SMTP Mailer vs wp_mail return-path (2026)
Detailed side-by-side comparison of two WordPress plugins, based on real-time data from WordPress.org.
Quick Verdict
As of April 2026, wp_mail return-path has a higher user rating (5/5 from 9 reviews) while SMTP Mailer leads in active installations (70K+ vs 5.0K+). Both are free WordPress plugins. SMTP Mailer has accumulated 1.4M+ total downloads while wp_mail return-path has 33K+.
Detailed Comparison
| Metric | SMTP Mailer | wp_mail return-path | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rating | 4.5/5 | ► | 5/5 |
| Total Reviews | 65 | ◄ | 9 |
| Active Installs | 70K+ | ◄ | 5.0K+ |
| Total Downloads | 1.4M+ | ◄ | 33K+ |
| Support Resolution | N/A | N/A | |
| Last Updated | 1 month ago | ◄ | 2 years ago |
| First Released | 2015 | 2015 | |
| Age | 11 years | 11 years | |
| WP Requires | 6.9+ | 3.0.1+ | |
| PHP Requires | false+ | false+ | |
| Business Model | Free | Free | |
| Latest Version | 1.1.25 | 1.1.1 |
Rating Breakdown
SMTP Mailer
wp_mail return-path
Download Trends
Over the past 30 days, SMTP Mailer averaged approximately 449 daily downloads while wp_mail return-path averaged 10.
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
wp_mail return-path Reviews
Just what the doctor ordered
Works a treat and fixes an otherwise troublesome issue. Many thanks.
Works as expected
Needed to be able to set return-path email header in my WordPress emails so that they don’t get flagged as spam. This plugin does the trick.
Thanks for the plugin. To be honest, this should be part of WP.
It works, and it fixes a major flaw of WP.
More Phpmailer Worth Comparing
Top alternatives in the same category as SMTP Mailer and wp_mail return-path
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).
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
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Plugin data sourced from WordPress.org. Comparison and analysis by PluginSift.