Recently I was in need for SMTP plugin to configure on my sites as my server admin decided to off php mail() function and advice to use SMTP method instead. I found there are some good plugins to use. Here I am listing 5 top free SMTP mail plugins, so you can quit searching and use any one of this without any doubt. 🙂

1. Easy WP SMTP

Easy WP SMTP allows you to configure and send all outgoing emails via a SMTP server. This will prevent your emails from going into the junk/spam folder of the recipients.

easy wp smtp

2. Easy SMTP Mail

Easy SMTP Mail can help you to send emails via SMTP instead of the PHP mail() function. This plugin reconfigure’s the wp_mail() function to send SMTP Mails. The Practical use of this plugins comes when theme have a contact page, which on submit, shows you the successful message, but, still admin did not receive any email, here comes this smtp plugin which will makes your contact form workable.

There are many settings that are easy to implement within it. From the general settings, you can add a “from email address” and a “from name”. This sets the email address through which you send mails, and your name can be displayed as per your settings in the recipient’s inbox.

You can also select your SMTP host, SMTP port and set SMTP authentication, with a view to further strengthening your security by adding username and password.

easy smtp mail

3. SAR Friendly SMTP

With this plugin, you can send emails through SMTP instead of PHP mail() function. You can add the settings page to your dashboard in order to configure and modify your settings. This plugin is very easy to use and install, offering very simple configuration options used for security. You can activate it simply from the “Plugins” menu in WordPress admin panel after the successful downloading and installation.

You can set “from name” & “form email” field optionally. Note: if smtp server/hostname field is left blank, then your wp_mail() function cannot be reconfigured.

In one word, this is a very nice plugin that caters all your security needs with the utmost efficiency in a very simple way.

sar-friendly-smtp

4. WP SMTP

WP SMTP can help you to send emails via SMTP instead of the PHP mail() function. It adds a settings page in your dashboard where you can configure the email settings.

The examples given on the settings page are of great help, with which you can utilize them by clicking the corresponding icon to view. You can even set “from” field and SMTP host. However, if this field is left blank, then your wp_mail() function cannot be reconfigured.

wp smtp

5. WP Mail Bank

WP Mail Bank – PHPMailer & SMTP Mailer is a plugin that reconfigure the PHPMailer and has advanced smtp settings options and making more enhanced.

This WordPress plugin lets you customize the email details that appear on emails sent from WordPress. With this plugin you can configure your SMTP email to use instead php mail(). You can customize both (from email & from name) fields with this plugin so your users are not confused. You can also set return-path email field.

wp mail bank

In my opinion above 5 plugins are best for SMTP mail for wordpress. What is your opinion?

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Note: If you are selecting “Other”, please leave a comment with plugin name and why do you think this is the best.

WordPress is a very useful tool for programmers, web designers and other people who are less familiar with creating websites. It’s becoming more and more popular due to its convenience and diversity of services.

If you have a WordPress website, this article is just for you. It can give you an idea of how to organize events with WordPress.

Event Management

Credit: http://farm5.staticflickr.com/4099/4919659112_b9f6b0df8f_o.png

If you have ever dealt with managing events, you surely know how time-consuming this can be. The to-do list is practically endless. It may include repeating schedules, events, multiple days and tracks, multiple organizations, multiple prices and payment methods, etc. This can become a real torture for anyone.

Well, here we will show you some tricks with plugins, features and themes of WordPress that can help you organize events more easily.

Now let’s have a look at the event-management system and what features and plugins you are going to need:

Events

Of course, if you are going to manage events with WordPress your event-management tool should support events.

Registrations

If you want to make events easy for you and other people, you should allow them to register for events on the website itself. This will attract more users. Another thing to take into account, the people who register on the site should be able to have access to the information they provide and the events they join.

Event taxonomies 

Using taxonomies will help keep events in good order. How is it done? By separating events from other content on the site by means of tags and categories.  This is very useful especially if most of the content on the site is not Web development based. So use separate taxonomies for the events you provide online.

Payment gateways

Providing payment gateways online is another great way to make your site a favourite place for many users. Not to mention, it makes it easier. If you are wondering what payment feature to choose for your site, make sure you pick up the one that accepts the highest number of payment methods.

Sponsors

Normally, big events have sponsors. The latter usually provide financial assistance and in return require that website owners place their company logos at different places on the site. Having a sponsors feature is just the thing you need in this case. With it you are going to be able to add logos, descriptions and names of the sponsors that contribute to your events.

Participating organizations

Just like sponsors, other participants in the various events you may be hosting are  companies. For this reason, you are going to need a plugin or feature that will help you attach organizations to events.

Multiple day events

Sometimes events last longer than a day and splitting them is a great way to organize things. That’s why you need a multiple day events feature that will help you out. Also, you should be able to control everything from an administration section.

Notification management

Two types of notifications may occur on a website: on-site notifications and email messages. On-site notifications appear to users when they have a problem registering or when they have successfully paid for a ticket, for example. It is very useful to have a plugin that will make it easier for you to manage notifications.

There is a number of other tools and features of WordPress that are not for free, however. If money is not a problem for you, you may also want to try Events Manager, Events Planner and Event Espresso. Otherwise, if you have a budget to stick to, have in mind the plugins and features mentioned above.

Author Bio: Rose Finchley loves to write about Internet. She currently works as a manager of http://www.perfectcleaning.org.uk  and she has a lot of experience to share with her readers.