Where to get SMTP for sending

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LetsExtract Email Sender needs a working SMTP server (detailed settings: https://letsextract.com/docs/smtp_settings.htm). Direct Send mode is also supported.

Option 1 — use SMTP from free email providers (Gmail, Yahoo, Outlook, etc.)

Pros:

Easy to get (if you already have an mailbox).
Reliable infrastructure and good sender reputation.
Often free for low sending volumes.

Cons:

Very strict limits on messages per hour/day.
Often requires creating an app password and enabling two-factor authentication.
You typically cannot send more than ~100–300 emails per day.
The provider will quickly block your account if even a small number of recipients mark messages as spam.

When to use: testing, very small campaigns (tens to a few hundred emails), or messages to a highly engaged, opt-in audience.

Option 2 — use SMTP provided by your web host (if you have a website)

Pros:

Control over your domain and email headers (you can set SPF, DKIM, DMARC to improve deliverability).
Much higher limits than personal free accounts — thousands to tens of thousands of emails per day are possible.
You can send from branded addresses on your domain.

Cons:

Deliverability quality depends on your host; many shared hosts use IPs with poor reputation and messages can land in spam.
You may need extra setup (SPF/DKIM/reverse PTR); some hosts do not offer a full SMTP relay.
Cheap hosting plans often limit volume and sending speed.
If recipients complain, the reputation of your whole domain/company email can suffer.

When to use: when you need a branded sender and you’re sending medium volumes and can configure DNS and mail settings properly.

Option 3 — use SMTP/relay from a dedicated email provider (Mailgun, SendGrid, TurboSMTP, SMTP.bz, etc.)

Pros:

Built for bulk sending: higher deliverability, analytics, bounce handling, and API/SMTP options.
They support DKIM/SPF/return path and provide reputation management tools.
Safer for your own domain reputation.
Flexible pricing, usually with free trial tiers and paid plans for larger volumes.

Cons:

Costs increase with volume (but often still cheaper and more reliable than managed hosting).
Domain verification and DNS setup (SPF/DKIM) are required, which can be tricky for beginners.
Some providers review content and may restrict campaigns that violate their anti-spam policies.

When to use: for regular or large-scale campaigns where deliverability, tracking, and reputation management matter — recommended for businesses.

Option 4 — Direct Send mode (no external SMTP)

Short: LetsExtract can send directly by using Direct Send. That opens a direct SMTP connection to recipients’ mail servers (no relay).

Pros:

No external SMTP relay or passwords required.
Full control over sending process.

Cons and warnings:

This approach works reasonably well only on a VPS/VDS with a stable network setup and a static IP.
It requires advanced configuration: reverse DNS (PTR), SPF/DKIM, and correct mail server configuration. Without these, messages are likely to go to spam or you’ll face blocks.
Not recommended for beginners or users on shared hosting — it’s hard to configure and maintain IP reputation there.
You should have experience administering mail servers and monitoring bounces and blacklists.

When to use: only if you are an experienced user or sysadmin managing your own VPS/VDS and you can properly configure and maintain the mail environment.

Note: Direct Send and self-hosted sending are best attempted by experienced users; for most people, using a reputable SMTP relay provider is the safer route.