Your customer just placed a $500 order, but they never received the confirmation email. Your contact form submissions are vanishing into thin air.
You’ve probably heard two common solutions:
- Set up an SMTP plugin for WordPress
- Or use Mailchimp for better deliverability
However, most people are confused about which one actually solves their problem (and they’re completely different solutions).
As an email deliverability consultant who has helped hundreds of businesses rescue their WordPress emails from spam folders and fix their broken notification systems, I’ve prepared this comprehensive guide that covers:
- WordPress vs marketing emails
- SMTP plugin comparison
- Mailchimp breakdown
- Setup process
- Cost analysis
Let’s fix your email headaches once and for all.
A quick skim — WordPress mail SMTP vs Mailchimp deliverability
Sometimes you just need the bottom line without wading through technical details. Here’s the short answer:
| Solution | Best for | Monthly cost | Setup difficulty | Deliverability |
| WordPress SMTP Plugin + Provider | Most WordPress sites | $0-$49/month | Easy | Decent |
| Mailchimp Transactional | Existing Mailchimp users | $40+ minimum | Moderate | Decent |
| Default PHP Mail | Nobody (seriously) | Free | None | Poor |
Most WordPress sites achieve better results when using SMTP plugins in conjunction with providers like SendGrid or Amazon SES. Mailchimp Transactional works if you’re already paying for Mailchimp marketing plans, but it’s definitely not your only option.
There’s no guarantee for deliverability, though (without Maxify)
You could spend hours figuring out SMTP configurations and DNS records — or let an email deliverability expert handle everything for you.
Maxify Inbox by EmailWarmup offers:
- Complete setup and ongoing monitoring
- Email list validation and automatic replacement
- Unlimited deliverability consultations with experts
- Unlimited email warmup for better inbox placement
- Dedicated IP address for improved sender reputation
We’ll configure everything correctly the first time, so you can focus on running your business instead of troubleshooting email problems.
No matter the platform you use, we will ensure your emails get delivered to your recipient’s inbox and not spam.
Why are your WordPress emails failing right now?
The truth is, WordPress comes with a built-in email system that’s about as reliable as a chocolate teapot.
The problem isn’t your content or timing — it’s the PHP mail() function your site uses by default. WordPress’s wp_mail() uses PHPMailer, which by default hands off to PHP’s mail() function without proper authentication, making them look suspicious to email providers.
Gmail, Outlook, and Yahoo often flag messages as spam or block them entirely. Additionally, many hosting companies throttle or disable PHP mail to prevent server abuse (which means your emails might not send at all). The consequences hit hard:
- Broken user registration processes
- Damaged sender reputation over time
- Contact form leads disappearing forever
- Lost sales from missed order confirmations
- Frustrated customers who can’t reset passwords
WordPress doesn’t tell you when emails fail — they just vanish.
What’s the difference between marketing and transactional emails?
Marketing emails are your newsletters, promotional campaigns, and bulk messages you send through Mailchimp’s interface. Mailchimp’s regular service works fine for these campaigns (that’s what it was designed for).
Transactional emails are different. WordPress generates these messages automatically when users take specific actions:
- Comment notifications
- Plugin alerts and admin notifications
- User registration and password reset emails
- WooCommerce order confirmations and receipts
- Contact form submissions (Contact Form 7, WPForms, Gravity Forms)
You need proper solutions for both email types. You can’t just “use Mailchimp” for everything — WordPress requires its own email delivery system.
How do WordPress SMTP plugins solve the problem?
SMTP plugins work like hiring a professional postal service, rather than dropping letters into random mailboxes (which is essentially what WordPress does by default).
When you install an SMTP plugin, it replaces WordPress’s unreliable PHP mail function with a connection to a dedicated email service. Instead of your hosting server trying to deliver emails (and usually failing), the plugin routes them through providers like SendGrid, Amazon SES, or Mailgun.
These services specialize in email delivery. They have established relationships with inbox providers, proper authentication systems, and infrastructure designed specifically for reliable email sending. Your emails get the authentication headers (SPF, DKIM, DMARC) they need to pass spam filters.
