You now know that WordPress's native sending function causes problems with email delivery, and you've chosen Brevo for its reliability and free plan. One very concrete question remains: how do you set up SMTP on WordPress with Brevo, step by step, without getting lost in technical settings?

The setup happens in four steps: create a Brevo account, get an SMTP API key, install a dedicated WordPress plugin, then test sending. The whole process usually takes less than twenty minutes, even with no particular technical skill.

In this guide, we walk through each step in detail, along with the checks you shouldn't skip to make sure your emails go out correctly as soon as the setup is done.

Step 1: create a Brevo account

Go to the Brevo website and create a free account with your business email address. Signup is quick and doesn't require a credit card for the free plan.

Once the account is created, it's recommended to verify your sending domain in Brevo's settings. This step improves deliverability by confirming to Brevo (and to recipient mailbox providers) that you are indeed authorised to send emails from that domain. Brevo will give you DNS records to add with your registrar; if this step feels technical, our article on SPF, DKIM and DMARC for WordPress emails explains it in detail.

Step 2: get the SMTP API key

In your Brevo account, go to the settings menu, then the section dedicated to SMTP and API. There you'll find:

  • An SMTP server (usually smtp-relay.brevo.com)
  • A sending port (587 for most setups)
  • A login matching your account
  • An SMTP key (to generate if not already done), which you should copy carefully

This SMTP key works as a password dedicated to automated sending: it's different from the password you use to log into your Brevo account, and should never be shared with anyone other than your WordPress plugin.

Step 3: install and configure an SMTP plugin on WordPress

From your site's dashboard, install a well-known SMTP plugin (several free, well-maintained options exist in the official WordPress catalogue). Once activated, the plugin will usually ask for:

  • The SMTP server provided by Brevo
  • The port (587, with TLS encryption)
  • The username and SMTP key you retrieved in the previous step
  • A sender address matching your domain (for example contact@yoursite.com)

Make sure to enter a sender address that matches the domain you verified in Brevo. Using an address from an unverified domain is the most common cause of failure after an otherwise correct setup.

Step 4: test sending before calling the job done

Once the settings are saved, nearly every SMTP plugin offers a "send test email" feature. Use it systematically, checking two things:

  • Does the message actually land in the inbox (and not in spam)?
  • Does the sender correctly display your business's name and address?

If the test fails, the most common causes are a mistyped SMTP key (a stray space at the start or end), a port blocked by your host, or a sender address that doesn't match the domain verified in Brevo. Going through each field one by one usually finds the error quickly.

Checking that it works under real conditions

The plugin's technical test is a good first check, but it's also worth testing your actual contact form: fill it in yourself as a visitor would, and confirm that you receive the notification. It's often at this stage that you discover a form plugin uses its own sending configuration, independent of the installed SMTP plugin, and needs to be set up separately.

Also plan to check the Brevo dashboard over the following days: it shows the status of every email sent (delivered, opened, rejected), letting you quickly spot any delivery issue that wouldn't be visible from WordPress itself.

What to do if emails still land in spam

If the SMTP setup works (the technical test passes, the email does go out) but messages keep landing in spam, the problem is usually the absence of SPF and DKIM authentication records on your domain. These records, added with your domain provider, confirm to mailbox providers that Brevo is indeed authorised to send emails on your behalf. Our dedicated article on SPF, DKIM and DMARC covers this additional setup in detail, essential for lasting, optimal deliverability.

If your emails are still nowhere to be found despite all this, our broader article on properly receiving emails from WordPress covers the full range of possible causes, including ones unrelated to the SMTP setup itself.

When to call in a professional

The setup described here is accessible without deep technical skills in the vast majority of cases. But some situations are trickier: a site with several forms managed by different plugins, a domain name managed by an external provider that makes adding DNS records complicated, or a sending volume that exceeds Brevo's free plan and needs guidance on choosing the right tier.

A professional can also make sure all your sending points (contact form, order notifications, password resets) go through the same reliable SMTP setup, rather than discovering gaps over time.

Frequently asked questions

Which SMTP port should you use with Brevo, 587 or 465? Port 587 with TLS encryption is the setup Brevo recommends and the one most widely compatible with WordPress hosting. Port 465 (SSL) remains an alternative if 587 is blocked by your host.

Do you need to pay for Brevo for a business site? No, Brevo's free plan covers a volume of emails more than sufficient for most small business and showcase sites. Moving to a paid plan only becomes necessary with a high sending volume (large-scale newsletters, high-traffic e-commerce).

What if the test email doesn't go out at all? First check that the SMTP key was copied without a stray space, then that the chosen port isn't blocked by your host. If the problem persists, the SMTP plugin's error log usually points to the exact cause of the block.

Stuck on the SMTP setup for your WordPress site? The Relax by Yumea team sets up your sending solution and checks that every one of your forms actually delivers its messages. Request your free diagnosis with Relax by Yumea.