Gmail SMTP vs Kadence Mail
Two WordPress plugins head to head: ranking, active installs, downloads and ratings, from our daily tracking of the WordPress.org directory.
These aren’t all alternatives to each other — they do different jobs — so this page compares popularity only, not features.
At a glance
Kadence Mail leads the WordPress.org popular list today at #667, ahead of Gmail SMTP at #1,859. Over the last 7 days Kadence Mail held its place and Gmail SMTP slipped 7 places. Kadence Mail has the largest install base, roughly 6× the next: 60K+ active installs against 10K+ for Gmail SMTP. Downloads this week: Kadence Mail 1,138 and Gmail SMTP 471. Ratings: Gmail SMTP 4.1★ from 103 and Kadence Mail 4.2★ from 52 reviews.
| Metric | Gmail SMTP | Kadence Mail |
|---|---|---|
| Popular rank today | #1,859 ▼ 7 | #667 ▬ |
| Active installs | 10K+ | 60K+ |
| Downloads, last 7 days | 471 | 1,138 |
| Rating | 4.1★ (103) | 4.2★ (52) |
| Last updated | Aug 25, 2026 | May 12, 2026 |
| Current version | 1.2.3.22 | 3.0.0 |
| Best rank on record | #1,824 | #654 |
| Days in the top 50 | 0 | 0 |
| On WordPress.org since | Nov 2015 | Nov 2012 |
Highlighted cells mark the strongest figure in each row. Rank and installs are from the latest WordPress.org capture; downloads are the last seven captured days.
Ranking history Lower is better
Active installs
Downloads per day
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Frequently asked questions
Which is more popular, Gmail SMTP or Kadence Mail?
By active installs, Kadence Mail: 60K+ sites run it against 10K+ for Gmail SMTP, according to WordPress.org figures captured on October 16, 2026.
Which ranks higher on WordPress.org, Gmail SMTP or Kadence Mail?
Kadence Mail, at #667 on the WordPress.org popular plugins list today, with Gmail SMTP at #1,859. The ranking reflects recent installs and moves daily, which is why this page shows the history rather than one snapshot.
Are Gmail SMTP or Kadence Mail alternatives to each other?
Not all of them. Some of these plugins do different jobs and many sites run more than one. This page compares their popularity, not their features.
Where do these numbers come from?
WordPress.org publishes each plugin’s active install count and its position on the popular list. This site records both every day, along with per-day downloads and ratings, so the charts above show how the plugins have moved over time rather than a single day.