How to use the free Gmail SMTP server

If you have a Gmail account, you may want to use their free SMTP service. In addition to using your hosting’s portable SMTP server or other third-party email clients, you can send emails with the google smtp serveras it is reliable, safe and fast.

But not many are familiar with the Gmail SMTP server and how to use it.

In this tutorial, we will show you how to enable Google’s SMTP server from your Gmail account and your WordPress site. We’ll also walk you through setting up Gmail’s SMTP.

What is SMTP?

Simple Mail Transfer Protocol (SMTP) is a set of commands that directs the transfer of emails. When you send an email, it is forwarded from your email client (What , gmail or ) to SMTP server. The server then relays the mail to the email server of the recipient.

The recipient will receive the email once downloaded from the email server through . There are two types of SMTP servers: internal Y external.

Most hosting providers, like , offer a internal SMTP server. However, you should consider using a external SMTP serverAs the google smtp server. It offers several advantages that you may want to consider:

• Trustworthy. Google’s SMTP server does not use the to prevent spam marking. Therefore, it offers a better distribution of emails.
• Convenient. It is not necessary to configure your own outgoing mail server (if you use ).
• Sure. It requires two-factor authentication, and emails are backed up to Google servers. Also, Google requires you to have one for sending emails.

Please note that Google limits outgoing emails to for trial accounts and 2,000/day for Gmail and GSuite. Still, it’s a great deal for sites with low email volume.

How to use the Gmail SMTP server?

In this section, we’ll show you how to send email using Google’s SMTP server through a own domain through your Gmail account or with a plugin in WordPress.

Before we continue, here are the details of Google’s SMTP:

• SMTP server: smtp.gmail.com
• SMTP user: Your address complete from Gmail, such as youremail@gmail.com
• SMTP password: Your Gmail password.
• SMTP port: 465 (SSL)/587 (TLS)
• SSL/TLS: Required.

Use your own domain

If you have a custom email address, the process to connect to Gmail’s SMTP server is easy. But first, make sure you have an email address and a Gmail address.

Before continuing, you must prepare a , which will allow you to access a Google account. Remember to activate the for the Gmail account.

Once you have the google passwordaccess your gmail account or of google workspace and follow these steps:

1. Access the Setting Gmail by clicking the gear icon in the top right and then clicking See all settings.
2. Click on the tab accounts and in Add another email address.
3. A popup window will appear. Fill in the required information and press the button Next step.
4. Enter the SMTP server from Google, you gmail address and the password that you have previously created in the respective fields.
5. You will receive a verification email in you custom email address. Open it and click on the confirmation link.

And ready! Now your personalized email address has been linked with the Gmail SMTP server. You can also start sending emails from the personalized address through your Gmail account.

Use a WordPress plugin

For WordPress sites, you can use a plugin to send emails with Gmail’s SMTP server. There are a lot of SMTP plugins, but in this tutorial, we are going to show you how to use them:

1. For , access your WordPress administration panel and go to the section Plugins > Add New. Find the plugin WP Mail SMTP by WPForms and then click Install Now -> Activate.
2. go to WPMail SMTP in your WordPress dashboard and click Settings. fill in the field sender name and choose gmail in the section email service.
3. Scroll down and you will see the fields customer ID Y Secret password of client. To fill them, you have to create a Web Application in your Google account.
4. Open a new tab, go to and sign in with your Google account.
5. click on create projectcreate a project’s name and press To create.
6. Then select APIs -> Library in the left bar of the control panel. Search “Gmail API«.
7. enable the Gmail API and click Create credentials.
8. Answer the questions with the following: Gmail API -> User Data. click on Following.
   
9. will appear the OAuth consent screen. Fill in the app name with your website name, user support email, and developer contact information.
10. On the next screen, you will be able to choose the permissions that you will ask users to authorize the application. You can also do this step at another time.
11. Choose the type of applicationin this case, Web Applicationand the Customer name.
12. Scroll down and enter the Authorized JavaScript Origins. Complete this with the address of your site. Then you must enter the Authorized Redirect URIs.
13. To find them, go back to WP Mail SMTP -> Settings in your WordPress dashboard and copy the authorized redirect URI.
14. Return to the page of APIs and Servicespaste the URL into the field Authorized Redirect URI in the section Credentials. click on To create.
15. A screen will appear allowing you to download your credentials or copy them. Copy the client ID and the client secret key and paste them on the page WP Mail SMTP Settings. Don’t forget to press the button save settings.
16. Press the button “Allow the plugin to send emails using your Google account» next to section Authorization.
17. Connect your Gmail account and let your website manage it.
18. Send a test email to make sure everything is working properly. This can be done in the tab WP Mail SMTP -> Test Mail.

conclusion

An SMTP server is essential in the mail delivery process as it is responsible for transferring the emails from an email client.

That’s why using an outgoing SMTP server like Google SMTP is a great option as it provides a free and reliable solution, especially for sites with low email volume.

In this article, you have learned how to use the Gmail SMTP server in two ways: through your own domain and by using a WordPress plugin.

Do you have any questions about this topic? Share your opinion in the comments section below.

Gustavo is passionate about creating websites. He focuses on the application of SEO strategies at for Spain and Latin America, as well as the creation of high-level content. When he is not applying new WordPress tricks you can find him playing the guitar, traveling or taking an online course.