How to Send Emails via SMTP
SMTP is the universal protocol for sending email. OutSends supports any SMTP provider — Amazon SES, SendGrid, Mailgun, Postmark, your own SMTP server, and more.
What you'll need
Before you start, make sure you have the following ready.
- An OutSends account
- SMTP credentials from your provider
- Your SMTP server hostname and port
Step-by-step guide
Follow these steps to complete the setup.
Get your SMTP credentials
From your email provider, get: SMTP host, port (587 for TLS, 465 for SSL), username, and password.
Go to Senders > Add SMTP
In OutSends dashboard, navigate to Senders and choose "Add SMTP Sender".
Enter SMTP details
Fill in host, port, and authentication. Choose TLS or SSL based on your provider's requirements.
Configure sending limits
Set your per-day and per-hour limits. OutSends respects these to prevent provider throttling.
Verify and test
OutSends sends a test email to confirm the configuration. Check delivery in your inbox.
Tips for best results
Pro tips to get the most out of this setup.
- Use port 587 with TLS for most providers (broadest compatibility)
- Set sending limits at 80% of your provider's stated limit for safety
- Monitor SMTP error logs regularly for authentication or rate-limit issues
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between SMTP and API sending?
SMTP is the traditional email protocol. API sending uses HTTP endpoints and offers better delivery tracking and error handling.
Does SMTP work with any provider?
Most email providers support SMTP. Check your provider's documentation for SMTP server details.
Can I use multiple SMTP providers?
Yes, OutSends supports multiple senders. You can rotate across different SMTP providers.
Related guides
Explore more how-to guides for OutSends.
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