Configuring SMTP in WordPress using a plugin
Installing the plugin There are several plugins that allow you to configure SMTP on a WordPress site. Their configuration is similar. For the purposes of this demonstration, we will use the Easy WP SMTP plugin.To install an SMTP plugin for WordPress, you need to log in to WordPress. In the main menu, click on Plugins -> Add New. In the "Search Plugins" field, type Easy WP SMTP (or any other SMTP plugin) and press Enter. Once the plugin appears, click on "Install" and then on "Activate."
Opening an email account Using the cPanel control panel, you can open an email account on your domain and use it as needed. You can choose any address you want (for example: [email protected] or [email protected]). With Linux hosting, you get unlimited email addresses with every website hosting package, including WordPress hosting. Configuring the plugin In every SMTP plugin, the settings screen will look slightly different, and you will access it from different places. In the case of the above plugin, the settings screen is available from the main menu - Settings -> Easy WP SMTP.
On this screen, you must fill in the email address you created, the name that will appear when the email is sent, and the reply-to address (optional).
In the SMTP Host field, type uscp.linux-hosting.network.
Type of Encryption - select SSL.
SMTP Port - the port is 465.
SMTP Username - the full email address you set up.
SMTP Password - the password you created when you set up the email address.
Then, click Save Changes and check if the email arrives from the contact form.
Why SMTP is more reliable than direct sending from your site
WordPress sends mail via the wp_mail() function which calls PHP's mail() function. The problem: most external providers (Gmail, Outlook, Yahoo) block mail sent directly from a server without verified SPF/DKIM/DMARC records. Sending via SMTP from a reputable external provider (SendGrid, Mailgun, Brevo) solves this because the provider has a verified reputation.
Comparing popular SMTP providers
- SendGrid — 100 messages/day free, stable, good UI. Suits sites up to ~3000 monthly emails.
- Mailgun — advanced features (tags, filtering), but more technical UI.
- Brevo (Sendinblue) — 300 messages/day free, friendly UI, also an automation platform.
- Amazon SES — cheapest for high volume ($0.10 per thousand), but requires more technical setup.
Common errors and their fixes
Messages land in Spam
Verify you have SPF + DKIM records on your domain's DNS. Add a DMARC record with policy=none initially. Also check your server's IP at MXToolbox — if it's on an RBL, you need to switch SMTP providers.
Especially slow sending
If wp_mail() slows down form processing, switch to a plugin that uses a queue rather than synchronous sending. WP Mail SMTP Pro supports this.
Some messages don't arrive
Check the logs in your SMTP provider's UI — there you'll find the exact reason (bounce, deferral, or rejection). The WP Mail SMTP plugin also keeps a local log of sent messages.
