Hosting
WordPress email hosting: configuring SMTP correctly
4 September 2024 · 4 min read
By default WordPress sends emails via the PHP mail() function. This is unreliable: emails often end up in spam or do not arrive at all. With SMTP configuration you send emails via a professional email server.
At WP Maintainer we configure SMTP for all our clients. In this article we explain how to do this yourself.
The problem with PHP mail
The standard PHP mail() function has disadvantages: - No authentication - Emails are often rejected by recipients - Spam filters mark these as unreliable - No sending log - Limited functionality (no attachments, HTML)
What is SMTP?
SMTP (Simple Mail Transfer Protocol) is the standard protocol for sending emails. By linking WordPress to an SMTP server, emails are delivered reliably.
SMTP providers
Configuration in WordPress
**Step 1: Install an SMTP plugin** - FluentSMTP (free, supports multiple providers) - WP Mail SMTP - Post SMTP
**Step 2: Configure the plugin** - Choose your SMTP provider - Enter the API key or login credentials - Configure the sender (From email and name) - Test the connection
Transactional vs marketing emails
**Transactional emails** (via SMTP): - Order confirmations - Password resets - Contact forms - Account notifications
**Marketing emails** (via email marketing tool): - Newsletters - Promotions - Automations Never use your SMTP for marketing — this damages your deliverability.
Testing and troubleshooting
- Send test mails to different providers (Gmail, Outlook) - Check spam folders - Use mail-tester.com for spam score - Monitor bounce rates and delivery rates
WP Maintainer email configuration
We configure SMTP for WordPress websites and ensure all transactional emails arrive reliably. We implement SPF, DKIM and DMARC and test the deliverability thoroughly.