Hosting & Domaining Forum

Hosting Discussion => Web Hosting => Topic started by: Term on Aug 07, 2022, 12:07 PM

Title: The forum needs external SMTP service. Advise?
Post by: Term on Aug 07, 2022, 12:07 PM
In order to operate the forum, it is necessary to have an SMTP service, which can be either paid or free. The number of daily emails sent, such as registration confirmations and notifications, is quite limited, not exceeding 5000 in my opinion.
Title: Re: The forum needs an external SMTP service. Advise?
Post by: Newport on Aug 07, 2022, 12:46 PM
I would suggest trying out Mailgun (https://www.mailgun.com/) as a service provider. They offer a free trial allowing you to send up to 5000 emails within the first month, after which they will require payment for continued use.

Based on my understanding, they offer standard levels of service, and even promise an SLA (service level agreement), which is reassuring. One thing worth considering is whether 5000 emails per day are needed, as the free trial may not be sufficient for high volume email senders.

It's always wise to research and compare various email service providers before making a final decision, as each service has its unique features and limitations.
Title: Re: The forum needs an external SMTP service. Advise?
Post by: Ali_Pro on Aug 08, 2022, 12:53 AM
Amazon SES is a quite economical email service. Sending from almost any application. Setup is fast, supports: sending transactions, marketing emails, mass mailings.
Email authentication capability, sender reputation protection.
SPF, DKIM, all these are there. Full GDPR compliance, which is important.
The analytics were pretty good, too.

Try it. (https://aws.amazon.com/ses/?nc1=h_lsnc1=h_ls)
Title: Re: The forum needs an external SMTP service. Advise?
Post by: Mark Walker on Aug 08, 2022, 03:10 AM
It is strange that this question is raised, although probably not everyone knows that there are many SMTP services that do not charge a cent for their services (of course there are restrictions), as well as many quality services with a minimum payment.
One of them is Google SMTP. There is a limit in letters - 5000 for 24 hours. Amazon also has a free feature - 64000 (then $0.10 for 1k emails).
Of the paid ones, I would single out Moosend ($9) and Mailchimp ($20 for every 500k emails per month).
Title: Re: The forum needs an external SMTP service. Advise?
Post by: -DM- on Aug 08, 2022, 04:12 AM
Quote from: Newport on Aug 07, 2022, 12:46 PMTry this service.

Used mailgan for several years, no questions about reliability/deliverability. There were downtime (allegedly lying under DDoS), but not critical - a day or two in 3-4 years.

What bothers me is their Soft/Hard Bounce, subsequent blocking and imposing e-mail validation service. The problem is that it is impossible to validate mailboxes on some European mail services - all requests for existence get a positive response, even if the box really does not exist. And since I have them accumulated a total of about 40%, and the rejection rate is very high, respectively, exceeding the "rebound" and blocking. Unblocking only by letter within a few days.

As a result, for European users do not advise.
Title: Re: The forum needs an external SMTP service. Advise?
Post by: Ali_Pro on Aug 08, 2022, 06:41 AM
Quote from: Mark Walker on Aug 08, 2022, 03:10 AMOne of them is Google SMTP. There is a limit in letters - 5000 for 24 hours.

You're not quite right.
Google Workspace has limitations for the free version. And they don't meet the desired criteria (5000 posts per day) set by the topicstarter.
You can read more about the restrictions that apply to the free and paid versions of Google Workspace at: link (https://support.google.com/a/answer/166852?hl=en)

It should be noted that Google Workspace will need to be worked with via API.
Create a project in the Google Cloud Console, activate the application in it, and play with the settings. It's long and complicated.
gclodp2022-08-08.png
Sending via ordinary SMTP Gmail to a simple user with OAuth authorization, even if there were no limitations, would be very harmful. Both in terms of possible crashes and security.
But there are restrictions, and they are unacceptable.

sendgrid / elasticemails / sendpulse all have free plans.
Title: Re: The forum needs an external SMTP service. Advise?
Post by: _AnnA_ on Aug 08, 2022, 07:21 AM
The free rate from SMTP.bz is great for you
Try it for a month or two. Will 15000 emails be enough for you?
There is, however, a limit on sending per hour. They allow up to 50 mails.
I don't think you will get to 5000 letters at once.
If you don't have enough you can subscribe to a different plan. The prices (https://smtp.bz/price) are all right.
Title: Re: The forum needs an external SMTP service. Advise?
Post by: minhtuyen19091 on Oct 13, 2022, 03:20 AM
Is there a way to verify the accessibility of an external SMTP server, such as Google's aspmx.l.google.com, and if so, how can this be done? I attempted to use the net.tcp.service[smtp,aspmx.l.google.com] method, but it returned 0 indicating that it did not reach the server or receive a response.

