An email is essential for everyone—individuals, startups, and companies alike. Because every group has different demands, there are multiple email services available. Email marketing is a necessary, practical, and advantageous tool for organizations and consumers. 

Minimize marketing expenses if you want to earn more income. This means that email expense and resource requirements must also be kept to a minimum. For you to send emails, an SMTP server is needed. 

Whether sending transactional emails, email newsletters, marketing campaigns, or even just a simple welcome message, it can easily handle large volumes of sending. But for it to function correctly, a robust infrastructure must exist. 

Fortunately, this task is affordable for everyone since numerous free SMTP server service providers are available. These can be pretty helpful for people who have deliverability problems or cannot use the SMTP server that their ISP offers.

Thankfully, free SMTP servers from most email service providers (ESPs) are an ideal place to start. Upgrade to the premium plans as your company expands to increase your infrastructure. 

In this piece, we will examine a few of the top Free SMTP server providers, outline their services, and use Google’s Free SMTP as an example to show how SMTP functions. Are you eager to uncover the hidden gem of free SMTP server information? You’ll be glad you stuck around to see the finish. Let’s dive straight in!

SMTP Server: What is it?

Email transmission happens via SMTP or Simple Mail Transfer Protocol. The email protocol used for sending and receiving is TCP/IP. Typically, users utilize a service that uses the POP3/IMAP Protocol to receive email and the SMTP protocol to send it.

This results from SMTP’s restricted capacity to queue messages at the recipient end.

Around the world, email providers and hosting companies employ the SMTP protocol. Custom SMTP servers are subject to the regulations that each host sets. Some only allow their mail servers to be SMTP servers. 

These actions limit your capacity to switch to the SMTP providers of your choice. If you feel compelled to use such a host, you might want to move to a more flexible one.

Like any internet infrastructure, the world of SMTP server services is vast and varied. There are some high-end choices accessible. A few even provide free access.

However, the ones we’re reviewing are on par with premium options and can be quite helpful for new companies and smaller enterprises that send out fewer emails. You should try the excellent plan once your email flow picks up.

You may depend on these services because they are all supported by a sizable infrastructure. Let’s first evaluate the importance of SMTP before moving on to the list of the top contenders for free SMTP server providers available presently.

Why Is SMTP Required?

Let’s say you want to send a message to a different computer but send it in another format each time. If other random techniques are employed to convey the message each time, this will be confusing, and the decoding process will be laborious. 

We therefore require a clear standard. Email works similarly in this regard. An email is a message that is sent between computers or, more accurately, between servers. All email service providers must utilize an agreed-upon protocol to standardize email sending between servers. This is known as SMTP or the Simple Mail Transfer Protocol. Got the idea?

Let’s now speak in technical terms. Messages are sent from an email client to an email server via SMTP. Message delivery protocols used are POP and IMAP. To give you an idea, about 80% of emails are spam. Various tactics are used by email providers to combat this threat. 

Determining if the email is coming from a reliable SMTP server is one of the most essential techniques. If not, there’s a good chance your email will get in the Spam Folder, where it will never be read by the recipient and negate the whole point of sending it in the first place.

The most crucial aspect of any email conversation is guaranteeing email deliverability. If your email is never delivered or is in the spam bin, what good is it? Using a trustworthy email delivery service is necessary for this. Beyond that, you can improve email deliverability by using these suggestions.

Some of the best SMTP servers that provide some of their services for free have been reviewed by us. As a result, you can use these free SMTP servers with certainty regarding delivery and dependability.

1. Amazon SES

A sophisticated SMTP interface is offered to users via the cloud-based platform Amazon SES (Simple Email Service). You can combine Amazon with your email program, application, etc., by using the SMTP service. 

An essential component of any free SMTP relay server is the ability to monitor activity and reputation, which Amazon SES provides. Amazon SES is a neat free SMTP choice to finish your task quickly but it has limitations.

Sixty-two thousand emails per month from apps hosted on Amazon EC2 or using AWS Lambda are provided for free.

Key Features:

• Excellent email deliverability that supports the most widely used authentication techniques, including DKIM, DMARC, and SPF
• There are many possibilities for configuring the sender (Amazon console, Amazon SES API)
• The reputation dashboard has information on spam trap hits, prohibited sites, and delivery rates.
• Many free emails to get you going

Pricing: You can send up to 62,000 emails each month with the Free Usage Tier, after which you will be charged $0.10 for each additional 1,000 emails. Additionally, each gigabyte of attachments you send costs $0.12.

