PrestaShop is a powerful, open-source eCommerce platform written in PHP and designed for businesses of all sizes to build and manage online stores. Launched in 2007, it has grown into one of the most popular eCommerce solutions in Europe and Latin America, powering over 300,000 active stores worldwide.
What sets PrestaShop truly apart is its flexibility and scalability. It offers a modular architecture that allows store owners to extend core features using thousands of themes and plugins, many of which are available on the official PrestaShop Addons Marketplace. From multilingual capabilities to multi-store support and advanced product management, PrestaShop covers everything needed to operate a global online business.
Key Benefits of Using PrestaShop:
- Open-source & free to use (with commercial modules available)
- Fully customizable front and back office
- Built-in support for multi-language and multi-currency
- Large developer and user community
- Hundreds of payment gateways and shipping integrations
- SEO-friendly structure and mobile-ready designs
- Access to analytics, product alerts, and stock notifications
PrestaShop is a great choice for both beginners and experienced merchants, offering the perfect balance of functionality and customization, particularly for businesses that require complete control over their eCommerce operations.
Now, let’s move to an important component of managing your PrestaShop store: email setup and SMTP configuration.
Why SMTP Setup is Important in PrestaShop
PrestaShop needs email functionality to:
- Send order confirmations
- Notify customers of shipment updates.
- Handle password resets
- Notify admins of new orders or contact form submissions.
Without a properly configured SMTP server, these emails can end up in spam folders—or worse, not be delivered at all. Let’s walk through the process of configuring email and SMTP in your PrestaShop back office.
How to Set Up Email and Configure SMTP in PrestaShop.
This guide assumes you’re using PrestaShop 1.7 or 8.x. The interface is similar in both versions.
Step 1: Access the Email Settings Panel
- Log in to your PrestaShop Admin Panel
- Go to:
Advanced Parameters ➝ Email
This section controls how your shop sends emails and determines the method used.
Step 2: Choose Your Email Sending Method
You’ll see two main options under “Email”:
- Use PHP mail() function
(Not recommended — limited deliverability, often blocked by servers) - Set my own SMTP parameters
(This is the preferred method for reliability and inbox delivery.)
Select “Set My SMTP Parameters” to proceed.
Step 3: Enter SMTP Configuration
Now fill in the SMTP details provided by your email service provider:
- Mail domain name: your website domain (e.g., example.com)
- SMTP server: (e.g., smtp.gmail.com, smtp.sendgrid.net)
- SMTP username: usually your email address or API user
- SMTP password: your email or API key password
- Encryption: SSL or TLS (based on your provider)
- Port: typically 465 for SSL, 587 for TLS
Once filled, click “Save” and then click “Send a test email” to verify the settings.
Top 5 SMTP Providers for PrestaShop Email Configuration
1. Sendinblue (Brevo)
Overview:
Sendinblue—recently rebranded to Brevo—is a reliable all-in-one email and SMS marketing platform that includes powerful SMTP services. It’s easy to integrate with PrestaShop, supporting advanced email tracking, marketing automation, and transactional email delivery.
Pros:
- Free plan includes 300 emails/day
- Easy SMTP integration with PrestaShop
- Real-time tracking for opens and clicks
- Built-in marketing tools (email automation, SMS, segmentation)
Cons:
- Daily limit on the free plan
- Advanced features are locked behind higher-tier plans.
SMTP Server: smtp-relay.sendinblue.com
Port: 587 (TLS), 465 (SSL)
2. Mailgun
Overview:
Mailgun is a developer-friendly SMTP provider ideal for high-volume transactional emails. It’s built for scalability and performance, with detailed analytics and logs that help troubleshoot delivery issues, making it great for larger PrestaShop stores.
Pros:
- 5,000 free emails/month for the first 30 days
- Real-time analytics and deliverability insights
- High-volume sending with scalability
- Reliable, developer-centric API and SMTP access
Cons:
- Not beginner-friendly (technical setup)
- Requires a verified domain before sending
SMTP Server: smtp.mailgun.org
Port: 587 (TLS), 465 (SSL)
3. SMTP2GO
Overview:
SMTP2GO offers a global SMTP relay service with high deliverability rates and excellent support. It includes real-time monitoring, reporting dashboards, and bounce/spam feedback loops. Its simplicity makes it a good fit for both technical and non-technical users.
