WP Mail SMTP Pro – Fix WordPress Email Deliverability with Confidence (GPL Premium Version)

If you’ve ever had customers telling you they never got your order confirmation email or contact form submissions disappearing into the void, you’re not alone. WordPress’s default email function often struggles with deliverability. Emails end up in spam folders or simply vanish.

For me, the plugin that turned this problem around was WP Mail SMTP Pro — and I didn’t just install it, I tested it extensively across WooCommerce stores, membership sites, and blogs. Now, I’ll share why it’s worth having, and how you can set it up in minutes to make sure every email reaches the inbox.

I’m using the GPL Pro version from WP Mail SMTP Pro GPL Download, which includes all premium features unlocked without the per-site restrictions of the official license.

Why WordPress Email Fails — And How WP Mail SMTP Fixes It

By default, WordPress uses wp_mail() — a simple PHP mail function — to send emails. While it works in some cases, it’s unreliable because:

Hosting servers aren’t optimized for email sending.
PHP mail lacks proper authentication (SPF, DKIM, DMARC).
Many email providers block or flag such emails as spam.

WP Mail SMTP Pro solves this by allowing you to send WordPress emails through a trusted SMTP server or popular transactional email services like SendGrid, Gmail, Amazon SES, and Mailgun. This adds proper authentication and improves deliverability dramatically.

Key Features That Make WP Mail SMTP Pro Stand Out

Multiple Mailer Integrations — Gmail, SendGrid, Amazon SES, Microsoft 365, Zoho Mail, Mailgun, Postmark, and more.
Email Log — Keep a record of every email sent from your WordPress site.
Email Reports — Track open rates and click-through rates for your site’s emails.
Resend Emails — Useful when a customer requests a copy of their order confirmation.
Smart Routing — Route different types of emails through different mailers.
White-Glove Setup — Pro customers get a setup service to configure the plugin for optimal deliverability.

Getting WP Mail SMTP Pro (GPL Version)

I use the GPL-licensed premium plugin from free GPL WordPress resources because:

It’s license-free under GPL but contains all Pro features.
I can install it on unlimited client sites without extra fees.
Updates stay synced with the official release.

For agencies or developers managing multiple WordPress installs, this is a cost-effective unlimited site Pro plugin solution.

Installing WP Mail SMTP Pro

Download the ZIP file from the GPL source.
Go to WordPress → Plugins → Add New → Upload Plugin.
Select the file, click Install Now, then Activate.
WP Mail SMTP will now appear in your WordPress admin menu.

Configuring Basic Settings

Navigate to WP Mail SMTP → Settings.
Enter your From Email — usually your domain-based email (e.g., hello@yourdomain.com).
Choose your From Name.
Pick your Mailer — for example, Gmail, Amazon SES, or SMTP.com.

Setting Up a Mailer Example — Gmail

Here’s a quick Gmail setup for WP Mail SMTP Pro:

Choose Gmail as your mailer.
Click Set up Gmail Mailer — you’ll be guided to create API credentials in the Google Cloud Console.
Add your Client ID and Client Secret to WP Mail SMTP settings.
Click Allow plugin to send emails using your Google account.

From now on, all WordPress emails will be sent securely through Gmail’s servers.

Exploring Alternative Mailers for Maximum Deliverability

While Gmail is great for small-scale sites, larger or high-traffic websites often need a more robust mailer. Here are my tested favorites inside WP Mail SMTP Pro:

1. Amazon SES

Perfect for high-volume sending at low cost.
Requires setting up domain verification and SMTP credentials in AWS.
Once integrated, it handles thousands of emails per day with near-zero spam issues.

2. SendGrid

User-friendly dashboard with excellent analytics.
Great for marketing-heavy sites sending newsletters.
Setup in WP Mail SMTP Pro takes less than 5 minutes using an API key.

3. Mailgun

Known for its developer-friendly features.
Offers excellent tracking and deliverability reports.
Ideal for transactional-heavy sites like SaaS platforms.

Email Logging and Resend Feature

One of my favorite Pro-only features is the Email Log.

View every email sent from your site, including subject, recipient, and status.
Filter logs by date, type, or status for faster troubleshooting.
If an email fails or the customer didn’t receive it, click Resend — no need to re-trigger the original action.

I once had a WooCommerce store owner thank me after I recovered 20+ “lost” order confirmation emails for his customers using this exact feature.

Smart Email Routing

For sites with complex email needs:

Route WooCommerce order emails via a transactional mailer like Amazon SES.
Send marketing emails via SendGrid.
Keep admin notifications on Gmail for easier inbox management.

This ensures each email type goes through the most optimal sending channel.

Deliverability Testing & Troubleshooting

If your emails still occasionally fail:

Use WP Mail SMTP → Email Test to send a test email.
Review the SMTP debug output for authentication errors.
Check your domain’s DNS records for SPF, DKIM, and DMARC accuracy.

Real-World Experience — From Frustration to Inbox Confidence

When I first installed WP Mail SMTP Pro on a membership site, I noticed a 95% reduction in “I didn’t get the email” support tickets within the first week. The Pro features unlocked via GPL meant I could deploy it across all client sites without worrying about licensing fees.

Now, it’s part of my standard site launch checklist — right alongside SSL setup and security hardening.

Why the GPL Version is a Game-Changer

With the GPL compliant premium plugin:

You get all Pro features without per-site restrictions.
It’s a GPL-compliant licensed plugin, meaning you can legally use it on unlimited sites.
Updates remain synced with the official release, so you stay secure.

For agencies or power users, this is an unlimited site Pro plugin solution that saves money while delivering the same results as the official purchase.

Final Setup Checklist

Before wrapping up, make sure you:

Choose the right mailer for your site’s scale.
Configure SPF, DKIM, and DMARC records in your DNS.
Enable Email Logging for future troubleshooting.
Test sending from WP Mail SMTP → Email Test after setup.

Conclusion

If WordPress email deliverability issues are holding back your business, WP Mail SMTP Pro is one of the most effective fixes available. Pairing it with a reliable mailer and GPL access makes it even better — allowing you to deploy it confidently across unlimited projects.

With the right configuration, you can say goodbye to lost emails, spam folder frustration, and unhappy customers.

WP Mail SMTP Pro – Fix WordPress Email Deliverability with Confidence(free download)