2. SendGrid

A platform for marketing automation called SendGrid offers both premium and free SMTP server capability. You can reliably send transactional messages over SendGrid’s global network. 

Aside from that, you can access solid tools for delivery optimization, like suppression management and tailored DKIM. Overall, even though SendGrid’s Email sending capacity is somewhat constrained, it provides an excellent email service.

One hundred emails a day are included in Sendgrid’s free plan.

Key Features:

• Testing emails with dynamic templates
• Simple setup procedures and integration make it easy to get started sending transactional emails.
• SMTP relay optimized for developers

Pricing: A very restricted free plan has no expiration date. Up to 50,000 emails are included in paid plans, starting at $19.95 monthly. You’ll need to pay $89.95/month for the Pro plan to get additional features and a dedicated IP.

3. Sendpulse

Another tool for email marketing and transactional communications is SendPulse. It offers an SMTP server for all kinds of electronic mail. It can be effortlessly integrated with your app or other system to enable free, fast, secure transactional email sending. SendPulse provides 12,000 emails for free each month! 

Key Features:

• Excellent deliverability because of reputable senders via APIs and webhooks
• Email template maker with SPF and DKIM security
• Reports on delivery as well as open and click tracking 
• Discontinue the monitoring 
• Paid dedicated IP

Pricing: As stated, you receive 12,000 complementary transactional emails every month. If you need more, you can buy a subscription plan (Basic, Pro, or Enterprise) or pay for more emails (10,000 emails for $12.22, for example). 

4. Elastic Email

Elastic Email is a technology for email marketing, automation, SMTP service, and verification. Use your preferred app to begin sending transactional and marketing emails.

Since 2010, they have operated with over 30,000 companies, such as BrightMetrics, TedX, and Poptin.

Key Features:

• Simple SMTP relay configuration
• Up to 15 SMTP credentials can be stored per account, and 11 programming languages are supported to guarantee integration with nearly any software.
• Email delivery that is dependable and quick.

Pricing: There are two price tiers for Elastic Email. The Email API package costs $0.5 daily and $0.1/1000 emails. An editor for landing pages and an email designer are also included in this plan. For every 1000 emails, the Email API Pro plan costs $0.15 plus $1 per day. 

5. Moosend

Moosend is a highly recommended email marketing automation software. The service provides advanced features and responsive newsletter templates to help you grow your business upon signup.

Moosend is an ESP (Email Service Provider), so it makes sense to use its SMTP protocol. Using the user-friendly SMTP service, you may send invoices, password reset messages, and order and account confirmations.

Register here to begin your email marketing adventure and take advantage of a premium yet affordable service. Emails are not free, but they are unlimited with a subscription service.

Key Features:

• Robust tracking and analytics platform ideal for performance monitoring
• Excellent IP protection as a result of superior IPs and infrastructure
• Easy integration with WordPress websites

Pricing: The SMTP server is not included in the free trial. However, subscription plans with email marketing tools arm up to $9/month (see all price options here).

Also Read: Unlock The Power Of Newsletters: Inspiring Examples To Boost Your Email Marketing!

6. Google

Google‘s accessible SMTP server is one of the most well-liked choices for people looking to send their first transactional emails. To utilize the service, all you need is a Gmail account. 

The company’s worldwide infrastructure promotes simplicity and ease of use while minimizing disruptions. For Gmail users, Google’s free SMTP service provides excellent email deliverability, ensuring your emails don’t end up in the spam bin.

Free emails: During the 14-day free trial, Google SMTP offers 500 emails every 24 hours.

Key Features:

• You can deliver and receive emails to your Gmail account using numerous email addresses. For example, you can use Gmail to send bulk emails and add your company email address as a custom domain name.
• Excellent delivery of emails.

Pricing: A 14-day trial of Google’s free SMTP server solution is available. You will need to subscribe to a Google Workspace premium plan, which starts at $6 monthly. If so, you can send up to 2000 emails daily.

7. Brevo

One of the most well-known email service providers is Brevo. You can use various marketing channels on the site, including live chats, SMS, Email, and advertising.

Brevo’s relay service infrastructure is built with dependability and speed in mind. 

The company claims that within 20 seconds, 99.8% of emails received through their network are delivered.

Key Features:

• Flexible API: Use its responsive API to create personalized and dynamic email messages.
• Real-time statistics availability: Your email reporting will always be close at hand. Effectively track indicators such as deliverability, click-through rate, open rate, and so on.
• Easy integration: Easily connect with the platforms and tools of your choice. These consist of WordPress, Prestashop, Shopify, and WooCommerce.

