For sending automated emails from your site, you can set up an SMTP server. Here are a few popular options you might consider:

1. Gmail SMTP: Since you already have Google Workspace MX records set up, you can use Gmail's SMTP server.

   Configuration:

   • SMTP Server: smtp.gmail.com
   • Port: 587 (TLS) or 465 (SSL)
   • Username: Your full Gmail address (e.g., [email protected])
   • Password: Your Gmail password or App Password if you have 2-Step Verification enabled

2. SendGrid: A popular choice for transactional emails.

   Configuration:

   • SMTP Server: smtp.sendgrid.net
   • Port: 587 (TLS) or 465 (SSL)
   • Username: apikey
   • Password: Your SendGrid API key

3. Mailgun: Another popular service for sending automated emails.

   Configuration:

   • SMTP Server: smtp.mailgun.org
   • Port: 587 (TLS) or 465 (SSL)
   • Username: Your Mailgun SMTP login (e.g., [email protected])
   • Password: Your Mailgun SMTP password

4. Amazon SES: Suitable for high-volume email sending.

   Configuration:

   • SMTP Server: email-smtp.us-east-1.amazonaws.com (Region-specific)
   • Port: 587 (TLS) or 465 (SSL)
   • Username: Your SMTP username from SES
   • Password: Your SMTP password from SES

Setting up with Gmail SMTP

1. Enable "Less Secure App Access" or generate an App Password if you have 2FA enabled.
2. Update your site's configuration with the SMTP details.

Example Configuration for Gmail:

SMTP Server: smtp.gmail.com
Port: 587
Use TLS: Yes
Username: [email protected]
Password: your Gmail password or App Password

Example Configuration for SendGrid:

SMTP Server: smtp.sendgrid.net
Port: 587
Use TLS: Yes
Username: apikey
Password: your SendGrid API key

Choose the service that best fits your needs based on your expected email volume, budget, and specific requirements. If you're looking for a free option with low volume, Gmail SMTP can be a good starting point. For higher volume and more features, services like SendGrid, Mailgun, or Amazon SES are more appropriate.

@jake asked:

compare and contrast these on ease, price, and deliverability

Here's a comparison of Gmail SMTP, SendGrid, Mailgun, and Amazon SES based on ease of use, pricing, and deliverability:

1. Gmail SMTP

Ease of Use:

• Setup: Relatively simple if you already use Google Workspace.
• Integration: Easy to integrate with various platforms using standard SMTP configuration.

Pricing:

• Free Tier: Free for low-volume email sending, limited to 100-500 emails/day depending on your Gmail account.
• Paid Plans: Requires a Google Workspace subscription for more extensive use.

Deliverability:

• Reputation: High deliverability due to Google's strong reputation.
• Limitations: Rate limits and strict sending quotas may hinder scalability.

2. SendGrid

Ease of Use:

• Setup: Easy to set up with extensive documentation and API support.
• Integration: Simple integration with various programming languages and frameworks using SMTP or API.

Pricing:

• Free Tier: Free tier includes 100 emails/day.
• Paid Plans: Starts at $19.95/month for up to 50,000 emails. Pricing scales with usage.

Deliverability:

• Reputation: Excellent deliverability due to a strong reputation and dedicated IP options.
• Features: Advanced features like dedicated IP addresses, email analytics, and spam filtering.

3. Mailgun

Ease of Use:

• Setup: Straightforward setup with good documentation and API support.
• Integration: Supports SMTP and API integration with various platforms.

Pricing:

• Free Tier: Free tier includes 5,000 emails/month for the first 3 months.
• Paid Plans: Starts at $35/month for 50,000 emails. Pricing scales with usage.

Deliverability:

• Reputation: High deliverability with a focus on transactional emails.
• Features: Advanced features like email validation, analytics, and spam filtering.

4. Amazon SES

Ease of Use:

• Setup: More complex setup, especially for beginners.
• Integration: Requires AWS account and familiarity with AWS services. Supports SMTP and API.

Pricing:

• Free Tier: Free for the first 62,000 emails/month when sent from an Amazon EC2 instance.
• Paid Plans: $0.10 per 1,000 emails sent, plus additional charges for data transfer.

Deliverability:

• Reputation: Very high deliverability with robust infrastructure.
• Features: Advanced features like dedicated IPs, reputation dashboard, and content filtering.

Summary

Recommendation

• For simplicity and low volume: Gmail SMTP is a good choice, especially if you are already using Google Workspace.
• For a balance of ease, features, and cost: SendGrid is highly recommended due to its user-friendly setup and extensive features.
• For transactional emails and advanced features: Mailgun offers good deliverability and useful features for managing email campaigns.
• For high-volume and cost-effectiveness: Amazon SES provides a scalable and cost-effective solution, though it requires familiarity with AWS services.

Here are some SMTP servers that can be used for automated emails:

• Mailgun

  A powerful SMTP relay service that can send emails at scale. It automatically queues bulk email send-outs based on the recipient's domains and receiving guidelines.

• SendGrid

  An SMTP server that sends, receives, or relays outgoing mail between different hosts.

• Amazon SES

  An SMTP server that is part of the AWS suite of enterprise solutions. It has a robust API that integrates with other AWS products.

• SMTP2GO

  An SMTP service provider that helps you get fast delivery and good sending rates. Its systems can detect any issues that might prevent your emails from landing in your inbox.

• SparkPost

  A professionally designed SMTP service that can be used to send application's emails that directly land in customer inbox.

• MailerSend

  A free service that specializes in delivering transactional emails.

• Mailjet

  A free SMTP gateway that allows its customers to send and manage bulk emails.