The plugin acts as a bridge, making the connection seamless within your WordPress dashboard. You get detailed logs, delivery confirmations, and troubleshooting tools — things impossible with the default PHP mail system.
Which WordPress SMTP plugin should you choose?
The market offers several solid options, each with different strengths (and honestly, most of them work pretty well).
| Plugin | Free features | Pro cost/year | Best for |
| WP Mail SMTP | Basic SMTP, Test emails | From $49 (promo) | Most sites, professional support |
| FluentSMTP | All features included | Free | Budget-conscious advanced users |
| Post SMTP | Core SMTP, Basic logging | $59.99+ | Mobile monitoring needs |
| Easy WP SMTP | Simple setup, Debug logs | From about $49 | Users wanting simplicity |
WP Mail SMTP
The most popular choice, with 3+ million active installations, offers the smoothest setup experience and the widest provider support.
WP Mail SMTP provides:
- Backup connection setup for redundancy
- One-click setup for Gmail and major providers
- White Glove Setup service for hands-off configuration
- Comprehensive email logging and reporting (Pro version only)
Many advanced features require the Pro version (starting from $49/year with promotional pricing), but the free version handles basic SMTP connections well.
The plugin works particularly well for most WordPress sites, especially those wanting professional support and advanced features without technical complexity.
FluentSMTP
A completely free alternative that offers many premium features without cost barriers (which is pretty amazing when you think about it).
FluentSMTP stands out with:
- Real-time failure notifications via Slack, Discord, and Telegram
- Detailed email logging and reporting are completely free
- Multiple SMTP connections with automatic failover
- Native integrations with all major providers
- Multi-part emails for better deliverability
Budget-conscious users who need advanced features find this plugin particularly valuable since it removes the paywall barrier entirely.
Post SMTP
Among the first SMTP plugins to feature a mobile app for monitoring email delivery on the go, while focusing on detailed diagnostics and failure prevention.
Post SMTP offers:
- Detailed diagnostic tools
- Mobile app for iOS and Android
- OAuth 2.0 integration for enhanced security
- Automatic email resending for failed messages
- Comprehensive failure notifications (email, SMS, Slack)
Premium features start at $59.99/year after the free core plugin. Users who need mobile monitoring and advanced failure management benefit most.
Easy WP SMTP and other options
Easy WP SMTP focuses on simplicity without sacrificing reliability (sometimes simple is exactly what you need). It offers:
- Straightforward configuration with solid performance
- Compatibility with major contact form plugins
- Import/export settings for multiple sites
- Debug logging for troubleshooting
- Extremely simple setup process
The Basic plan costs from about $49/year for premium features. SMTP Mailer provides basic functionality with manual configuration, but requires technical knowledge for setup.
Gravity SMTP integrates seamlessly with Gravity Forms and offers robust backup sending methods (currently free for Gravity Forms Elite license holders).
What about Mailchimp Transactional?
Mailchimp Transactional (formerly called Mandrill) is a separate service for sending one-to-one transactional emails — and it’s more expensive than most people realize.
It’s not the same as regular Mailchimp — it’s a paid add-on that requires a Mailchimp Standard or Premium subscription.
How it actually works
You connect your WordPress site to Mailchimp Transactional through an SMTP plugin using the “Other SMTP” option (it’s not as straightforward as their marketing suggests). The service handles your transactional emails using Mailchimp’s infrastructure and reputation.
The technical setup requires:
- Authentication via API key
- Ports: 587 (TLS) or 465 (SSL)
- SMTP host: smtp.mandrillapp.com
- DNS record setup for domain authentication
Furthermore, you must verify your domain and add DKIM + DMARC records before Mandrill will send emails (it’s stricter than many email providers and won’t send from unverified domains).
