Gmail SMTP
by Noor Alam · Email & Marketing
Also makes 25 other plugins · 152.1K+ installs across the portfolio →
Connect to Gmail SMTP server to automatically send email from your WordPress site. Configure wp_mail() to use SMTP with OAuth 2.0 authentication.
Try it live opens a temporary test site in your browser, which can take about 20 seconds to load. Plugins that rely on outside services or a full server may not work completely there.
Health
A 86/100
no flags
Active installs
10K+
≈15K estimated
Momentum
-29%
downloads vs prior 30d
Biggest opportunity: Swap “email”, “mail” and “oauth” for “gmail smtp”, “smtp plugin” and “smtp server”. “email” isn't earning its slot: you're not in the first 24 results for its own search. “gmail smtp” sits at #5 untagged, close enough for a declared tag to move it up. “mail” isn't earning its slot: you're not in the first 24 results for its own search. “smtp plugin” sits at #5 untagged, close enough for a declared tag to move it up. “oauth” isn't earning its slot: it only gets you to #11. “smtp server” sits at #6 untagged, close enough for a declared tag to move it up. All five slots are taken, so one has to go.
86 health vs 66 average across 2,120 Email & Marketing plugins
Install conversion
How it's measured →1.3%
of downloads still active
At least 10K of 759.3K lifetime downloads are still running, above its category: the median Email & Marketing plugin keeps 0.9%, across 1,294 plugins.
Downloads count every update, not just first installs, so older and more frequently released plugins read lower. Compare against other Email & Marketing plugins, not across the directory. wp.org reports active installs as the bottom of a band, so the real rate is this or higher.
This plugin shipped 5 releases in the last 12 months, and every existing install that updated counted as another download. wp.org publishes no split between first installs and updates, so we show the raw rate rather than guess at one.
Details
Directory ranking optimization
How it's scored →How well this listing is tuned to rank in WordPress.org search, on the factors an owner controls. Not popularity, optimization.
Excellent listing optimization
Well tuned across the board
Updated 67 days ago
Tested up to WordPress 7.1.4, the current branch or newer
4.1★ over 103 reviews, smoothed to 4.10★
5 of 5 tags set · short description in place
1 of 1 support threads resolved in the last 2 months
Search visibility
How it's tracked →Directory searches this plugin turns up in, and which way each one is moving. WordPress.org publishes no history of search positions, so this starts the day we first tracked a keyword and never backfills.
37
Momentum
Losing ground
-0.1
Velocity
places per keyword, 28d
15%
Breadth
of keywords climbing, 28d
-0.2
Acceleration
recent half vs earlier
wp.org is where the directory puts the plugin for that search. On merit is where it would sit if results were ranked on rating, support and updates, without the install boost. The last column is how far the wp.org position moved, from our first reading in the last 90 days to the latest.
| Keyword | wp.org | On merit | wp.org move, 90 days |
|---|---|---|---|
| gmail your tag | #3 | #4 | 0 |
| gmail api | #3 | #4 | 0 |
| gmail smtp | #5 | #5 | 0 |
| smtp your tag | #7 | #8 | 0 |
| smtp server | #6 | #7 | 0 |
| smtp plugin | #5 | #5 | up 1 |
| gmail connect | #3 | #4 | 0 |
| oauth your tag | #11 | #9 | up 1 |
| wp smtp | #8 | #9 | down 1 |
| my smtp wp | #5 | #5 | 0 |
| wp gmail smtp | #5 | #6 | 0 |
| oauth2 | #10 | #10 | down 1 |
| wordpress smtp | #11 | #11 | down 2 |
| smtp mail | #11 | #11 | down 1 |
| phpmailer | #10 | #8 | 0 |
| email logger | #11 | #13 | down 1 |
| encryption | #14 | #13 | down 1 |
| wp mail smtp | #14 | #15 | down 4 |
| logger | #17 | #11 | 0 |
| email routing | #20 | #12 | 0 |
| email your tag | Not in the top 24 | ||
| mail your tag | Not in the top 24 | ||
63 searches this plugin appeared in over the last 90 days, 20 listed. 39 left out as unrelated or noise (years, numbers, stray words). 2 of its tags aren't in the top 24 for their own search.
What to do about it
- Swap “email”, “mail” and “oauth” for “gmail smtp”, “smtp plugin” and “smtp server”. “email” isn't earning its slot: you're not in the first 24 results for its own search. “gmail smtp” sits at #5 untagged, close enough for a declared tag to move it up. “mail” isn't earning its slot: you're not in the first 24 results for its own search. “smtp plugin” sits at #5 untagged, close enough for a declared tag to move it up. “oauth” isn't earning its slot: it only gets you to #11. “smtp server” sits at #6 untagged, close enough for a declared tag to move it up. All five slots are taken, so one has to go.
