Zoho Mail for WordPress vs Configure SMTP (2026)
Detailed side-by-side comparison of two WordPress plugins, based on real-time data from WordPress.org.
Zoho Mail for WordPress
20K+ active installs
Free
Quick Verdict
As of April 2026, Configure SMTP has a higher user rating (4.9/5 from 45 reviews) while Zoho Mail for WordPress leads in active installations (20K+ vs 7.0K+). Both are free WordPress plugins. Zoho Mail for WordPress has accumulated 344K+ total downloads while Configure SMTP has 369K+.
Detailed Comparison
| Metric | Zoho Mail for WordPress | Configure SMTP | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rating | 3.8/5 | ► | 4.9/5 |
| Total Reviews | 41 | ► | 45 |
| Active Installs | 20K+ | ◄ | 7.0K+ |
| Total Downloads | 344K+ | ► | 369K+ |
| Support Resolution | N/A | N/A | |
| Last Updated | 1 week ago | ◄ | 1 year ago |
| First Released | 2017 | 2009 | |
| Age | 9 years | 17 years | |
| WP Requires | 4.8+ | 5.5+ | |
| PHP Requires | 5.6+ | false+ | |
| Business Model | Free | Free | |
| Latest Version | 1.6.3 | 3.5 |
Rating Breakdown
Zoho Mail for WordPress
Configure SMTP
Download Trends
Over the past 30 days, Zoho Mail for WordPress averaged approximately 345 daily downloads while Configure SMTP averaged 16.
Recent Reviews
Zoho Mail for WordPress Reviews
Works as Intended
I have this installed and working on several websites. I always recommend Zoho for inexpensive quality email. They have a free level, but you need the paid level which is currently $1/mo per email a
Great plugin, but no Reply-To support
The plugin works great with the Zoho Mail account. Unfortunately, WordPress forms currently don’t include the Reply-To header, which makes it inconvenient for our client to confirm bookings. We had th
Great for mail
If you have to get your own ssl certificate because you’re living on the cheap; this is the way to. Even if paid, zoho mail is cheaper and always reliable. Very happy, 5/5
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 Zoho Mail for WordPress and Configure SMTP
Configure a SMTP server to send email from your WordPress site. Configure the wp_mail() function to use SMTP instead of the PHP mail() function.
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
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Plugin data sourced from WordPress.org. Comparison and analysis by PluginSift.