Pricing breakdown
Mailchimp Transactional uses a block system where you pay $20 per block of 25,000 emails (no pay-per-email option exists).
| Email volume | Transactional cost | Plus Mailchimp Standard | Total monthly |
| 0-25,000 | $20 | From ~$20/month | $40+ |
| 25,001-50,000 | $40 | From ~$20/month | $60+ |
| 50,001-75,000 | $60 | From ~$20/month | $80+ |
A small e-commerce site might pay around $20/month for Mailchimp Standard plus $20/month for transactional emails, totaling $40+ monthly. That adds up quickly compared to other solutions (especially when you’re just starting out).
When does it make sense?
Consider Mailchimp Transactional if you’re:
- Already paying for Mailchimp Standard/Premium
- Sending 20,000+ transactional emails monthly
- Wanting consolidated billing and support
- Your team prefers staying within the Mailchimp ecosystem
However, many WordPress sites get better value from dedicated SMTP providers like SendGrid or Amazon SES, which often cost less and offer more flexibility (especially if you’re not already invested in Mailchimp’s marketing platform).
Which email service provider should you use?
Your SMTP plugin needs to connect to an actual email service provider (the plugin is just the bridge, not the destination).
Each offers different advantages depending on your specific needs and technical comfort level.
| Provider | Free tier | Paid plans start | Best feature |
| Amazon SES | 3,000 messages/month (12-month trial) | $0.10/1k emails | Lowest cost, enterprise scale |
| SendGrid | 60-day free trial | $19.95/month | Developer-friendly, good support |
| Mailgun | 100 emails/day | Basic $15/month | API-first, detailed analytics |
| Brevo | 300 emails/day | From $9-25/month | SMS included, EU-based |
Amazon SES
Amazon’s email service provides enterprise-grade infrastructure at extremely low costs (though it requires more technical setup than other options). Amazon SES offers:
- Decent deliverability & reputation
- Scales to millions of emails effortlessly
- Incredibly cheap pricing at $0.10 per 1,000 emails after the trial
- Trial period with 3,000 message charges monthly for the first 12 months
However, it requires AWS account setup, involves more technical configuration, and provides limited customer support on basic plans (which can be frustrating if you run into issues).
SendGrid
A developer-friendly service with strong deliverability and comprehensive features appeals to users wanting reliability with good support.
SendGrid provides:
- Dedicated IP options
- Simple API integration
- Advanced analytics and reporting
- Marketing campaign features available
- 60-day free trial (the old generous free tier was retired in May 2025)
Essentials plans start at $19.95/month, making it accessible for growing businesses that want professional support.
Brevo and Mailgun
Brevo (formerly Sendinblue) offers an all-in-one platform with both transactional and marketing email capabilities. It features:
- Free tier with 300 emails daily
- SMS marketing included
- Landing page builder
- Marketing automation tools
- GDPR compliance since it’s EU-based
Paid plans start around $9-25/month, depending on features, providing good value for comprehensive marketing needs. Use smtp-relay.brevo.com as your SMTP host (not the old sendinblue hostname).
Mailgun appeals to developers with its API-first approach. It provides a Free plan with 100 emails daily, a Basic plan at $15/month for 10k emails, detailed delivery analytics, advanced routing and tagging, and EU region options for GDPR compliance.
What’s the real cost comparison?
Here’s how the numbers actually work out when you calculate everything (including the hidden costs most people forget about).
| Approach | Setup | Monthly cost (10k emails) | Monthly cost (25k emails) | What you get |
| Budget SMTP | FluentSMTP + Amazon SES | ~$1 | ~$2.50 | Free advanced features |
| Professional SMTP | WP Mail SMTP Pro + SendGrid | ~$23 | ~$23 | Premium support, backup connections |
| Mailchimp Transactional | Mailchimp + Mandrill | $40+ minimum | $40+ | Integrated billing, Mailchimp ecosystem |
The budget SMTP route with FluentSMTP (free plugin) paired with Amazon SES at $0.10 per 1,000 emails after the trial period, costs approximately $1 monthly for 10,000 emails. You can’t beat the price point for reliability.
The professional option combines WP Mail SMTP Pro at around $4/month (annual billing) plus SendGrid Essentials at $19.95/month, totaling around $23 monthly. You get professional support and advanced features that can save you hours of troubleshooting (worth it when email problems hit during a busy sales period).
