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Mailgun

API5,000 emails/month for 3 months, then pay-per-email

Developer-focused email service with powerful API and debugging tools.

Best For
Developers and technical users who want detailed control and debugging
Pricing
Flex: Pay per email ($0.80/1,000), Foundation from $35/month
Integration Type
API

Overview

Mailgun is the email service built by developers, for developers. Founded in 2010 and now part of Sinch, Mailgun powers email for companies like GitHub, Slack, and Lyft. Its powerful API, detailed logging, and flexible configuration make it a favorite among technical teams.

With Authority Mailer SMTP, you can harness Mailgun's power without writing code. The plugin handles API authentication, error handling, and email formatting automatically.

Mailgun Features

Powerful and well-documented API
5,000 free emails for 3 months
Detailed email logs and debugging
Email validation and verification API
Inbound email routing
IP reputation monitoring
Webhook support for all events
Dedicated and shared IP pools
Burst sending capability
GDPR compliant with EU data centers

Requirements

Before you start, make sure you have:

  • 1Mailgun account
  • 2Verified sending domain (recommended) or sandbox domain for testing
  • 3API Key from Mailgun dashboard
  • 4Region selection (US or EU)

Step-by-Step Setup Guide

1

Create a Mailgun Account

1. Go to mailgun.com and click "Sign Up"

2. Enter your email and create a password

3. Verify your email address

4. Complete the account setup wizard

2

Add and Verify Your Domain

For Testing (Sandbox Domain):

Mailgun provides a sandbox domain. You can only send to verified recipients.


For Production (Custom Domain - Recommended):

1. Go to Sending → Domains → Add New Domain

2. Enter your domain (e.g., mail.yoursite.com)

3. Choose your region (US or EU)

4. Add the provided DNS records:

- SPF record (TXT)

- DKIM records (TXT)

- Optional MX records for inbound

5. Click "Verify DNS Settings"

3

Get Your API Key

1. Click your profile icon → API Security

2. Under "Mailgun API keys", copy your Private API key

3. Or create a new key with "Create API key"

4. Note your region (US: api.mailgun.net, EU: api.eu.mailgun.net)

4

Configure Authority Mailer SMTP

1. In WordPress, go to Authority Mailer SMTP → Settings

2. Select "Mailgun" from the provider dropdown

3. Paste your API key

4. Enter your verified domain name

5. Select your region (US or EU)

6. Set your "From Email" (must be @yourdomain)

7. Set your "From Name"

8. Click "Save Settings" and "Send Test Email"

💡 Pro Tips

  • Use Mailgun's email validation API to clean your lists before sending
  • Set up webhooks to track deliveries, opens, and clicks
  • Use tags to segment email analytics by type or source
  • Monitor your IP reputation score regularly
  • Consider EU region for GDPR compliance

🔧 Troubleshooting

❓ Emails only work to my own email address

✅ You're using a sandbox domain. Add your domain and verify it, or add authorized recipients in sandbox settings.

❓ API returns 401 Unauthorized

✅ Check that you're using the correct API key and the right region (US vs EU).

❓ Domain verification stuck

✅ DNS propagation can take up to 48 hours. Use a tool like MXToolbox to verify your records are published.

❓ Emails marked as spam

✅ Complete DKIM and SPF verification. Check your IP reputation in Mailgun's dashboard.

Ready to Set Up Mailgun?

Get Authority Mailer SMTP and start sending reliable emails in minutes.

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