On the other hand, using Putty, the connection from my computer to the server works fine. Furthermore, the net.tcp.service[smtp] function successfully connects to the SMTP server registered in the Zabbix settings (Configuration -> Services -> Email), and receives a response.

However, when attempting to ping any external server from our server, it fails. Is using an external check, such as a separate script, the only possible solution to this problem?

It is important to investigate any connectivity issues thoroughly and explore all possible solutions when working with SMTP servers. I suggest consulting with a network administrator or researching online forums for similar issues and their resolutions.
Title: Re: The forum needs external SMTP service. Advise?
Post by: Marker on Sep 03, 2023, 02:10 AM
There are both paid and free options available, depending on your requirements and budget. As for the number of daily emails sent, if it doesn't exceed 5000, there are several SMTP service providers that can handle this volume without any issue. It's always a good idea to check with the service provider to confirm their limitations and ensure they can support your needs.

When choosing an SMTP service for your forum, there are a few factors to consider:

1. Reliability: Look for a service that guarantees high deliverability rates and has a good reputation for reliable email delivery.

2. Scalability: Ensure that the SMTP service can handle the volume of emails you anticipate sending, especially if your forum grows in size.

3. Security: Consider the security measures implemented by the SMTP service provider to protect your emails and users' data.

4. Support: Check if the service offers 24/7 customer support to assist with any issues or questions you may have.

5. Pricing: Compare the pricing plans of different SMTP services, considering both free and paid options, and evaluate their value for the features and resources they provide.


When looking for an external SMTP service, there are several reputable options available. Here are a few popular ones that you can consider:

1. SendGrid: SendGrid is known for its reliable email delivery and scalability. It offers a range of features like email analytics, SMTP relay, and API integration. They have both free and paid plans depending on your needs.

2. Mailgun: Mailgun provides a powerful email API and SMTP service. It offers features like email tracking, analytics, suppression lists, and custom domains. They offer flexible pricing plans based on email volume.

3. SparkPost: SparkPost provides a cloud-based SMTP service with high deliverability rates. It includes features like real-time analytics, A/B testing, and recipient validation. They offer a free plan for lower email volumes.

4. Amazon SES (Simple Email Service): Amazon SES is a highly scalable and cost-effective SMTP service provided by Amazon Web Services. It offers features like email sending statistics, dedicated IP addresses, and domain reputation monitoring.

5. Mailchimp: While primarily known as an email marketing platform, Mailchimp also provides an SMTP service. It offers features like list management, segmentation, and campaign reporting. They have both free and paid plans depending on your requirements.

6. Postmark: Postmark is known for its focus on transactional emails and high deliverability rates. It offers features like detailed message tracking, bounce management, and webhook support. They have a pay-as-you-go pricing model based on the number of emails sent.

7. Elastic Email: Elastic Email is a cloud-based email delivery platform that offers an SMTP service. It provides features like API integration, email marketing tools, and advanced analytics. They have both free and paid plans based on email volume.

8. Mandrill: Mandrill is an SMTP service provided by Mailchimp. It offers advanced tracking, custom metadata, and personalized content. Note that starting from April 2022, Mandrill will only be available to existing customers who had an account prior to the change.

9. SMTP2GO: SMTP2GO is a reliable and scalable SMTP service that offers features like real-time analytics, IP reputation management, and advanced delivery controls. They have flexible pricing plans based on email volume.

10. SocketLabs: SocketLabs provides an SMTP service with a focus on high deliverability rates and email performance. It offers features like real-time alerts, bounce management, and recipient validation. They have various pricing plans to suit different needs.

11. Mailjet: Mailjet offers an SMTP service with features like email personalization, segmentation, and real-time monitoring. It provides advanced deliverability tools and an intuitive user interface. They have free and paid plans based on the number of emails sent.

12. Pepipost: Pepipost is an SMTP service known for its high deliverability rates and robust email infrastructure. It offers features like template management, open/click tracking, and analytics. They have flexible pricing plans based on email volume.

