Alternatives · Email Sending
WP Mail SMTP alternatives
As of Nov 13, 2026, the highest-graded WP Mail SMTP alternative is FluentSMTP (3.2 GPA). It's also the best free one.
WP Mail SMTP compared with 4 alternatives: FluentSMTP, Post SMTP, SendLayer and SMTP.com.
WP Mail SMTP has a free plan. Paid plans start at $99 per year for 1 site at renewal, after a first year for $49. 2 of the 4 alternatives are free or have a free plan. One more offers a free trial.
Listings checked up to Nov 13, 2026 · Where the facts come from
Black Friday: is there a WP Mail SMTP sale?
At a glance
| Tool | Price | Free plan | Runs on |
|---|---|---|---|
| WP Mail SMTPThis tool | Free plan · from $99/yr | Yes | Web |
| FluentSMTP | Free | Free | Web |
| Post SMTP | Free plan | Yes | Web, iOS, Android |
| SendLayer | Free trial · from $5/mo | Trial only | Web |
| SMTP.com | From $25/mo | No | Web |
Price against what you get
WP Mail SMTP starts at $8.25 a month when paid by the year and scores 2.3 out of 4 on features, ease of use and platforms. 1 of the 3 alternatives on this chart scores higher and starts lower: FluentSMTP.
SendLayer starts lower without scoring higher.
Features, ease of use and platforms, averaged
What paid plans start at, a month (each step along is roughly double) →
- The best score at each price
- Has a free plan
- No free plan
How each one differs from WP Mail SMTP
FluentSMTP
Free WordPress plugin for sending site email through your provider
- FluentSMTP is free.
- FluentSMTP is open source, according to its own site.
Suits: WordPress site owners who want email logging without paying for a plugin
Post SMTP
WordPress SMTP plugin with email logs, alerts and backup mailers
- Post SMTP also lists iOS and Android apps.
Suits: WordPress sites that need to see which emails failed and why
SendLayer
Transactional email over SMTP or API, aimed at WordPress sites
- SendLayer starts at $5 per month for 1,000 emails, billed annually.
- SendLayer has no free plan, only a free trial, unlike WP Mail SMTP.
- SendLayer does not cover reports, which WP Mail SMTP does.
Suits: WordPress and WooCommerce sites that need reliable system emails
SMTP.com
SMTP relay and email API sold in monthly volume plans from 50,000
- SMTP.com starts at $25 per month for 50,000 emails.
- SMTP.com has no free plan, unlike WP Mail SMTP.
- SMTP.com does not cover reports, which WP Mail SMTP does.
Suits: Senders who already need 50,000 emails a month or more
Limits worth knowing in WP Mail SMTP
- Runs only inside WordPress; it is not a standalone sending service and needs a separate email provider account.
- Email logging, reports, tracking, backup connections and routing are Pro features, not part of the free plugin.
- Pro prices on the page are introductory: the page says renewals are at full price, $99 a year for 1 site.
- The pricing page states a 14-day money-back guarantee on paid plans.
Common questions
What are the alternatives to WP Mail SMTP?
The alternatives to WP Mail SMTP in this directory are FluentSMTP, Post SMTP, SendLayer and SMTP.com. Each one has a side-by-side comparison with WP Mail SMTP.
Is there a free alternative to WP Mail SMTP?
Yes. FluentSMTP is free to use. Post SMTP has a free plan alongside paid ones.
Which WP Mail SMTP alternatives work on Android?
The WP Mail SMTP listing does not include an Android app. Post SMTP lists one.
Which WP Mail SMTP alternatives work on iOS?
The WP Mail SMTP listing does not include an iOS app. Post SMTP lists one.
Is there an open-source alternative to WP Mail SMTP?
FluentSMTP is described as open source on its own site.
When were these prices checked?
Each listing shows its own date. On this page they run from Oct 18, 2026 to Nov 13, 2026. Vendors change prices without notice, so confirm on their site before you buy.