SMTP Mailer vs SAR Friendly 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, SAR Friendly SMTP has a higher user rating (4.6/5 from 46 reviews) while SMTP Mailer leads in active installations (70K+ vs 2.0K+). Both are free WordPress plugins. SMTP Mailer has accumulated 1.4M+ total downloads while SAR Friendly SMTP has 35K+.
Detailed Comparison
| Metric | SMTP Mailer | SAR Friendly SMTP | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rating | 4.5/5 | ► | 4.6/5 |
| Total Reviews | 65 | ◄ | 46 |
| Active Installs | 70K+ | ◄ | 2.0K+ |
| Total Downloads | 1.4M+ | ◄ | 35K+ |
| Support Resolution | N/A | N/A | |
| Last Updated | 1 month ago | ◄ | 10 months ago |
| First Released | 2015 | 2015 | |
| Age | 11 years | 11 years | |
| WP Requires | 6.9+ | 4.9+ | |
| PHP Requires | false+ | 7.0+ | |
| Business Model | Free | Free | |
| Latest Version | 1.1.25 | 1.2.6 |
Rating Breakdown
SMTP Mailer
SAR Friendly SMTP
Download Trends
Over the past 30 days, SMTP Mailer averaged approximately 449 daily downloads while SAR Friendly SMTP averaged 6.
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
SAR Friendly SMTP Reviews
Simple and Clean
It is clean and simple plugin. It does what is needed without annoying ads. Thanks!
Super leightweight. Just does the job!
I used to use PostMan SMTP – now Post SMTP plugin, but this has become very annoying. Because it has become a bulky plugin that almost forces you to go to a paid subscription. The Post SMTP zip fil
Works fine
Thank you!
More Phpmailer Worth Comparing
Top alternatives in the same category as SMTP Mailer and SAR Friendly 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.
Configure SMTP mailing in WordPress, including support for sending email via SSL/TLS (such as Gmail).
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 …
Frequently Asked Questions
Is SMTP Mailer or SAR Friendly SMTP more popular?
Which has better ratings — SMTP Mailer or SAR Friendly SMTP?
Are SMTP Mailer and SAR Friendly SMTP free?
Which plugin has better support — SMTP Mailer or SAR Friendly SMTP?
Which plugin is updated more frequently?
Plugin data sourced from WordPress.org. Comparison and analysis by PluginSift.