WP SMTP Mailer – SMTP7
Plugin Review
AI-ResearchedWhat is WP SMTP Mailer?
WP SMTP Mailer – SMTP7 is a dedicated plugin that reroutes your WordPress site’s outgoing emails through a SMTP server. This process, similar to how a postman delivers mail, ensures your messages land in the inbox rather than the spam folder. Developed by Arshid, the plugin has been available for 10 years, accumulating 9K+ active installs. It holds a 5.0/5 rating from 112 reviews, with 98% of those being five-star ratings and zero one-star ratings. The current version is 1.1.0 and it was last updated on May 20, 2026.
If you have ever struggled with how to send email from WordPress using SMTP, this plugin provides a direct solution. It replaces the default PHP mail function with a authenticated SMTP connection. This approach is critical for transactional emails like password resets and order confirmations.
Key Features of WP SMTP Mailer
- SMTP Credential Configuration – Enter your SMTP host, port, username, and password directly from the WordPress admin settings page.
- From Name & Email Customization – Specify the sender name and email address for all outgoing messages, overriding the default WordPress address.
- Encryption Support – Choose between SSL or TLS encryption for your SMTP connection, with preset port numbers for each.
- Authentication Toggle – Enable or disable SMTP authentication depending on your email provider’s requirements.
- PHP mail() Fallback – Option to send mail via PHP’s native mail() function if SMTP is not required.
- Pre-configured Provider List – Includes ready-to-use settings for Gmail, Outlook, Yahoo, AOL, Zoho, Office365, and 20+ other providers.
- Password Encryption – Username and password fields are encrypted for storage, adding a layer of security to your credentials.
- Test Email Tool – Integration with MailMug.net for testing SMTP configurations before going live.
Who Should Use WP SMTP Mailer?
This plugin is built for WordPress site owners who need a straightforward way to configure SMTP in WordPress without complex setup. It suits beginners and intermediate users who manage small to medium websites, such as blogs, business sites, or e-commerce stores. With 9K+ active installs, it appeals to those who prefer a lightweight tool over all-in-one email suites.
The ideal user has a SMTP server ready—like Gmail or Outlook—and wants to fix WordPress email not sending SMTP errors. The plugin’s 10-year history and 98% five-star rating indicate it reliably solves this single problem. It is not designed for high-volume transactional email services but works well for standard WordPress notifications.
Installation & Setup
Installation follows the standard WordPress plugin process: download, extract to the wp-content/plugins directory, and activate from the admin panel. After activation, navigate to Settings > SMTP7 to enter your wp mail smtp settings. The interface is minimal and beginner-friendly, requiring only your SMTP host, port, and credentials. No advanced coding or server modifications are needed.
Support & Community
Support data shows a mixed picture. In the last two months, the plugin had 1 open support thread and 0 resolved threads, resulting in a 0% resolution rate. This contrasts sharply with the user ratings, where 98% of 112 reviews are five stars. The developer provides a contact page at ciphercoin.com for direct inquiries. The high rating suggests that most users find the plugin works out of the box, but the support threads indicate limited active troubleshooting for edge cases. The plugin requires WordPress 3.5+ and PHP 5.6+, making it compatible with older installations.
Pros & Cons
- Rated 5.0/5 from 112 ratings with 98% five-star reviews, indicating high user satisfaction among its base.
- Active installs of 9K+ show a modest but established user base for a focused SMTP plugin.
- Provides encryption options for username and password, plus support for SSL/TLS on common SMTP ports (465 and 587).
- Includes a built-in SMTP testing server (MailMug.net) and a video tutorial to help users verify their configuration.
- Supports a wide range of popular SMTP hosts out of the box, including Gmail, Yahoo, Outlook, and Office365 with pre-filled settings.
- Has only 1 total support thread with a 0% resolution rate, suggesting minimal developer responsiveness to user issues.
- Lacks advanced features like email logging, failed email resending, or integration with third-party email services (e.g., SendGrid, Mailgun).
- The plugin description does not mention compatibility with the latest WordPress versions or PHP 8.x, which may lead to stability concerns.
Technical Details
- Requires WordPress
- 3.5+
- Requires PHP
- 5.6+
- Tested up to WP
- 7.0.2
- First Released
- 2016 (10+ years)
- Support (last 2 months)
- 1 threads — 0% resolved
Feature Tags
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, WP SMTP Mailer is completely free and available on WordPress.org. You can download and use it without any cost.
WP SMTP Mailer has 9K+ active installs, making it a trusted choice for many site owners. It also holds a perfect 5.0/5 rating from 112 reviews.
WP SMTP Mailer requires WordPress version 3.5 or higher, so it works with nearly all modern WordPress sites. You can install it even on older installations.
Yes, the plugin was last updated on May 20, 2026 and is currently at version 1.1.0. It has been actively maintained since its first release in 2016.
WP SMTP Mailer requires PHP version 5.6 or higher. This ensures compatibility with most hosting environments and older WordPress setups.
Support is available through the plugin author's website at ciphercoin.com, and there is a dedicated YouTube tutorial for SMTP testing. In the last 2 months, there was 1 support thread, though none were resolved yet.
Yes, it is beginner-friendly — you simply go to Settings > SMTP7 and enter your SMTP credentials. The plugin provides default values for host (localhost) and port (25), and includes a list of common SMTP servers like Gmail and Outlook to help you get started.
You can send all outgoing emails via an SMTP server, choose between SMTP or PHP's mail() function, and set custom from name and email. It also supports SSL/TLS encryption, SMTP authentication with encrypted username and password, and works with Gmail, Yahoo, Hotmail, and Office365 servers.