13. MailerLite: While primarily known as an email marketing platform, MailerLite also offers an SMTP service. It provides features like drag-and-drop email editor, subscriber management, and automation workflows. They have competitive pricing plans based on the number of subscribers.

14. Mailtrap: Mailtrap is a specialized SMTP service designed for email testing and development environments. It allows you to test your emails in a safe sandbox environment without sending them to real recipients. They offer a free plan for limited usage.

15. DynaDot: DynaDot is primarily a domain registration and hosting provider but also offers an SMTP service. It provides a simplified email sending solution with easy setup and configuration. They have affordable pricing plans based on email volume.

16. Smtp.com: Smtp.com is an SMTP service that offers a range of features including secure email delivery, compliance tools, and real-time reporting. They provide custom pricing plans tailored to your specific needs.

17. Mailgun: Mailgun is a popular SMTP service known for its reliable email delivery infrastructure. It offers features like advanced email tracking, analytics, and webhook integration. They have flexible pricing plans based on email volume.

18. Postmark: Postmark is an SMTP service that focuses on transactional emails. It provides features like detailed delivery tracking, bounce management, and reputation monitoring. Postmark offers a straightforward pricing structure based on the number of emails sent.

19. AuthSMTP: AuthSMTP is an SMTP service that emphasizes security and deliverability. It offers features like DKIM signing, TLS encryption, and strict compliance with email sending policies. AuthSMTP has different pricing plans depending on your email sending volume.

20. G Suite SMTP: If you are already using G Suite for your domain's email, you can utilize their SMTP service for sending emails. It allows you to send emails through your existing G Suite account. This option is convenient if you are already using G Suite for other purposes.

21. PepPost: PepPost is an SMTP service that focuses on high deliverability rates and advanced email tracking. It offers features like real-time analytics, bounce management, and dedicated IP addresses. PepPost offers flexible pricing plans based on email volume.

22. SocketLabs: SocketLabs is an SMTP service known for its high deliverability rates and advanced email delivery infrastructure. It offers features like real-time alerts, recipient validation, and bounce management. SocketLabs provides different pricing plans based on your email sending needs.

23. Elastic Email: Elastic Email is an SMTP service that offers robust email delivery infrastructure and advanced features. It provides features like API integration, campaign tracking, and detailed reporting. Elastic Email offers flexible pricing plans based on email volume.

24. Mailjet: Mailjet is an SMTP service that focuses on email deliverability and personalization. It offers features like contact segmentation, A/B testing, and event tracking. Mailjet provides different pricing plans based on the number of emails sent.

25. Mailgun: Mailgun is a reliable SMTP service known for its high deliverability rates and powerful email sending infrastructure. It offers features like email tracking, analytics, and advanced routing options. Mailgun provides flexible pricing plans based on email volume.

26. Amazon SES (Simple Email Service): Amazon SES is a scalable and cost-effective SMTP service provided by Amazon Web Services. It offers features like email sending statistics, bounce handling, and content filtering. Amazon SES has different pricing tiers based on the number of emails sent.

27. Sendinblue: Sendinblue is an all-in-one marketing platform that offers an SMTP service for transactional emails. It provides features like automation workflows, contact management, and detailed reporting. Sendinblue offers flexible pricing plans based on the number of emails sent.

28. Dyn Email Delivery: Dyn Email Delivery is an SMTP service that focuses on high email deliverability and reliability. It offers features like real-time analytics, automated list hygiene, and dedicated IP addresses. Dyn has different pricing plans based on email volume.

29. PostUp: PostUp is an email marketing platform that also offers SMTP services for transactional emails. It provides features like automation, personalization, and advanced analytics. PostUp offers flexible pricing plans based on your email sending needs.

30. Moosend: Moosend is an all-in-one marketing platform that includes an SMTP service for transactional emails. It offers features like email automation, segmentation, and real-time analytics. Moosend has flexible pricing plans based on the number of subscribers.

31. Mailfence: Mailfence is primarily known as a secure email provider but also offers an SMTP service. It focuses on data privacy and encryption, ensuring secure email delivery. Mailfence has various pricing plans based on your email sending requirements.

32. Zoho Mail: Zoho Mail is a comprehensive email hosting solution that includes an SMTP service. It offers features like custom domain email, collaboration tools, and secure email delivery. Zoho Mail has pricing plans based on the number of users.