Email communication is essential for web applications, whether for transactional emails, newsletters, or notifications. Laravel provides an easy way to configure SMTP servers, allowing developers to send reliable emails without hassle.
In this guide, we’ll explore the best SMTP providers for Laravel, covering free plans, pricing, and their best use cases.
1. What is SMTP and Why Use It in Laravel?
SMTP (Simple Mail Transfer Protocol) is the industry standard for sending emails. Laravel makes it easy to configure SMTP settings via the .env file, ensuring smooth email delivery without needing third-party integrations.
Key Benefits of Using SMTP for Laravel Emails
✅ Better Deliverability – Ensures emails reach inboxes instead of spam folders.
✅ Secure Transmission – Supports TLS and SSL encryption for secure email sending.
✅ Scalability – Works for both small apps and high-volume applications.
Now, let’s dive into the best SMTP providers you can use with Laravel.
2. Free & Paid SMTP Servers for Laravel
Comparison Table
| SMTP Provider | Free Plan | Paid Plan |
|---|---|---|
| Brevo (Sendinblue) | Up to 300 emails/day | Starts at $8.08/month |
| Gmail SMTP | Up to 500 emails/day (personal accounts) | Google Workspace starts at $6/month |
| Mailgun | 10,000 emails/month free for 30 days | Starts at $35/month |
| SendGrid | 100 emails/day free | Paid plans start at $14.95/month |
| Postmark | 100 emails/month free | Starts at $15/month |
| Amazon SES | 62,000 emails/month free (if hosted on AWS EC2) | Starts at $0.10 per 1,000 emails |
| SMTP.com | No free plan | Starts at $25/month |
| Zoho Mail SMTP | Free for Zoho Mail users | Paid plans start at $1/month |
Let’s explore each of these providers in detail.
3. SMTP Providers Explained
✅ Brevo SMTP (Formerly Sendinblue)
Best For: Small and medium businesses needing marketing and transactional emails.
Free Plan: 300 emails/day
Paid Plans: Start at $8.08/month
Setup in Laravel:
MAIL_MAILER=smtp
MAIL_HOST=smtp-relay.brevo.com
MAIL_PORT=587
MAIL_USERNAME=your_brevo_email@example.com
MAIL_PASSWORD=your_brevo_smtp_password
MAIL_ENCRYPTION=tls
MAIL_FROM_ADDRESS=your_brevo_email@example.com
MAIL_FROM_NAME="Your App"✅ Gmail SMTP
Best For: Small-scale applications or personal projects.
Free Plan: 500 emails/day for personal accounts
Paid Plan: Google Workspace starts at $6/month
Setup in Laravel:
MAIL_MAILER=smtp
MAIL_HOST=smtp.gmail.com
MAIL_PORT=587
MAIL_USERNAME=your_gmail_address@gmail.com
MAIL_PASSWORD=your_gmail_app_password
MAIL_ENCRYPTION=tls
MAIL_FROM_ADDRESS=your_gmail_address@gmail.com
MAIL_FROM_NAME="Your App"🔹 Note: Requires an App Password for authentication.
✅ Mailgun
Best For: High-volume sending with advanced email analytics.
Free Plan: 10,000 emails/month for 30 days
Paid Plan: Starts at $35/month
✅ SendGrid
Best For: Scalable email delivery with analytics.
Free Plan: 100 emails/day
Paid Plan: Starts at $14.95/month
✅ Postmark
Best For: Fast and reliable transactional emails.
Free Plan: 100 emails/month
Paid Plan: Starts at $15/month
✅ Amazon SES
Best For: High-volume, cost-effective email sending.
Free Plan: 62,000 emails/month (Only for apps hosted on AWS EC2)
Paid Plan: Starts at $0.10 per 1,000 emails
✅ SMTP.com
Best For: Enterprise-level email infrastructure.
No Free Plan
Paid Plan: Starts at $25/month
✅ Zoho Mail SMTP
Best For: Business email hosting with SMTP support.
Free for Zoho Mail users
Paid Plan: Starts at $1/month
4. How to Choose the Right SMTP Provider for Laravel?
Consider the following factors before selecting an SMTP provider:
🔹 Email Volume: If sending a few hundred emails daily, Gmail or Brevo’s free plan might be enough.
🔹 Reliability & Deliverability: Postmark and Amazon SES are great for transactional emails.
🔹 Cost & Scalability: Amazon SES is one of the cheapest options for high-volume sending.
🔹 Analytics & Tracking: SendGrid offers detailed email analytics and logs.
5. Conclusion
Using an SMTP server with Laravel ensures reliable, scalable, and secure email delivery. If you need a free plan, Gmail SMTP and Brevo offer decent limits, while Amazon SES and Mailgun provide cost-effective options for high-volume applications.