Best Ways to Ensure WordPress Contact Form Emails Get Delivered
One of the most common WordPress problems is contact form emails not arriving in the website owner’s inbox.
This usually happens because WordPress often sends emails through the hosting server using PHP Mail. Many email providers such as Gmail, Yahoo, Outlook, and Apple Mail may classify those messages as spam or reject them entirely.
The solution is to use a reliable, authenticated email delivery method.
Why Contact Form Emails Fail
Many web hosting servers are not optimized for reliable email delivery. When a WordPress website sends form notifications directly from the server, the message may look suspicious to major email providers.
Common causes include missing SPF, DKIM, or DMARC records; weak hosting email reputation; incorrect From Email settings; and unauthenticated PHP Mail delivery.
Option 1: Elementor Site Mailer
Elementor Site Mailer is an email delivery solution designed for Elementor websites. It helps send WordPress and Elementor form emails without requiring traditional SMTP configuration.
Advantages
- Easy setup for Elementor users
- No complicated SMTP settings
- Helps deliver Elementor form submissions
- Email logging and delivery monitoring
- Good option for simple business websites
Disadvantages
- Best suited for Elementor websites
- May not be as flexible as Brevo, SendGrid, or Amazon SES
- May not be ideal for high-volume email sending
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐☆
Best for: Elementor websites, simple contact forms, small business websites, and clients who want easy setup.
Option 2: SMTP Using the Website's Domain Email
Example: info@yourdomain.com
Setup
- Create a domain email account
- Install an SMTP plugin
- Configure SMTP credentials
- Add SPF, DKIM, and DMARC records
Advantages
- Low cost
- Easy setup
- Works well for low-volume websites
Disadvantages
- Delivery reputation depends on hosting provider
- Less reliable for larger websites
- More likely to hit spam than dedicated email services
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐☆☆
Best for: small local businesses and low-volume contact forms.
Option 3: Google Workspace SMTP
Example: info@yourdomain.com hosted on Google Workspace
Setup
- Create a Google Workspace account
- Configure a WordPress SMTP plugin
- Use Google authentication or SMTP credentials
Advantages
- Excellent deliverability
- Trusted Google reputation
- Reliable and secure
- Works well with Gmail
Disadvantages
- Monthly subscription cost
- More complex initial setup
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Best for: professional business websites, service companies, medical offices, law firms, and businesses that depend on leads.
Option 4: Brevo SMTP
Brevo is one of the best options for WordPress contact forms because it supports authenticated sending, transactional email, and detailed email logs.
Setup
- Create a Brevo account
- Verify your domain
- Install WP Mail SMTP or FluentSMTP
- Connect using API or SMTP
Advantages
- Outstanding deliverability
- Free plan available
- Transactional email support
- Detailed email logs
- Good for WordPress forms and appointment systems
Disadvantages
- Requires account setup
- Additional platform to manage
- DNS authentication must be configured carefully
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Best for: WordPress contact forms, appointment systems, WooCommerce stores, and small business websites.
Option 5: SendGrid
SendGrid is a strong email delivery service used by many businesses for transactional and marketing email.
Advantages
- Excellent deliverability
- High-volume email support
- Reliable infrastructure
- Good for ecommerce and larger websites
Disadvantages
- More technical setup
- Less beginner-friendly
- May be more than a simple contact form website needs
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐☆
Best for: larger businesses, ecommerce websites, and high-volume email sending.
Option 6: Amazon SES
Amazon SES is a powerful, low-cost email sending service from Amazon Web Services.
Advantages
- Extremely inexpensive
- Excellent deliverability
- Scales very well
- Good for agencies and high-volume websites
Disadvantages
- Technical setup
- AWS learning curve
- Not beginner-friendly
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Best for: agencies, high-volume websites, advanced users, and developers.
Best WordPress SMTP Plugins
Several WordPress plugins can connect your website to a trusted email delivery service.
Recommended Plugins
- FluentSMTP: Free, flexible, supports many email services, and includes email logs.
- WP Mail SMTP: Popular, beginner-friendly, and supports major providers.
- Easy WP SMTP: Simple setup for basic SMTP connections.
For most small business websites, FluentSMTP + Brevo is a strong combination.
Best Choice for Elementor Websites
For websites built with Elementor, Elementor Site Mailer is one of the easiest options because it avoids complicated SMTP setup and is designed to work well with Elementor form submissions.
For a simple local business website, Site Mailer may be enough.
For businesses that rely heavily on leads, appointments, ecommerce orders, or high-volume notifications, Brevo, Google Workspace, SendGrid, or Amazon SES may be stronger long-term choices.
Recommended Setup for Small Business Websites
For most South Park Web Design client websites, the recommended setup depends on the type of site:
- Simple Elementor website: Elementor Site Mailer
- Small business contact forms: Brevo + FluentSMTP
- Professional office: Google Workspace SMTP
- Ecommerce website: Brevo, SendGrid, or Amazon SES
- High-volume website: Amazon SES or SendGrid
Email Delivery Comparison
| Option | Ease of Setup | Deliverability | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementor Site Mailer | Very Easy | Very Good | Elementor websites and simple contact forms |
| Domain Email SMTP | Easy | Good | Small low-volume websites |
| Google Workspace SMTP | Moderate | Excellent | Professional businesses |
| Brevo + FluentSMTP | Moderate | Excellent | Small business forms, appointments, WooCommerce |
| SendGrid | Moderate/Technical | Excellent | Larger sites and ecommerce |
| Amazon SES | Technical | Excellent | Agencies and high-volume websites |
Final Recommendation
For most WordPress websites, do not rely on PHP Mail alone. Use an authenticated email delivery method.
For Elementor websites, Elementor Site Mailer is a simple and effective option.
For stronger control and long-term flexibility, Brevo + FluentSMTP is one of the best choices for small business websites.
For professional offices, Google Workspace SMTP is also an excellent option.
Author: Ron Kraft
Ron Kraft is the founder of South Park Web Design and has a BS and MS in Engineering from Washington University in St. Louis. He previously worked as a systems engineer specializing in database design and later studied modern web technologies at Winthrop University. Ron specializes in WordPress website design, SEO, website optimization, and local business marketing. Read More.
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