- One page off on “oauth”. #11 puts you just past the first ten results, where almost all the clicks stop. The gap to close is small.
Daily downloads
Since 5 Oct 2022 · 1,488 days · wp.org + Plugin Pulse archive
30-day downloads
Rolling 30-day volume · peak 16.8K · peaks are release surges
Directory rank vs rivals
wp.org popularity rank over time · higher is better · when a rival's line climbs above yours, they've overtaken you
Rating trend
Star average over time · dips mark rough releases
Health trend
Composite health score, snapshotted daily
Update activity
How busy the existing users are, measured as downloads in the last 30 days for every 1,000 active sites. A spike means a new release everyone's pulling; a long, slow decline means an aging user base that updates less.
Release cadence
Actively maintainedHow often this plugin actually ships. A steady rhythm is the maintenance signal a single "last updated" date can't show.
5
releases in the last 12 months
2mo ago
latest release · v1.2.3.22 · 25 Aug 2026
18
tagged releases on record
Recent releases
What its installed base runs
via wordpress.orgShare of active installs on each version of this plugin · 90% run the current release. Green is the current release; a big slice on older versions is a user base that has stopped updating.
Estimated active installs
The public count shows “10K+”. Our estimate pins where the real number sits.
Crossed into this band 2.9 years ago; a band this size takes about a year or more to cross, which places it about 50% of the way through.
Install history since 15 Nov 2019
Recent reviews
All reviews on wp.org ↗- ★★★★★ alcain4mo ago
Just configured this using Google Workspaces and it works a charm. Note that (as ever) Google) have fiddled with their consul admin screen interfaces/menus etc , so the video on the plugin page is a bit out of date, but the key tasks and app set up are effectively the same ( you just need to carefully hunt around a bit in the google console admin screens). I also like the way this plugin has a local (i.e. MY OWN domain) ‘Authorised Redirect URI’ ( most other plugins like this seem to use their own 3rd party author domain for this setting. (Perhaps understandable if they are allowing themselves to turn off the feature if you don’t renew a paid subscription perhaps). Nevertheless – comforting that everything appears to be validated between ‘me’ and ‘Google’ only. Nice. Thank you for this plugin!
Read on wp.org ↗ - ★★★★★ magdamunro5mo ago
After the setup, that you really need to set up carefully at Gmail (at least when I did many years ago it took some effort), this Gmail SMTP plugin has given me years of very reliable integration with WooCommerce sales, various contact forms and status updates. Backups run locally as if on server with no changes and migrating my db to Docker where I’m using reverse proxy works locally, on staging as well as on the production site. I honestly cannot remember a single issue, and if there was something it was easily solved.I’ve found Gmail SMTP to be very reliable. I have yet to use the later versions after 1.2.0 on WordPress 6.9 and later, so will update later once this is running for me.
Read on wp.org ↗ - ★★★★★ karlosuccess1.3y ago
The plugin is great when it works. The plugin suddenly stopped working. I contacted support, they checked the site, and stopped answering. They did not say yes, no, we can or cannot fix it. They stopped answering.My finding are that the plugin only works on small wordpress website installs, on the root directory. The plugin is not capable to handle large sites or sites installed on directories other than the root.That means, if you grow, you will start encountering problems with this plugin. Same as I did. I am now using Fluent SMTP, it works out of the box with no sweat. Thanks This topic was modified 1 year ago by karlosuccess.
Read on wp.org ↗ - ★★★★★ FredEval1.5y ago
It’s wonderful when you can find a plugin that is not bloated. Thank you to the developer for this great, easy to use and easy to follow instructions!
Read on wp.org ↗ - ★★★★★ djaberadber1.7y ago
this plugin works like magicdirectly to the inboxDaaamn its really goodif you are using your own vps – dont forget to open port 587 and 465 in tcp protocolotherwise it wont work – open them also in your vcn and in ubuntu if you are using itin my case i had to go to oracle vcn and open both ports than go to ubuntu and open portsthen it worked like magicthank you for this great plugin
Read on wp.org ↗ - ★★★★★ Menn2.3y ago
I use this plugin with Google Workplace and it helps me record every email sent to customer. Thank you so much for this great plugin.
