SMTP Mailer vs Configure SMTP (2026)
Detailed side-by-side comparison of two WordPress plugins, based on real-time data from WordPress.org.
Quick Verdict
As of April 2026, Configure SMTP has a higher user rating (4.9/5 from 45 reviews) while SMTP Mailer leads in active installations (70K+ vs 7.0K+). Both are free WordPress plugins. SMTP Mailer has accumulated 1.4M+ total downloads while Configure SMTP has 369K+.
Detailed Comparison
| Metric | SMTP Mailer | Configure SMTP | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rating | 4.5/5 | ► | 4.9/5 |
| Total Reviews | 65 | ◄ | 45 |
| Active Installs | 70K+ | ◄ | 7.0K+ |
| Total Downloads | 1.4M+ | ◄ | 369K+ |
| Support Resolution | N/A | N/A | |
| Last Updated | 1 month ago | ◄ | 1 year ago |
| First Released | 2015 | 2009 | |
| Age | 11 years | 17 years | |
| WP Requires | 6.9+ | 5.5+ | |
| PHP Requires | false+ | false+ | |
| Business Model | Free | Free | |
| Latest Version | 1.1.25 | 3.5 |
Rating Breakdown
SMTP Mailer
Configure SMTP
Download Trends
Over the past 30 days, SMTP Mailer averaged approximately 449 daily downloads while Configure SMTP averaged 16.
Recent Reviews
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
Configure SMTP Reviews
First thing I install on all my WP websites
Configure SMTP is a staple of setting up a useful WordPress website, I would call it “a household name” for WP installations (if there’s any such thing as household names in this area). Anyway, what a
Simple and functional way to configure SMTP settings in your WordPress
Most of my users and customers ask me: why my mails are not being sent? Why some mails sent from my site do not arrives? The problem are spam filters and things like this, so SMTP is a basic tool to o
Still works!
There are some minor warnings under php7. See here for the fix: https://wordpress.org/support/topic/warning-declaration-of-c2c_configuresmtp-with-plugin-installed/#post-9832908 Hopefully the author w
More Phpmailer Worth Comparing
Top alternatives in the same category as SMTP Mailer and Configure SMTP
Zoho Mail Plugin lets you configure your Zoho Mail account on your WordPress site enabling you to send the email via Zoho Mail API.
Send WordPress emails from a M365 / Exchange Online Mailbox using Microsoft Graph, leveraging OAuth for authentication which is more secure than SMTP
Fixes WordPress emails going to spam/junk folders. The default settings often resolve the issue.
Simple plugin that correctly sets the return-path header when using wp_mail. Mitigates the "via" and "The actual sender of" Notif …
Zoho ZeptoMail Plugin lets you configure your ZeptoMail account on your WordPress site enabling you to send transactional emails of your site via Zept …
A friendly SMTP plugin for WordPress. No third-party, simply using WordPress native possibilities.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is SMTP Mailer or Configure SMTP more popular?
Which has better ratings — SMTP Mailer or Configure SMTP?
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Plugin data sourced from WordPress.org. Comparison and analysis by PluginSift.