Description
DevBrothers SMTP reroutes the standard WordPress mailer (wp_mail) through your own SMTP server instead of the unreliable PHP mail() function. It configures the PHPMailer instance bundled with WordPress on the phpmailer_init hook, so every plugin and theme that calls wp_mail() benefits automatically.
This plugin focuses on a simple, privacy-friendly setup for Russian mail providers and small sites. All core features are free — no premium tier, no upsells, no external email APIs.
Key Features
- One-click presets — Yandex Mail and Mail.ru (host, port, SSL) filled in automatically
- Custom SMTP — manual host, port, TLS or SSL, optional authentication
- Custom sender — optional From email and From name, with a force option
- Test email — one-click send to verify settings
- Delivery log — last 200 messages with sent/failed status and error text (free; many competitors charge for this)
- Secure password — optional
DBSMTP_PASSWORDconstant inwp-config.phpinstead of the database - DevBrothers Admin Panel — settings inside the unified DevBrothers interface
Requirements
- WordPress 5.8+
- PHP 7.4+
- DevBrothers Admin Panel (required dependency)
External services
This plugin sends email through an SMTP server that you configure in the settings. No email is sent to DevBrothers or any service we operate.
Your SMTP server
When SMTP delivery is enabled, WordPress emails (recipients, subject, body, attachments, and headers) are transmitted to the host, port, and account you specify. The plugin does not connect to a fixed third-party provider — you choose the server (for example Yandex Mail, Mail.ru, your hosting provider, or another SMTP service).
Authentication credentials (username and password) are stored in your WordPress database or in the DBSMTP_PASSWORD constant in wp-config.php. They are used only to connect to your configured SMTP server.
- Service provider: defined by you (the site administrator)
- Terms and privacy: depend on your chosen SMTP provider
Local delivery log
The plugin stores a log of sent and failed messages (recipient, subject, status, error text) in a database table on your site. This data is not transmitted to DevBrothers or any external service.
Installation
- Install and activate DevBrothers Admin Panel from WordPress.org (or install it when prompted).
- Install and activate DevBrothers SMTP.
- Go to DevBrothers SMTP.
- Choose Yandex Mail, Mail.ru, or Custom server, enter your credentials, and save.
- Send a test email to verify the configuration.
FAQ
-
How do I set up Yandex Mail?
-
Select Yandex Mail in the provider dropdown. Use your full Yandex email as the username. If two-factor authentication is enabled, create an app password in your Yandex ID settings. The From address should match your mailbox.
-
How do I set up Mail.ru?
-
Select Mail.ru in the provider dropdown. Use your full Mail.ru email as the username. If two-factor protection is enabled, use an app-specific password. The From address should match your mailbox.
-
Where do I store the SMTP password securely?
-
You can define a constant in
wp-config.phpinstead of storing the password in the database:define('DBSMTP_PASSWORD', 'your-smtp-password');When this constant is defined, the password field in the settings is hidden and the constant value is used.
-
My emails go to spam. What should I check?
-
Make sure your sending domain has valid SPF, DKIM and DMARC records, and that the From address matches your SMTP account.
-
Why is DevBrothers Admin Panel required?
-
DevBrothers SMTP registers its settings page inside the DevBrothers admin UI. Install Admin Panel from WordPress.org first.
-
Does this plugin work when SMTP is disabled?
-
Yes. When the SMTP toggle is off, WordPress uses its default mail transport and this plugin does not alter PHPMailer settings.
-
Is everything really free?
-
Yes. SMTP configuration, presets, test email, delivery log, and wp-config password support are included at no cost. There is no premium version.
Reviews
There are no reviews for this plugin.
Contributors & Developers
“DevBrothers SMTP” is open source software. The following people have contributed to this plugin.
ContributorsTranslate “DevBrothers SMTP” into your language.
Interested in development?
Browse the code, check out the SVN repository, or subscribe to the development log by RSS.
Changelog
1.1.0
- One-click presets for Yandex Mail and Mail.ru
- Removed unencrypted SMTP option (only TLS and SSL)
- All core features remain free
1.0.0
- Initial release
- SMTP configuration for wp_mail via PHPMailer
- Test email and delivery log (last 200 entries)
- Integration with DevBrothers Admin Panel


