Which SMTP provider do you use to send transactional emails?
- Thread starter Cromulent
- Start date
motowebmaster
Well-known member
I used to use AWS SES, but Amazon deleted my SES email profile without explanation and then kept telling me that they would quickly re-approve.
Switched to Postmark, which is more expensive, but things have been easier.
Switched to Postmark, which is more expensive, but things have been easier.
Wildcat Media
Well-known member
I had no issue getting SES rolling on a smaller forum. Usage is so low for now that I haven't even been billed yet.
But if we decide to move our large forum over to another host, I likely will set up SES. The only thing I can't do right now is determine how much email our XF is generating on a daily basis. I want to know what the cost might be before jumping in and ending up with a huge bill.
But if we decide to move our large forum over to another host, I likely will set up SES. The only thing I can't do right now is determine how much email our XF is generating on a daily basis. I want to know what the cost might be before jumping in and ending up with a huge bill.
Sim
Well-known member
I've used SparkPost for the past 5 years and have been very happy with the level of service and deliverability they offer.
They are quite strict when it comes to quality - so you really do need to ensure you have clean sending lists and that you process bounces to avoid sending mail to bounced emails - that's one of the quickest ways to destroy your sending reputation.
SparkPost isn't exactly cheap - but I was surprised recently when I compared prices to Postmark - when you include the (mandatory IMO) cost of a dedicated IP address, SparkPost is significantly cheaper than Postmark!
They are quite strict when it comes to quality - so you really do need to ensure you have clean sending lists and that you process bounces to avoid sending mail to bounced emails - that's one of the quickest ways to destroy your sending reputation.
SparkPost isn't exactly cheap - but I was surprised recently when I compared prices to Postmark - when you include the (mandatory IMO) cost of a dedicated IP address, SparkPost is significantly cheaper than Postmark!
motowebmaster
Well-known member
Mouth
Well-known member
Anyone having issues with hotmail rejecting emails from Amazon SES because hotmail has placed SES on blocklist?
Code:
Reporting-MTA: dns; b232-61.smtp-out.ap-southeast-2.amazonses.com
Action: failed
Final-Recipient: rfc822; <redacted>@hotmail.com
Diagnostic-Code: smtp; 550 5.7.1 Unfortunately, messages from [69.169.232.61] weren't sent. Please contact your Internet service provider since part of their network is on our block list (S3150). You can also refer your provider to http://mail.live.com/mail/troubleshooting.aspx#errors. [BN1NAM02FT024.eop-nam02.prod.protection.outlook.com]
Status: 5.7.1Sim
Well-known member
Is that a shared IP address?
You really want a dedicated IP address to avoid these types of issues.
motowebmaster
Well-known member
I did when I was on SES, even had a problem on my own firewall when it auto-incorporated a blocklist rule and blocked me from sending outbound email to SES.
Mr Lucky
Well-known member
Yes the dedicated IP should solve those IP block issues, but can be too expensive for smaller forums. Without dedicated IP I found Postmark to be better than Sparkpost. I have tried about five and postmark is working best.
Hard bounces get automatically suppressed after the first one until you manually approve if you want.
MySiteGuy
Well-known member
That's not what they are looking for. They want DETAILS about how you intend to handle bounces & unsubscribes, the type of emails sent, how people sign up (they want double opt-in and Xenforo is if you have email verification turned on), how you handle complaints, etc.
eva2000
Well-known member
Just an update, I revisited some other SMTP transactional email providers for Elasticemail and Pepipost/Netcorecloud and they both also seem to remove the real server IP though more expensive than Amazon SES. But if Amazon SES declines you, at least there are alternatives
I knew Elasticemail did in the past but good to see Pepipost do as well. Just for fun, I've been playing with Postfix and multiple SMTP transactional email provider relays so I can use all 3 on the same server - Amazon SES, Elasticemail and Pepipost depending on what the send from email used is
Last edited:
eva2000
Well-known member
doh typo, meant Elasticemail https://elasticemail.com/email-api-pricing 
Mr Lucky
Well-known member
Yes, this is my point. Without dedicated IP you do rely on a good provided to keep their shared IPs as clean as possible, but it's not perfect. For example
- With SES I went through a short period of them not being deliverable to btinternet and hotmail. (I think this was due to btinternet being over strict, but can't remember the exact details)
- With Sparkpost again, there were some undeliverable due to a IP getting blacklisted. They did sort that explaining that "these things happen with shared IP" and the solution is I should upgrade the subscription.
- With Postmark the above has also happened but once only and they sorted the IP pretty quickly.
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