Pricing: Freemium model; Starter at $25/month; Business at $65; Brevo Plus at custom pricing

8. SMTP2GO

With the help of SMTP2GO, you can easily set up and manage your outgoing emails. This supplier of email delivery services is trustworthy.

In addition, even during an internet failure, you can be sure that your email messages will get delivered thanks to a redundant multi-data center infrastructure.

Features:

• An intuitive API: Utilizing APIs might be challenging due to their complexity. However, SMTP2GO takes care of this by creating an API that developers and marketers can efficiently utilize.
• Option for advanced email testing: You can use SMTP2GO to validate emails using DKIM and SPF. Ensure your emails clear spam filters by viewing how they look in over 40 email clients. 

Pricing: Free; Starter at $10/month; Professional at $75/month

9. SMTP.com

SMTP.com offers developers and marketers an SMTP email relay service. It has been serving more than 100,000 enterprises for more than 20 years.

Send transactional and marketing emails with it, including email notifications, order confirmations, win-back campaigns, registration emails, progress updates, and authentication emails.

Key Features:

• Before sending, the SMTP reputation defender filters incorrect email addresses. This maintains your domain and IP reputation high and your list healthy.
• Support staff: The support staff comprises seasoned email delivery specialists with decades of combined experience.
• Never be concerned about sending too many emails. Continue sending emails if you exceed your monthly allotment; SMTP.com will bill you for the additional emails in the subsequent billing cycle.
• Twelve apps—including Shopify, WordPress, Trello, Wufoo, and more—integrate with 
• SMTP.com.

Pricing: Essential at $25/month; Starter at $80/month; Growth at $300/month; Business at $500/month; Custom quote for high volume senders.

10. Mailersend

A drag-and-drop email builder is included with Mailersend, a transactional email service. It allows everyone on your team to collaborate and participate in email marketing.

Blacklists, bounce rates, and spam traps may all be avoided with Mailersend. Employ it to safeguard the sender’s reputation through the use of DKIM, DMARC, and SPF security protocols.

Key Features:

• Simple API integration to begin sending deliverable emails right away
• Personalized email templates to cultivate one-on-one connections with clients
• Numerous email analytics options to fine-tune and manage your email performance
• Simple account administration that fosters teamwork and collaboration
• Mailersend has three different pricing options. Use the free plan, which allows you to send up to 3,000 emails a month. 

Pricing: Free; Premium at $24/month, billed yearly; Enterprise – custom

Setting Google’s Free SMTP for WordPress

WordPress allows you to send emails using Gmail. You also get the extra benefit of your emails being more durable. Additionally, there’s a lower chance that your email will get in the spam bin or be blocked entirely because of Google’s dependable mail server.

To configure Google SMTP in WordPress, follow these steps:

Step 1:

Install the free “Gmail SMTP” plugin on your WordPress website.

The steps to configure this plugin for Google’s Free SMTP server are listed below.

Step 2:

Activate the plugin. The configuration setting will look like this:

Step 3:

Type in the email address you wish to use to send messages. It will be necessary for you to verify your email address. After that, select “Next.”

Step 4:

The plugin automatically configures the outgoing mail server for Google.

Step 5:

In the API Library, select ‘Email’.

Enable “Gmail API’.

Step 6:

You must open a new tab and start a new Google Project. Use the Gmail account you used to log in to console.developers.google.com for this. Make a new project.

Step 7: 

Click “Create” after giving your project a name.

Step 8: 

Click “Enable APIS and Services” option on the project dashboard.

Step 9: Under G Suite APIs, select “Gmail API.”

Select “Enable.”

Step 10: 

Click the “Credentials” link on the left-hand side. Go to credentials and select “OAuth client ID.”

Step 11: 

On the subsequent screen, select “Configure Consent Screen.”

Step 12:

Select “Web Application” under Application type. Enter your name (you can choose anything).

Step 13: 

After completing this, you will receive your client ID and client secret.

Step 14: 

Copy and paste these into the appropriate Post SMTP Wizard areas. Click “Finish” after selecting “Next.”

Step 15: 

Open the Google Developer Console and add your domain.

Step 16: 

On the ensuing page, select Add domain.

Sending An Email Test

Try sending a test email to ensure everything operates as it should.

Setting SMTP for Custom Domain In Gmail

Configuring Gmail’s SMTP for a Custom Domain

Gmail can also send and receive emails from a custom domain. Your emails can be indexed and stored by Google. This saves a ton of time and irritation by making it simple to search within emails. 