Read on wp.org ↗ - ★★★★★ Montri Udomariyah3.5y ago
Rather use complex or multifunction mail provider plugin. If you want to use gsuite/gmail, just simple use this plugin. No ads and fare for add-on.
Read on wp.org ↗ - ★★★★★ wpSolution3.6y ago
Only the necessary settings, simple and clean, good description. Thanks!
Read on wp.org ↗
Latest updates
via wp.org changelogRecent releases and news for this plugin
- — Version 1.2.3.21 Updated Google API Client library to v2.19.4. 1.2.3.21
- — Version 1.2.3.20 Fixed an issue with sending a test email. 1.2.3.20
- — Version 1.2.3.19 Compatibility update for WordPress 7.0. 1.2.3.19
- — Version 1.2.3.18 Added security for debug output. 1.2.3.18
- — Version 1.2.3.17 Compatibility update for WordPress 6.9. 1.2.3.17
- — Version 1.2.3.16 Force the approval prompt during authorization. 1.2.3.16
Security history
via Wordfence IntelligenceThe 1 disclosed vulnerability is patched in the current version (1.2.3.22). Sites still on an older version should update.
Vulnerability records provided by Wordfence Intelligence. Copyright 2012-2026 Defiant Inc. License and terms.
CVE records: Copyright 1999-2026 The MITRE Corporation. CVE terms of use.
Behavioral tests
via WP HiveAutomated install-time checks, tested on PHP 8.1.12 · WP 7.0
Languages
via translate.wordpress.orgTranslated into 64 languages, 7 at 90% or more
Plus 40 more locales with partial translations.
AI assistants
How it's measured →Whether ChatGPT and Claude name this plugin when asked the category question, and whether the readme gives them something to quote.
Not measured yet for this plugin’s topics. Its tracked searches are not among the measured topics. See the topics measured so far.
Readme readiness
6 of 8 pass · checked 28 Oct 2026Can an assistant quote this readme? Eight deterministic checks over the wp.org listing, no model involved.
- ✓ Says what it does "Connect to Gmail SMTP server to automatically send email from your WordPress site. Configure wp_mail() to u..."
- ✓ Has a FAQ 6 questions in the FAQ.
- ✓ FAQ asks real questions 6 of 6 read like questions a user would type.
- ! Names who it is for Never says who the plugin is for or what they use it for.
- ! Names what it works with Names no plugin, service or platform it works with.
- ✓ Headings and lists 7 headings and 7 lists.
- ✓ Enough to quote 4,128 characters of description.
- ✓ Tags match the text All 5 tags appear in the text.
Growth timeline
Install-tier crossings we have observed, and how long each tier took to outgrow
- 2023-12-21 20K+ → 10K+ down after 2 days in tier
- 2023-12-19 10K+ → 20K+ up after 1 days in tier
- 2023-12-18 20K+ → 10K+ down after 1153 days in tier
- 2020-10-21 30K+ → 20K+ down after 489 days in tier
- 2019-06-20 20K+ → 30K+ up after 714 days in tier
- 2017-07-06 10K+ → 20K+ up after 95 days in tier
- 2017-04-02 9K+ → 10K+ up after 175 days in tier
- 2016-10-09 300+ → 9K+ up after 282 days in tier
Competes with
The plugins that solve the same job, ranked by shared tags then reach, closest match first. The letter on the right is each plugin's health grade (A best, F worst).
-
WP Mail SMTP by WPForms – SMTP for Reliable Email Delivery with Gmail, Outlook, Amazon SES, Brevo, Other SMTP & More 4M+ installs · 4.8★ · 3 shared tags A -
Easy WP SMTP – WordPress SMTP and Email Logs: Gmail SMTP, Office 365, Outlook, Custom SMTP, and more 500K+ installs · 4.6★ · 3 shared tags A -
SMTP Mailer 70K+ installs · 4.5★ · 3 shared tags A -
Configure SMTP 6K+ installs · 4.7★ · 3 shared tags C -
Simple SMTP 2K+ installs · 4.4★ · 3 shared tags C -
SMTP by BestWebSoft 1K+ installs · 4.2★ · 3 shared tags C
Embed this report card
Drop a live Pulse card for Gmail SMTP into a readme, a review or a deck. It updates itself.
<iframe src="https://plugins.wpmayor.com/embed/gmail-smtp" width="480" height="300" style="border:0" loading="lazy" title="Gmail SMTP — Plugin Pulse"></iframe> Gmail SMTP: 10K+ active installs, 4.1★ (103 reviews). Plugin Pulse (WP Mayor), as of 2026-10-31. https://plugins.wpmayor.com/plugin/gmail-smtp
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