A WP Mail SMTP alternative with the email log included.
Host, port, encryption, login — the same “Other SMTP” setup you know, plus the extras most people want: an Email Test tab and an Email Log with resend. The importer reads your WP Mail SMTP settings; you re-enter the password once.
Replaced by the bundled SMTP plugin · Included free with Presscomet
Switching from WP Mail SMTP: the short version.
You get
- SMTP with SSL, TLS or automatic STARTTLS
- Force From email / name, Return-Path
- Email Test and a 30-day Email Log with resend
- Credentials from an environment variable if you prefer
Not included
- No API mailers or OAuth (Gmail, Microsoft 365, SendGrid, Mailgun, Brevo APIs…) — use the provider’s SMTP relay
- No backup connection, alerts or weekly summaries
- The encrypted SMTP password can’t be imported
WP Mail SMTP not working after a move?
SMTP problems usually come down to four things: the wrong port for the encryption (465 for SSL, 587 for TLS), a blocked outbound port at the host, a From address the provider won’t send as, or an expired password or app password.
Settings → SMTP → Email Test shows the server’s actual error, and the Email Log records every message, so you can see which emails failed and resend them once it’s fixed.
WP Mail SMTP vs Presscomet
Feature by feature, including what isn’t there. Rows describe what the bundled plugin’s code does today.
| Feature | WP Mail SMTP (free) | WP Mail SMTP Pro | Presscomet |
|---|---|---|---|
| Other SMTP | Included: Yes | Included: Yes | Included: Yes |
| Provider API mailers & OAuth | Included: Yes | Included: Yes | Not included: Not included |
| Force From email / name | Included: Yes | Included: Yes | Included: Yes |
| Test email | Included: Yes | Included: Yes | Included: Yes |
| Email log with resend | Not included: No | Included: Yes | Included: Yes, 30 days |
| Backup connection, alerts, reports | Not included: No | Included: Yes | Not included: Not included |
- Included
- Partly, or on a paid plan
- Not included
- Not needed, with the reason
WP Mail SMTP features as publicly documented; plans change. Check wpmailsmtp.com for current details.
What moves over automatically.
Everything in the “mail” and “smtp” sections of WP Mail SMTP’s settings maps across, except the password.
Imported
- From email, From name and their force flags, Return-Path
wp_mail_smtp.mail.from_emailmail.from_email_forcemail.from_namemail.return_path - Mailer, host, port, encryption, auto TLS, authentication, username
mail.mailersmtp.hostsmtp.portsmtp.encryptionsmtp.autotlssmtp.authsmtp.user
Not imported
- The SMTP password — WP Mail SMTP stores it encrypted with the old site’s keys
- API mailer settings (the log says which mailer you used)
- Email logs and reports
- WP Mail SMTP: the SMTP password is stored encrypted with the old site's keys and cannot be imported — re-enter it under Settings → SMTP.
- WP Mail SMTP: SMTP settings imported (smtp, smtp.example.com:587).
How switching works.
- 01
Check your site
Run the free site check to see which of your plugins Presscomet replaces and what needs attention.
- 02
Run the migration
Connect your WordPress site. Content, users, media and plugin settings are imported into a new Presscomet site; your live site is only read.
- 03
Review and switch
Open Settings → SMTP: General, Email Test and Email Log tabs to check the imported settings, then point your domain at the new site when you’re happy.
Where to find it: Settings → SMTP: General, Email Test and Email Log tabs.
WP Mail SMTP alternative: questions
I used the Gmail or Microsoft 365 mailer. Can I keep it?
There is no OAuth mailer. Use the provider’s SMTP settings with an app password, or a transactional email service’s SMTP relay.
Why do I need to re-enter my password?
WP Mail SMTP encrypts it with keys from the old site’s configuration, which don’t move with the content.
Can I keep credentials out of the database?
Yes. Set NEXTPRESS_SMTP_URL in the environment and the connection is read from there.
Can I keep running WP Mail SMTP instead?
No. Presscomet doesn’t run PHP, so WordPress plugins can’t be installed. The bundled SMTP plugin does the job instead, and the migration imports the settings listed above.
Does Presscomet support WooCommerce?
Not today. Presscomet is for content sites — blogs, magazines, business and documentation sites. If your site sells through WooCommerce, it isn’t a fit yet.
Related plugins and next steps
Related
- BundledSMTPRoute all site mail through SMTP or sendmail, force the From address, send test emails and keep a 30-day log with resend.
- BundledFormsContact Form 7-compatible forms with a visual builder, mail and auto-reply, uploads, spam checks and an inbox with CSV export.
- AlternativeContact Form 7 alternativeSame CF7 form-tags and shortcodes, plus a visual builder, saved messages and CSV export without Flamingo.
Move your WordPress site in one go — content, users, media and plugin settings. Free and open source; your live site is only read.
Managed hosting with backupsAll 19 bundled plugins
WP Mail SMTP is a trademark of its owner. Presscomet is not affiliated with or endorsed by it. Names are used only to describe compatibility and migration.