work well because it wasn’t 10
Simple Setup, Works Great with CF7
I’ve tried some of the better-known ‘big name’ SMTP plugins, but none of them did exactly what I needed with CF7 sending both Mail and Mail (2) seamlessly. This one just works with no complications or
Simple needs, simple to use
I needed something quick and easy when a contact page on an old site started breaking for some reason and I decided to redo it with new plugins for the form and mailer. This plugin got me going and fi
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is Mailgun for WordPress or SMTP Mailer more popular?
Which has better ratings — Mailgun for WordPress or SMTP Mailer?
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Plugin data sourced from WordPress.org. Comparison and analysis by PluginSift.