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SureMails: The New (Best) WordPress SMTP Plugin

Doug

Tech Stack Integrator

Email delivery from WordPress websites has always been a challenge. The newly released SureMails plugin aims to solve this common problem by providing a reliable connection between your WordPress site and SMTP providers. In this comprehensive guide, we’ll explore how SureMails works, its key features, and how to set it up properly.

Understanding WordPress Email Problems

Before diving into SureMails, it’s important to understand why WordPress needs an SMTP plugin in the first place. WordPress websites struggle with sending emails reliably because:

  • The default WordPress email system is limited
  • Host configurations often interfere with email delivery
  • Plugins requiring email functionality (like WooCommerce or membership plugins) need better email handling
  • Transactional emails (password resets, notifications, receipts) often fail to deliver

How SureMails Works

SureMails acts as a bridge between your WordPress site and SMTP providers. Here’s the flow:

  1. Your WordPress site generates an email (from any plugin or core function)
  2. SureMails receives and processes the email
  3. SureMails forwards it to your chosen SMTP provider
  4. The SMTP provider delivers the email to its final destination

Supported SMTP Providers

SureMails currently integrates with several popular SMTP services:

  • Amazon SES (most affordable but most complex to get approved — See my video here.)
  • SMTP2GO
  • SendGrid
  • Mailgun
  • Brevo (offers a free plan with 300 emails/day)
  • Elastic Email
  • Postmark
  • Generic SMTP providers

Important Note: While Gmail/Google Workspace appears as an option in SureMails, it’s not recommended for bulk emails as Google may ban accounts using SMTP for large-scale sending.

Step-by-Step Setup Guide for Using SureMails

1. Initial Setup

  1. Install and activate the SureMails plugin
  2. Navigate to Settings → SureMails in your WordPress dashboard

2. Creating an SMTP Connection

  1. Click “Add Connection”
  2. Choose your SMTP provider from the list
  3. Enter the required credentials:
  • API key or SMTP details
  • From email address
  • From name

3. Configure Connection Settings

When setting up your connection, you’ll encounter several important options:

  • Force From Email: Enables overriding of all email “from” addresses with your specified email (I use this)
  • Force From Name: Similar to above, but for the sender’s name (I use this)
  • Connection Sequence: Allows setting up backup providers (lower numbers have higher priority)

4. Configure General Settings

Under the Settings tab:

  1. Set up email logging preferences
  • Recommended: Set logs to delete after 7-30 days
  • Warning: Long-term log storage can cause database bloat
  1. Choose your default connection
  2. Save your settings

Unique Feature: Reputation Shield

One standout feature that sets SureMails apart is Reputation Shield. This AI-powered tool:

  • Monitors outgoing emails for problematic content
  • Prevents emails containing hate speech, violence, or spam from being sent
  • Helps protect your SMTP provider relationship
  • Blocks potentially harmful content before it triggers provider penalties

To activate Reputation Shield:

  1. Go to the Reputation Shield tab
  2. Click “Activate Protection”

Testing Your Setup

After configuration:

  1. Send a test email through the plugin interface
  2. Check the Email Logs to confirm delivery
  3. Monitor the logs for any blocked emails or issues

Best Practices and Tips

Log Management:

  • Don’t keep logs indefinitely
  • Regular cleanup prevents database bloat
  • Consider 7-day retention for high-volume sites

SMTP Provider Selection:

  • Choose based on your volume needs
  • Consider free-tier options like Brevo and SMTP2GO for low-volume sites
  • Use Amazon SES for cost-effective high-volume sending

Multiple Connections:

  • Set up backup providers when possible
  • Use sequence numbers to establish priority
  • Test backup connections periodically

Migrating from Other SMTP Plugins

If you’re currently using another SMTP plugin (like Fluent SMTP):

  1. Set up SureMails completely before deactivating your current plugin
  2. Test thoroughly with your new configuration
  3. Deactivate (don’t delete) your old plugin initially
  4. Monitor email delivery for a few days before removing the old plugin

Monitoring and Maintenance

Regular maintenance tasks should include:

  • Checking email logs for blocked content
  • Reviewing delivery success rates
  • Clearing old logs
  • Testing backup SMTP connections

Conclusion

SureMails offers a robust solution for WordPress email management, with its Reputation Shield feature providing unique protection for your email sending reputation. While the setup process is straightforward, proper configuration is crucial for reliable email delivery.

Remember to properly configure your chosen SMTP provider’s authentication (DKIM, SPF, DMARC records) for optimal deliverability – these settings are handled at your DNS records, not within SureMails itself.

As with any email solution, regular monitoring and maintenance will ensure continued reliable performance.