You’ve set up your WordPress site. Orders are coming in, contact forms are working, maybe even a newsletter is running… but then you realize — many of your emails never reach inboxes. Instead, they vanish into spam folders or don’t get delivered at all.
That’s because WordPress, by default, uses the PHP mail() function to send emails. And most hosting providers either block this method or fail to authenticate it properly. The result?
Poor email deliverability and frustrated customers who miss important updates.
This is where SMTP (Simple Mail Transfer Protocol) and transactional email plugins step in. By routing your emails through a trusted mailer service, they ensure proper authentication (SPF, DKIM, DMARC) and dramatically improve the chances of your messages landing in the inbox.
Two popular tools to solve this problem are Icegram Mailer (by Icegram) and WP Mail SMTP (by WPForms). Both help WordPress users send reliable emails, but they approach the solution a little differently.
In this blog, we’ll break down the features, pricing, pros, and cons of Icegram Mailer vs. WP Mail SMTP—so you can decide which one fits your needs best.
What is Icegram Mailer?
Icegram Mailer is a WordPress plugin developed by Icegram, designed to solve one of the most common problems site owners face, email deliverability. Icegram Mailer includes its own built-in email sending service. It doesn’t require any external SMTP/transactional services. A free plan includes 200 emails/month, and users can still connect external services if they wish.
At its core, Icegram Mailer works as a mail-sending plugin for WordPress, making it a reliable choice for all types of site communications. Whether it’s WooCommerce order confirmations, contact form notifications, password reset emails, or site alerts, Icegram Mailer makes sure those emails reach the recipient without fail.
Another advantage of Icegram Mailer is its seamless integration with Icegram Express. Together, they not only handle transactional emails but also allow you to run newsletters and email campaigns, making it a complete solution for businesses that want both reliability and outreach from inside WordPress.
What is WP Mail SMTP?
WP Mail SMTP, developed by the team behind WPForms, is the most widely used SMTP plugin for WordPress. Its primary goal is to make sure that every email sent from your WordPress site is properly authenticated and delivered, instead of being lost or flagged as spam.
The plugin supports direct SMTP connections as well as integrations with popular transactional email providers like Gmail, Outlook, Amazon SES, Mailgun, SendGrid, Postmark, and more. This flexibility makes it suitable for websites of all sizes, from small blogs to enterprise-level businesses.
With a large user base, frequent updates, and strong brand backing, WP Mail SMTP has become the go-to solution for improving email deliverability in WordPress. Its reliability and wide support for mailer services set it apart as one of the most trusted tools in this space.
Features comparison: Icegram Mailer vs. WP Mail SMTP
Core purpose
Icegram Mailer
Icegram Mailer is built as a WordPress-native mailer plugin. Icegram Mailer provides a native, built-in sending service (no external SMTP needed) while still supporting SMTP and APIs. The focus is on giving site owners a simple, lightweight tool that ensures reliable delivery of all WordPress emails, from WooCommerce order updates to form notifications.
WP Mail SMTP
WP Mail SMTP is designed with a singular focus—fixing WordPress email deliverability. By connecting your site to trusted mailer services via SMTP or API integrations it ensures every email is properly authenticated and sent through the right channels. Its purpose is not to send campaigns or marketing emails, but to guarantee transactional and system emails reach inboxes consistently.
Setup & configuration
Icegram Mailer
Icegram Mailer offers a guided setup wizard that walks users through the process of connecting their site to a mailer service. Icegram Mailer setup now includes an instant one-time configuration directly from the WP dashboard for its built-in service, plus optional external SMTP/API setup. The interface is kept simple, making it beginner-friendly while still flexible enough for advanced users.
WP Mail SMTP
WP Mail SMTP also includes a step-by-step setup wizard, but with broader options. It allows you to connect via standard SMTP or through dedicated API integrations with services such as Gmail, Outlook, Amazon SES, Mailgun, SendGrid, Postmark, and more. This flexibility makes it suitable for both small sites with basic needs and larger businesses requiring robust, scalable configurations.
Supported mailers
Icegram Mailer
Icegram Mailer’s primary mailer is its native built-in service (with free 200 emails/month). It also integrates with SMTP and transactional services. PHP mail fallback exists but is not recommended.
WP Mail SMTP
WP Mail SMTP provides one of the widest ranges of supported mailers in the WordPress ecosystem. In addition to custom SMTP, it offers direct API integrations with Gmail, Outlook/Office 365, Amazon SES, Mailgun, SendGrid, Postmark, SparkPost, and Zoho Mail. This extensive support makes it a flexible option for both small websites and enterprises with complex email needs.
Deliverability tools
Icegram Mailer
Icegram Mailer includes essential tools to monitor and improve deliverability. It includes detailed email analytics/stats so you can evaluate the results, and whether your campaign was successful. In case of issues, you get error tracking to quickly identify failed attempts. The plugin also allows you to send test emails, helping you verify your setup before going live.
WP Mail SMTP
WP Mail SMTP offers more advanced deliverability tools, especially in its Pro version. Features include comprehensive email logs, detailed error reports for troubleshooting, and a fallback mailer that ensures emails are sent through a backup service if the primary one fails. In addition, email tracking (Pro) provides insights into email opens and clicks, giving businesses greater control and visibility over their communications.
Extra features
Icegram Mailer
Icegram Mailer is designed with a WordPress-first approach, keeping the interface lightweight and easy to use. A key advantage is its ability to pair seamlessly with Icegram Express, allowing users to go beyond transactional emails and run email campaigns or newsletters directly from WordPress. This makes it a flexible choice for site owners who want both reliable email delivery and basic marketing capabilities without leaving their dashboard.
Icegram Mailer is also compatible with WooCommerce, MailPoet, MailChimp, FluentCRM, and others, making it broader than just Express pairing.