Mailchimp’s approach requires both a Mailchimp Standard plan starting around $20/month plus Mailchimp Transactional at $20/month for a 25,000 email block, resulting in a $40+ monthly minimum total cost. You’re essentially paying for two separate services even though they’re from the same company.
Hidden costs nobody mentions
Time investment varies significantly between approaches.
Initial setup takes 30-60 minutes for SMTP plugins with good documentation, while Mailchimp Transactional requires 1-2 hours for DNS records and API keys (plus troubleshooting time if something goes wrong). Ongoing maintenance remains minimal for both approaches.
Support quality makes a crucial difference when problems arise. Free plugins offer community support only, premium plugins include direct support, and Mailchimp support quality varies by your plan level. However, when email delivery breaks, you need help immediately (not in 24-48 hours).
Most WordPress sites get better value from the SMTP plugin approach, especially when starting small and scaling up gradually.
How do you set everything up correctly?
Proper configuration means the difference between reliable delivery and continued frustration (and lost revenue from missed emails).
Configuration mistakes cost businesses thousands in lost revenue from missed emails. One wrong DNS record can break your entire email system. Additionally, most hosting providers don’t offer email delivery support, leaving you to troubleshoot alone when problems arise.
Plugin installation and configuration
Start by installing your chosen plugin (WP Mail SMTP works well for beginners who want a guided setup).
The setup wizard will walk you through connecting to your email service provider. The connection process involves:
- Setting your “From” email address properly
- Selecting your provider from the plugin’s list
- Entering your API credentials (never use your actual email password)
- Choosing the encryption method (TLS is recommended for most providers)
DNS authentication setup
Authentication records prove to receiving email servers that you’re authorized to send emails from your domain (where most people get stuck).
SPF records
SPF (Sender Policy Framework) tells receivers which servers can send email for your domain. Add the exact SPF records provided by your email service provider’s dashboard rather than copying generic examples.
DKIM records
DKIM (DomainKeys Identified Mail) adds a digital signature to your emails. Your email provider will give you specific CNAME records to add to your DNS settings.
DMARC records
DMARC (Domain-based Message Authentication) sets policies for handling emails that fail authentication. Start with: v=DMARC1; p=none; rua=mailto:your-email@domain.com
Most SMTP plugins provide DNS record generators or step-by-step instructions for your specific provider. Don’t skip authentication — it dramatically improves deliverability rates (we’re talking about the difference between 60% and 95% inbox placement).
Testing and validation
Send test emails to different providers and verify that:
- Links and images work properly
- Emails arrive in the inbox (not spam)
- Sender information displays correctly
- Authentication passes using an email deliverability test.
Check your email logs regularly during the first week to catch any configuration issues early. Additionally, ask a few customers or colleagues to confirm they’re receiving your emails properly.
Ongoing monitoring
Enable email logging in your SMTP plugin to track delivery status. Watch for:
- Authentication failures
- Failed delivery attempts
- Increasing bounce rates
- Spam complaint notifications
Regular monitoring helps you catch problems before they impact your business operations. Set up alerts for failed emails so you know immediately when something breaks.
Which solution fits your WordPress setup?
Your choice depends on your site’s specific needs and constraints (and honestly, your budget and technical comfort level).
Small blogs and personal sites
FluentSMTP (free plugin) paired with Amazon SES or Brevo free tier costs $0-5 monthly and handles up to 10,000 emails monthly perfectly.
Small sites work well because hobby blogs, personal portfolios, and small business sites have minimal email needs.
The free tiers provide reliable delivery without ongoing costs that could strain tight budgets (and you can always upgrade later as you grow).
Growing e-commerce sites
WP Mail SMTP Pro with professional support, combined with SendGrid Essentials or Amazon SES, costs $20-30 monthly and handles 10,000-100,000 emails monthly effectively.
E-commerce sites need bulletproof order confirmations, shipping notifications, and customer communications since email failures directly impact revenue.
Paying for premium features and support protects your business from costly email problems (you get priority support when things break during busy sales periods).
