Ensuring your WordPress or WooCommerce store delivers emails reliably is crucial for order confirmations, password resets, and customer communication.
By default, WordPress uses the PHP mail function, which often leads to issues like emails landing in spam or not being delivered at all.
A proven way to improve email deliverability is by integrating Elastic Email with your WordPress application using the WP Mail SMTP plugin.
This setup replaces the default mail function with a secure SMTP connection, ensuring your transactional and marketing emails reach the inbox every time.
In this guide, you’ll learn how to set up Elastic Email on Cloudways WordPress applications—whether you’re using Cloudways Flexible or Autonomous—with clear, step-by-step instructions.
Table of Contents:
Why Use Elastic Email with WordPress
WordPress’s default email method often struggles with reliable delivery, causing important messages to land in spam or fail to send.
By using Elastic Email with SMTP, you can send emails securely and improve inbox placement for both transactional and marketing messages.
This guide will show you how to connect Elastic Email to your WordPress or WooCommerce site with the WP Mail SMTP plugin on Cloudways Flexible or Autonomous hosting.
What is Elastic Email?
Elastic Email is a cutting-edge email service provider. Whether you're a startup or an enterprise business, Elastic Email provides fast, flexible, and affordable email services for all your needs, such as:
Marketing & Transactional Emails: They provide transactional and marketing email services and help you to take control of it.
Elastic Email API: It allows you to easily connect it with the SMTP service of your application using the API.
Domain Verification: You can verify your Elastic Email domain to avoid your emails landing in your recipient's spam.
Tip:
Transactional emails are automated messages triggered by user actions, such as signup confirmation, password resets, and order confirmations.
Therefore, Elastic Email is best for reliable and cost-effective email delivery – your perfect fit for hassle-free communication with your clients.
How to Integrate Elastic Email with Your WordPress Application?
Step #1 — Activate Elastic Email and Verify Your Domain:
Firstly, activate the Elastic Email add-on and verify your domains. You can check out our straightforward guide to complete this step.
Important:
If you are using Cloudways Autonomous, then please skip step #3 from the guide provided above.
Step #2 — Install a SMTP Plugin
Next, you need to install a third-party SMTP plugin. For demonstration purposes, we are using the WP Mail SMTP plugin, but you can also use any other third-party SMTP plugin.
Therefore, log in to the WordPress application using your admin credentials.
Tip:
Not sure how to locate your WP admin credentials? Refer to this guide.
From the left-hand menu, select Plugins and click Add New Plugin.
Next, search for WP Mail SMTP in the search bar.
Once found, click Install Now.
Once the installation finishes, click Activate.
Step #3 — Configure WP Mail SMTP Plugin
After clicking Activate, you will land in the Plugins area.
Now, you need to configure our WP Mail SMTP plugin. Therefore, navigate to the left-hand menu, select WP Mail SMTP, and click Settings.
Next, click Launch Setup Wizard to start configuring the plugin.
Next, click Let's Get Started.
Next, click on Elastic Email and hit Save and Continue.
Next, fill out the form using the information provided below:
API Key: Extract your API Key from Cloudways Platform.
From Name: (Your Preferred Sender's Name)
The From Name is the sender's name that appears in recipients' inboxes. It adds a personal touch to your emails, helping establish trust and recognition among your audience.
Force From Name: Enabled
From Email: (Your Preferred Sender's Email)
The From Email is the sender's email address displayed to recipients. It not only identifies the email sender but also contributes to building credibility and trust in your communication.
Force From Email: Enabled
Finally, click Save and Continue.
Next, click Save and Continue to proceed further.
Next, click Skip this Step. If you prefer to receive suggestions and tips from the plugin developers, you may also click Save and Continue.
Next, click Skip this Step so you can continue with the free version of the plugin. If you have a license key for the plugin, you can enter it here.
Finally, it will take a few seconds to test your configurations. Once the test is successful, you will get a confirmation as shown in the snapshot below.
With your SMTP now in place, your emails are ready to roll seamlessly. Take the next step by diving into email campaigns and setting up transactional emails.
Configure WP Mail SMTP (Optional for WordPress Users)
If you are using a plugin such as WP Mail SMTP to send emails from your WordPress site, you will need the SMTP credentials provided by Elastic Email.
You can find your Elastic Email API Key by navigating to:
Elastic Email Dashboard → Settings → API → Create API Key
When configuring the WP Mail SMTP plugin, use the following details:
Field | Value |
SMTP Host |
|
Port | 2525 (recommended) or 587 |
Encryption / Protocol | TLS |
SMTP Authentication | On / Yes |
Username | Your Elastic Email API Key |
Password | Your Elastic Email API Key |
Important:
Elastic Email now uses the API Key as both the SMTP username and password.
Once saved, send a test email from the plugin to verify the connection.
Note:
If you are using any other SMTP plugin, the same SMTP details and API Key apply.
Alternate Option - Configure via the Elastic Email WP Sender Plugin
If you prefer using the Elastic Email WP Sender Plugin, you can configure your email delivery directly through the plugin’s General Settings page. This allows you to manage API keys, email type, and sender details without manually editing WordPress files.
Select mailer
You can either choose to send all WordPress emails via Elastic Email API or use the default WordPress mail function.
For best performance and deliverability, select Elastic Email API.
Elastic Email API Key
Enter your Elastic Email API key here. You can generate it from your Cloudways Platform.
Make sure to copy and paste the full key.
Email type
Choose between:
Marketing – for newsletters, promotions, or campaigns.
Transactional – for order confirmations, password resets, or important notifications.
MIME type
Recommended: Auto (default).
You can also set it to plain/text or text/html depending on your email format needs.
From Name & From Email
Enter the name and email address that should appear in the “From” field of your emails.
This helps ensure your recipients recognize your messages.
Channel Name
Set a recognizable channel name (e.g., “WordPress Site Sender”) to help you track emails in Elastic Email.
Connection Test & Status
After saving your settings, the plugin will test the connection with Elastic Email.
If the connection is successful, you’ll see Connected and Account is ready to send emails messages in green.
Daily Limit & Credit Status
Your daily sending limit and credit status will also display here, so you can ensure you stay within your Elastic Email plan limits.
Once these fields are correctly configured and the connection shows Active, your WordPress site will be ready to send emails reliably using Elastic Email.
That’s it! We hope this article was helpful.
Need Help?
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