WP Mail SMTP
WP Mail SMTP provides several advanced features, especially in its premium plans. These include detailed email logging with export options, smart alerts to notify you when emails fail, and a white-glove setup service where experts handle the entire configuration for you. Its reporting dashboards (Pro) give deeper insights into email performance, making it particularly valuable for businesses that need robust monitoring and analytics.
Ease of use
Icegram Mailer
Icegram Mailer is a lightweight plugin with a minimal learning curve, making it easy for beginners to get started. Its straightforward interface focuses on reliability without overwhelming users with too many options. It also integrates smoothly with WordPress defaults and WooCommerce, ensuring that order emails, form notifications, and other system messages work seamlessly once configured.
It has a minimal learning curve, while also offering native sending without extra SMTP setup.
WP Mail SMTP
WP Mail SMTP offers a polished and user-friendly interface, but the setup can feel slightly more complex because of the wide range of supported mailer services and advanced configurations. While the guided wizard simplifies the process, users managing multiple providers or enterprise-level setups may need to spend more time fine-tuning settings.
This makes it a strong option for power users who need flexibility and control.
Pricing comparison
Icegram Mailer
Icegram Mailer has a free plan with 200 monthly emails via its built-in service. Higher sending limits are available on paid Icegram plans.
WP Mail SMTP
Here is the pricing structure for WP Mail SMTP:
- Pro plan: $49
- Elite plan: $99
- Developer plan: $199
- Agency Plan: $399
Check out more about WP Mail SMTP pricing here.
Pros & cons
Icegram Mailer
Pros
- ✅ Simple and lightweight – easy to set up without technical hurdles.
- ✅ Strong WordPress + WooCommerce compatibility – ensures reliable delivery of store emails, form notifications, and site alerts.
- ✅ Works smoothly with Icegram Express – unlocks the ability to run newsletters and campaigns directly from WordPress.
- ✅ Includes a free built-in sending service (200 emails/month).
Cons
- ❌ Smaller ecosystem compared to WP Mail SMTP, with fewer third-party integrations.
- ❌ Limited advanced enterprise features, which may be a drawback for larger organizations with complex requirements.
WP Mail SMTP
Pros
- ✅ Most popular and widely supported SMTP plugin, trusted by millions of WordPress sites.
- ✅ Integrates with almost every major email service, including Gmail, Outlook, Amazon SES, and more.
- ✅ Advanced features in Pro – email logs, analytics, smart alerts, and white-glove setup support.
- ✅ Pro also offers smart routing, backup SMTP, and click/open tracking.
Cons
- ❌ Premium costs can add up, especially if advanced features are required.
- ❌ May feel like overkill for smaller sites that only need a basic, free SMTP solution.
Which one should you choose?
Both plugins improve WordPress email deliverability, but the right choice depends on your site’s size and requirements.
Choose Icegram Mailer if:
- You want a simple, lightweight, WordPress-first solution that doesn’t overwhelm you with options.
- You’re already using Icegram Express for newsletters and want both transactional and campaign emails handled from one place.
- You need a free SMTP mailer that works well with WooCommerce and standard WordPress notifications.
Choose WP Mail SMTP if:
- You require enterprise-level features like detailed email logs, reporting, and fallback mailers.
- You want wide support for multiple mailer services (Gmail, Outlook, Amazon SES, Mailgun, etc.).
- You’re managing a large or complex site where advanced monitoring and scalability are important.
Conclusion
Both Icegram Mailer and WP Mail SMTP solve the same core problem—making sure your WordPress emails actually reach inboxes. WP Mail SMTP shines with its wide range of mailer integrations and advanced enterprise features, making it a solid choice for very large or complex websites.
But if you’re looking for a solution that’s simple, lightweight, and built with WordPress users in mind, Icegram Mailer is the smarter choice. It integrates seamlessly with WooCommerce for order emails, works smoothly with Icegram Express for newsletters and campaigns, and gives you everything you need to ensure reliable email delivery—without the complexity or extra cost.
For most businesses and store owners, Icegram Mailer provides exactly what’s needed: a WordPress-native mailer that just works.
FAQ
Can I use Icegram Mailer and WP Mail SMTP together on the same site?
No, it’s not recommended to use two mailer plugins at the same time. Both plugins try to control WordPress email sending, and this can cause conflicts. You should choose one plugin to handle all outgoing emails.
Do I need a paid SMTP service to use Icegram Mailer or WP Mail SMTP?
No, Icegram Mailer comes with a built-in free sending plan (200/month), so you don’t need external SMTP unless you want higher limits or another provider.
Will switching to Icegram Mailer or WP Mail SMTP fix my emails already going to spam?
Yes, in most cases. These plugins ensure your emails are authenticated correctly (SPF, DKIM, DMARC), which helps reduce spam flagging. However, your email content and domain reputation also play a role, so you should optimize those too.
Does WP Mail SMTP offer marketing or newsletter features like Icegram Mailer with Icegram Express?
No. WP Mail SMTP is designed strictly for deliverability. It doesn’t offer campaign or newsletter features. If you want both reliable email delivery and the ability to send newsletters, Icegram Mailer combined with Icegram Express gives you that all-in-one solution.
Do I still need SMTP if my web host already provides email sending?
Yes. Even if your host offers basic email sending, using SMTP with a trusted mailer service ensures much higher reliability. Many hosting servers are not optimized for deliverability and can cause your emails to end up in spam.
How much technical knowledge is required to set up Icegram Mailer compared to WP Mail SMTP?
Both plugins offer setup wizards to make the process easier. Icegram Mailer keeps things simple for WordPress users with straightforward SMTP or API setup. WP Mail SMTP offers