High-volume WordPress sites
WP Mail SMTP Pro or FluentSMTP with dedicated IP addresses through SendGrid or Mailgun costs $50-200+ monthly and manages 100,000+ emails monthly with enterprise features.
Large sites benefit from dedicated IP addresses for high, consistent volume (though these must be properly warmed up — for many small senders, a well-managed shared IP actually performs better), advanced routing, and enterprise support.
Multiple backup connections prevent single points of failure that could disrupt operations (imagine your email system going down during a product launch).
Solve your WordPress email deliverability problems
What if you don’t want to handle the technical setup yourself and ensure reliable deliverability, regardless of the platform you choose?
Maxify Inbox by EmailWarmup takes the uncertainty out of email deliverability. Our experts configure everything correctly from the start — SMTP connections, DNS authentication, monitoring systems, and ongoing optimization. You get:
- 24/7 monitoring and proactive issue resolution
- Unlimited consultations with deliverability experts
- Complete WordPress email setup and configuration
- Dedicated IP addresses for improved sender reputation
- Use an email validation API and get automatic replacement
Stop losing customers and revenue to email delivery problems.
Frequently asked questions
Here are the most common questions people ask about WordPress email delivery:
WP Mail SMTP Pro costs from $49 annually (promotional pricing), plus your chosen email provider (SendGrid Essentials starts at $19.95/month, Amazon SES costs $0.10 per 1,000 emails after the trial period). Mailchimp Transactional requires a Mailchimp Standard marketing subscription (from ~$20/month) plus $20 per 25,000 email block. For most sites sending under 25,000 emails monthly, WP Mail SMTP with Amazon SES or SendGrid proves more cost-effective.
Install an SMTP plugin like WP Mail SMTP or FluentSMTP, connect it to an email deliverability tool like Maxify Inbox, and configure proper DNS authentication using the exact SPF, DKIM, and DMARC records provided by your email provider. Additionally, avoid sending from free email addresses, maintain clean email lists, and monitor your sender reputation through email logs and provider dashboards.
SendGrid specializes in transactional email delivery with transparent pricing ($19.95/month for up to 40,000 emails), advanced analytics, and dedicated IP options. Mailchimp Transactional requires an existing Mailchimp Standard/Premium subscription plus $20/month for 25,000 emails. No matter what you pick, you need an automated email warmup to make sure your emails deliver.
Install WP Mail SMTP or FluentSMTP, connect to SendGrid or Amazon SES, and configure proper authentication records. WooCommerce order confirmations are critical transactional emails that need reliable delivery. Additionally, enable email logging to monitor delivery status and set up backup connections to prevent single points of failure during high sales periods.
Your hosting provider’s PHP mail function is likely unreliable or blocked. Install an SMTP plugin like WP Mail SMTP, connect to a dedicated email service provider, and configure DNS authentication. Additionally, test form submissions to multiple email addresses, check spam folders, and verify your contact form plugin compatibility with your chosen SMTP solution.
Mailgun maintains stronger deliverability through dedicated infrastructure and transparent analytics. Mailchimp’s deliverability has fluctuated historically and lacks centralized reputation dashboards. Your provider choice matters less than proper configuration and monitoring. Maxify Inbox automatically warms your email reputation, validates lists, and provides unlimited expert consultations to achieve optimal inbox placement rates across all providers.
Check your API key validity in Mailchimp account settings, verify your list IDs are correct, and ensure your WordPress site’s IP address isn’t blocked. Update Contact Form 7 and any Mailchimp integration plugins to the current versions. Additionally, consider using the Mailchimp for WordPress (MC4WP) plugin instead, which provides more reliable integration and better error handling.
WP Mail SMTP Pro provides comprehensive email logs showing sender, recipient, subject, delivery status, and timestamps for every email. Features include failed email alerts via email/Slack/SMS, automatic retry functionality, export capabilities (CSV, EML, XLS), attachment logging, and detailed error diagnostics. Backup connection routing automatically switches providers if the primary delivery fails.
