I had been using a premium WP SMTP plugin on my WordPress site for a long time. While it worked reasonably well, the annual renewal fee of $99 started to feel unjustified, especially given that my requirements were relatively straightforward. As my renewal date approached again, I decided to look for a cost-effective alternative that could deliver similar or better performance without the recurring expenses.
Searching for an Affordable WP SMTP Alternative
Determined to find a better solution, I began researching WP SMTP alternatives. After evaluating several plugins, Bit SMTP stood out as a highly promising one due to being completely free and open-source. Intrigued by its features and strong community feedback, I decided to give it a try, hoping to solve my email delivery issues without paying an annual fee.
Why Bit SMTP Became My Preferred WP SMTP Alternative?
As I started exploring Bit SMTP, several impressive features immediately caught my attention:
- Wide SMTP Provider Support: Bit SMTP integrates smoothly with popular SMTP services such as Gmail, Yahoo, Hotmail, Mailgun, Amazon SES, Sendgrid, Sendinblue, Outlook, and Zoho Mail.
- Strong Security Measures: It employs SSL/TLS encryption, adheres to best security practices, avoids storing SMTP passwords, and uses secure API keys.
- Easy to Use: The setup was straightforward, requiring no coding or technical expertise, making the transition effortless.
Supported SMTP Providers
Another significant advantage of Bit SMTP was its extensive compatibility with major SMTP providers:
| Provider | Host | Encryption | Port | Free Quota |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mailgun | smtp.mailgun.org | TLS | 587 | 10,000/month (3 mo) |
| Gmail | smtp.gmail.com | TLS | 587 | 10,000/month |
| Yahoo | smtp.mail.yahoo.com | SSL | 465 | – |
| Amazon SES | email-smtp.us-west-2.amazonaws.com | TLS | 587 | – |
| Sendgrid | smtp.sendgrid.net | TLS | 587 | 100/day |
| Sendinblue | smtp-relay.sendinblue.com | TLS | 587 | 300/day |
| Outlook | smtp-mail.outlook.com | TLS | 587 | – |
| Zoho Mail | smtp.zoho.com | TLS | 587 | – |
| Hotmail | smtp.live.com | TLS | 587 | – |
Setting Up Bit SMTP – Quick and Easy
The setup process was simpler than I expected:
- Created an account with my preferred SMTP provider.
- Collected SMTP credentials (Host, Encryption, Port, Username, Password).
- Installed and activated the Bit SMTP plugin on my WordPress website.
- Configured the following settings in Bit SMTP:
- Enabled SMTP
- Set ‘From’ Email & Name
- Specified Reply-To Email
- Provided SMTP Host, Port, and Encryption type
- Enabled SMTP Authentication
- Entered Username & Password
- Saved the settings and conducted a successful email delivery test.
Reliable Testing and Assurance
Bit SMTP includes a built-in email testing feature, providing me with peace of mind:
- Entered a recipient email address.
- Clearly defined an email subject for testing.
- Composed a message to confirm email delivery.
The successful test confirmed Bit SMTP’s reliability for my WordPress site.
Final Thoughts
Switching to Bit SMTP has saved me from unnecessary yearly expenses while providing robust email delivery solutions. With exceptional security, broad SMTP provider compatibility, and user-friendly setup, Bit SMTP proved to be the ideal WP SMTP alternative, ensuring my emails reach their destination efficiently and cost-effectively.
Quick Infographic About the Bit SMTP, created using my own free Article to Infographic Conversion AI Tool
