How to Configure Email Sending in Icegram Express

A reliable sending configuration is essential for email marketing. By default, WordPress attempts to send outgoing emails using PHP mail() via the built-in wp_mail() function.

Most web hosting providers place strict limitations or hourly throttles on PHP mail to prevent spam, and PHP mail lacks the DNS authentication records (SPF, DKIM, and DMARC) required by modern inbox providers like Gmail, Yahoo, and Outlook.

For serious newsletters and automated notifications, connecting a dedicated mailer or SMTP service is strongly recommended.

Available Mailers in Icegram Express

Depending on your Icegram Express plan, you can route your emails through:

• WordPress Default (wp_mail): Free, suitable for small personal testing lists.
• Custom SMTP Pro: Connect to any standard transactional SMTP relay or web host mailbox.
• Dedicated Cloud APIs Max:
  • Amazon SES
  • Google Workspace / Gmail API
  • SendGrid
  • Postmark
  • Mailgun
  • MailerSend
  • Mailjet
  • Brevo / Sendinblue
  • SparkPost

See the complete mailer overview for comparison and setup guides.

How Scheduled Sending and Cron Work

Icegram Express queues campaign emails and sends them in controlled batches to comply with server limits and prevent timeouts.

• WP-Cron (Free Plan): Executes only when visitors load pages on your website. If your site has irregular traffic, emails may experience delays. To ensure on-time delivery, you can configure a cPanel server cron job.
• Automated Cloud Cron Pro: Icegram’s dedicated external cron server monitors your pending queue every 5 minutes and automatically triggers delivery batches, ensuring continuous and punctual email sending without manual cron setup.