How to Send WordPress Emails Reliably on AWS EC2 with Amazon SES

Running WordPress on an AWS EC2 instance gives you flexibility and control, but one common frustration is that email notifications, new comments, password resets, or contact form messages often fail to arrive. By default, WordPress uses PHP’s mail() function, which is unreliable on cloud servers and frequently blocked.

For businesses, this isn’t just an annoyance. Missed emails can mean lost leads, delayed customer responses, or overlooked security alerts. Reliable communication is critical, and that’s where Amazon Simple Email Service (SES) comes in. SES is cost effective, secure, and integrates seamlessly with AWS. The key is choosing the right plugin to bridge WordPress and SES. For teams that want expert guidance, our AWS DevOps Services can help configure EC2, SES, and IAM for maximum reliability.

Why WordPress Emails Fail on EC2

Why WordPress Emails Fail on EC2

• No mail server installed: EC2 instances don’t ship with a configured mail transfer agent.
• Port restrictions: AWS often blocks outbound traffic on port 25 to reduce spam.
• Unreliable PHP mail: Even if mail is allowed, PHP’s mail() function doesn’t guarantee delivery.

Result: WordPress thinks it sent the email, but nothing reaches your inbox. For a business site, this can undermine trust and responsiveness

Recommended Free Option: FluentSMTP

For users looking for a free and reliable choice, FluentSMTP is the most practical option. It supports Amazon SES directly, along with other providers, and doesn’t require a paid upgrade. With FluentSMTP, you can configure SES using SMTP credentials and start sending immediately. And if you’d like to embed this into a larger automation strategy, explore our DevOps Services for CI/CD pipelines, monitoring, and infrastructure optimization.

Other Options

• YaySMTP: Another free plugin that supports SES, though some users report silent failures depending on setup. Worth trying if you prefer its interface.
• WP Mail SMTP Pro: A paid plugin that offers official SES integration and additional features like email logging and priority support.

Each option has its place. For businesses that want a “set it and forget it” solution, investing in a supported plugin may be worthwhile. For cost conscious teams, FluentSMTP is a strong free choice.

Step by Step Setup with FluentSMTP

1. Install FluentSMTP

   • Go to Plugins → Add New in WordPress.
   • Search for FluentSMTP and activate it.
   • Keep build scripts in the repo so Actions can run npm run build, hugo, jekyll build, or packaging steps for PHP/WordPress.

2. Set Up Amazon SES

   • In the AWS Console, verify your domain or sender email.
   • Request production access (so you can send to any recipient).
   • Create SMTP credentials under SMTP Settings.

3. Configure FluentSMTP

   • In WordPress, go to Settings → FluentSMTP.
   • Choose Amazon SES as the mailer.
   • Enter the SES SMTP host (e.g., email-smtp.us-east-1.amazonaws.com), port (587 TLS), and your SMTP username/password.
   • Set the “From Email” to your verified SES sender.

4. Test Email Delivery

   • Use FluentSMTP’s test tool or the Check & Log Email plugin.
   • Send a test email to confirm delivery.

Business Impact

Reliable email delivery isn’t just a technical fix, it’s a business enabler. With SES configured:

• Customer communication is consistent: Password resets, contact form submissions, and comment notifications reach the right people.
• Operations stay smooth: Admins and moderators don’t miss important alerts.
• Brand trust improves: Customers know they can rely on your site’s communication.

Where DevOps Services Fit In

For many organizations, setting up SES and SMTP plugins is just one piece of a larger puzzle. A DevOps partner can help by:

• Automating WordPress deployments on EC2.
• Managing AWS IAM permissions and SES production access requests.
• Monitoring email delivery logs and error rates.
• Integrating notifications into Slack, Teams, or other collaboration tools.
• Ensuring compliance and security across AWS services.

By embedding email reliability into your DevOps pipeline, you reduce downtime, improve customer experience, and free your team to focus on growth. Whether you’re running workloads on AWS or Azure, our AWS DevOps Services and Azure DevOps Services provide end-to-end support for scaling, compliance, and automation.

If you’re interested in another practical example, check out our blog on how startups and SMBs can host multiple websites on low-tier AWS EC2 with S3. It shows how smaller teams can maximize AWS resources efficiently complementing the email reliability strategies we’ve covered here.

Conclusion

If you’re running WordPress on EC2, don’t rely on PHP mail. Connect your site to Amazon SES for safe and reliable delivery.

• For free users, FluentSMTP is the recommended option.
• If you prefer alternatives, YaySMTP can work, though results vary.
• For advanced features and official SES integration, WP Mail SMTP Pro is available as a paid solution.

And if you want to go beyond plugin setup, integrating email reliability into your broader AWS and DevOps strategy, our team can help. From EC2 optimization to SES configuration and monitoring, we provide end to end support to keep your WordPress site running smoothly and your communications flowing reliably.