If your domain is unique, you can use Google’s free SMTP server by connecting it to Gmail. In this manner, all your emails from your custom domain will be routed to your Gmail account, allowing you to keep using it. 

Additionally, you can send emails that appear to be sent from your domain rather than ones that Gmail forwarded to you. The actions that you must take are as follows:

Step 1: Go To Google Domains With Your Custom Domain

Email forwarding is included with Google domains at no additional cost. There is no cost associated with the transfer. You will only be required to pay for an extra year of service. For instance, the domain [email protected] is about to expire in 2019. If you switch to Google Domains after you pay for the service, your domain will expire in 2020. Additionally, the prices are reasonable and competitive.

Step 2: Configure Google Domains – Email Forwarding

We can configure email forwarding after the domain is successfully migrated to Google. To access Google Domains, you must log in. Choose the custom domain’s email icon.

Step 3: Using Google SMTP to Send Email

Let’s look at sending the email now that we have taken care of getting emails into your Gmail account. To do this, simply follow these 5 steps:

    1. Turn on two-step verification first.

On your Gmail account, you must enable two-step verification. This step is necessary; otherwise, you will receive an incorrect password error.

     2. Establish a password for the app:

You must set up a password for the app. As you create your App Password, select “Other” and give it a name. Passwords will be created as a result. This should be put away for later.

     3. Include a different email address than the one you use.

Access Gmail and click on Settings. Decide to use “Accounts and Imports.” A choice to “Add Another Email Address You Own” will appear. When you click on it, a dialog window will appear.

      4. Adding email and a custom domain

Proceed to modify the SMTP server to smtp.gmail.com and provide your Gmail username and email address. Enter the App Password that you previously generated in the password field.

      5. Confirmation

An email confirmation code will now be delivered to the email address you filled in in Step 4. This is to confirm that the account belongs to you. You can either choose to enter the code manually or click the confirmation link. You are now ready to go.

We have successfully configured Google’s Free SMTP server for WordPress and custom domains. A list of more Free SMTP providers is also provided. I hope you find this essay to be helpful. Have you tried any of these service providers? Which one is your favorite? Please inform us in the comments. Did you find the Google Free SMTP user guide to be helpful? Have you discovered a fresh service supplier? Please let us know about it.

Conclusion

Select the free SMTP servers that give the best delivery rates, scalable infrastructure, and minimal to no downtime from our list of options. The free choices offer an excellent way to try email providers and see which would work best for your company in the long run.

I hope this simple guide on the best free SMTP servers proves helpful for you in making the right choice for your business. Feel free to ask any questions in the comments below; I will happily reply to those.

FAQs

Can I set up my own SMTP server?

Several open-source SMTP server options are available to assist you in setting up your server. hMailServer, iRedMail, SendMail SMTP, and PostFix SMTP are a few of these options.

It takes more than installing software and entering the necessary information to set up an SMTP server. You are placing your bet on the infrastructure for the success of your campaign. Thus, you must ensure that you do it correctly.

Gain a strong foundation by comprehending the following ideas underlying the setup of SMTP servers:

• The SPF Policy Framework and its optimal procedures
• Mail-Transfer-Agent (MTA) -In-depth understanding of the many ISPs that are accessible
• Awareness of DomainKeys Identified Mail (DKIM) and Domain-based Message Authentication (DMARC) to safeguard your email infrastructure

Can I use Google as an SMTP server?

Indeed, Google may function as your SMTP server. You must have a premium Google account or a free Gmail address to utilize Google’s free email relay service. You can send 100 free emails daily using a free address. Getting a paid Google account costs $6 a month, which allows you to send up to 2,000 emails a day.

What function does SMTP serve in the delivery of emails?

Email transmission is mainly the responsibility of SMTP. It uses protocols like POP3 or IMAP to manage email reception. Email is sent from the sender’s mail server to the recipient’s mail server via SMTP.

What differentiates POP3/IMAP and SMTP from one another?

Emails are sent via SMTP and received via POP3 (Post Office Protocol 3) and IMAP (Internet Message Access Protocol). The outgoing email procedure uses SMTP, whereas the inbound email retrieval process uses POP3 and IMAP.

Which standard security protocols are applied over SMTP?

SMTP can employ encryption techniques like TLS (Transport Layer Security) or SSL (Secure Sockets Layer) to secure communication between the email client and the server. This shields private email information and aids in preventing unwanted access.