SMTP Mailer 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
SMTP Mailer leads the WordPress.org popular list today at #591, ahead of Kadence Mail at #659. Over the last 7 days SMTP Mailer climbed 1 place and Kadence Mail slipped 2 places. SMTP Mailer has the largest install base, roughly 1.2× the next: 70K+ active installs against 60K+ for Kadence Mail. Downloads this week: SMTP Mailer 20,855 and Kadence Mail 1,093. Ratings: SMTP Mailer 4.6★ from 67 and Kadence Mail 4.2★ from 52 reviews.
| Metric | SMTP Mailer | Kadence Mail |
|---|---|---|
| Popular rank today | #591 ▲ 1 | #659 ▼ 2 |
| Active installs | 70K+ | 60K+ |
| Downloads, last 7 days | 20,855 | 1,093 |
| Rating | 4.6★ (67) | 4.2★ (52) |
| Last updated | Sep 7, 2026 | May 12, 2026 |
| Current version | 1.1.28 | 3.0.0 |
| Best rank on record | #591 | #654 |
| Days in the top 50 | 0 | 0 |
| On WordPress.org since | Dec 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, SMTP Mailer or Kadence Mail?
By active installs, SMTP Mailer: 70K+ sites run it against 60K+ for Kadence Mail, according to WordPress.org figures captured on September 12, 2026.
Which ranks higher on WordPress.org, SMTP Mailer or Kadence Mail?
SMTP Mailer, at #591 on the WordPress.org popular plugins list today, with Kadence Mail at #659. The ranking reflects recent installs and moves daily, which is why this page shows the history rather than one snapshot.
Are SMTP Mailer 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.