Pros:
- 1,000 emails/month free on the starter plan
- Simple dashboard with real-time analytics
- Excellent deliverability with global servers
- Works seamlessly with PrestaShop SMTP settings
Cons:
- Limited free quota compared to others
- IP warmup is not included in base plans.
SMTP Server: mail.smtp2go.com
Port: 587 (TLS), 465 (SSL)
4. Amazon SES (Simple Email Service)
Overview:
Amazon SES is Amazon Web Services’ cloud-based email sending platform. It’s highly scalable, extremely affordable, and designed for developers or businesses that send high volumes of email. However, setting up and verifying a domain can be tricky for beginners.
Pros:
- Extremely low-cost pricing (first 62,000 emails/month free on EC2)
- High deliverability and IP reputation
- Scalable for large PrestaShop stores
- Supports SMTP and API-based delivery
Cons:
- Complex AWS setup process
- Requires domain and email address verification
SMTP Server: Varies by AWS region (e.g., email-smtp.us-east-1.amazonaws.com)
Port: 587 (TLS), 465 (SSL)
5. Gmail SMTP (Google Workspace)
Overview:
If you’re running a small shop or need a fast SMTP solution, you can use Gmail or Google Workspace SMTP. While not ideal for bulk mail, it’s a great solution for transactional emails, such as password resets or order confirmations.
Pros:
- Easy to configure with your Gmail or Workspace account
- No extra cost for existing Gmail users
- Works well for small-volume stores
Cons:
- Limits to ~500 emails per day for personal accounts and 2,000 per day for Workspace accounts.
- Sending limits may trigger temporary account blocks if abused.
SMTP Server: smtp.gmail.com
Port: 587 (TLS), 465 (SSL)
SMTP Provider Comparison Table
| SMTP Provider | Free Emails (Monthly) | Ease of Use | Deliverability | Scalability | Best For |
| Sendinblue | 9,000 (300/day) | ⭐⭐⭐⭐☆ | ⭐⭐⭐⭐☆ | ⭐⭐⭐⭐☆ | All-in-one marketing + SMTP |
| Mailgun | 5,000 (first 30 days) | ⭐⭐⭐☆☆ | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ | Developers, high-volume stores |
| SMTP2GO | 1,000 | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐⭐⭐☆ | ⭐⭐⭐⭐☆ | Ease of use + analytics |
| Amazon SES | 62,000 (EC2 only) | ⭐⭐☆☆☆ | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ | Enterprise-scale email |
| Gmail SMTP | 500–2,000 | ⭐⭐⭐⭐☆ | ⭐⭐⭐⭐☆ | ⭐⭐☆☆☆ | Small shops, transactional use |
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Conclusion
Email communication is a core pillar of every successful eCommerce store, and with PrestaShop, configuring it properly ensures your brand stays professional and your customers stay informed.
While PrestaShop supports sending emails via PHP mail by default, it’s highly recommended to switch to SMTP-based email delivery for better reliability, security, and control. With this guide, you’ve learned:
- How to configure SMTP email in PrestaShop from the admin panel
- What settings to enter based on your provider
- Which SMTP services are most reliable and cost-effective in 2025
- How to compare and choose the best one for your store
Whether you’re a small startup or scaling an enterprise eCommerce business, selecting the right SMTP provider—and configuring it correctly—is key to email success.
And remember: Great hosting completes the puzzle.
If you want fast performance, secure delivery, and expert support for your PrestaShop store, consider moving to Voxfor — your all-in-one solution for high-performance PrestaShop hosting.
About the writer
Hassan Tahir wrote this article, drawing on his experience to clarify WordPress concepts and enhance developer understanding. Through his work, he aims to help both beginners and professionals refine their skills and tackle WordPress projects with greater confidence.
