### [How to Send WordPress Emails with Resend (Step by Step)](https://wpmailsmtp.com/how-to-send-wordpress-emails-with-resend/)

**Published:** June 26, 2026
**Author:** David Ozokoye

**Excerpt:** Your WordPress site says the email sent, but the receipt never reaches your customer. 

By default, WordPress mail leans on PHP, and hosts and spam filters quietly block it. WP Mail SMTP fixes that by routing your mail through reliable, authenticated servers. 

Here's how to connect Resend with the WP Mail SMTP Setup Wizard.

**Content:**

Do you want to fix WordPress email sending issues using the Resend email provider? The easiest way to send WordPress emails with Resend is with an SMTP plugin like WP Mail SMTP. You create a Resend account, verify your domain, grab an API key, then let the wizard connect everything in a few clicks. Your emails route through Resend’s servers rather than WordPress’s unreliable defaults.

By default, WordPress sends mail with PHP. Hosts often block it, and spam filters distrust it. So your order receipts, password resets, and form notifications quietly land in spam or vanish.

WP Mail SMTP fixes that. It lets you choose from multiple email providers, including Resend.

In this guide, you’ll learn how to set up WordPress emails using WP Mail SMTP and the Resend mailer.

[Fix WordPress Emails Now](https://wpmailsmtp.com/pricing/)

- [How Do You Set Up Resend in WordPress?](#how-do-you-set-up-resend-in-wordpress)
- [Step 1: Install WP Mail SMTP](#aioseo-step-1-install-wp-mail-smtp-22)
- [Step 2: Create Your Resend Account](#how-do-you-create-a-resend-account)
- [Step 3: Add and Verify Your Sending Domain](#how-do-you-verify-your-sending-domain)
- [Step 4: Create Your Resend API Key](#how-do-you-create-your-resend-api-key)
- [Step 5: Connect Resend to WordPress](#how-do-you-connect-resend-using-the-setup-wizard)
- [Step 6: Send a Test Email](#aioseo-step-6-send-a-test-email-116)

**Note:** “Resend” here means the email service at resend.com. It’s not the WordPress action of re-sending a failed email. Keep that in mind as you search for help.

## What Is Resend?

Resend is an email service that sends your app’s emails through a reliable API. It’s backed by Y Combinator and built for developers. You send through its servers, so your messages get better deliverability than standard WordPress mail.

It handles the email types your site sends automatically. That includes WooCommerce receipts, password resets, and contact form notifications.

![Send WordPress email with Resend comparison diagram](https://wpmailsmtp.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/img_01_resend-delivery-flow.png "How Resend Delivers WordPress Email")## How Do You Set Up Resend in WordPress?

To set up Resend in WordPress, create a Resend account, verify your domain, and then connect it with WP Mail SMTP. The plugin’s Setup Wizard handles the connection for you. Here are the 6 steps:

1. Install WP Mail SMTP
2. Create your Resend account
3. Add and verify your sending domain
4. Create your Resend API key
5. Run the WP Mail SMTP Setup Wizard
6. Send a test email

## Step 1: Install WP Mail SMTP

If you want to use Resend in WordPress, you need [WP Mail SMTP](https://wpmailsmtp.com/pricing/). It’s the best SMTP plugin for WordPress, making the whole process super easy.

The Resend mailer is available in the Lite and Pro versions of WP Mail SMTP. We recommend using the Pro version so you can access all the email logging and tracking tools we’ll cover later.

To download the Pro version, head to your [WP Mail SMTP account](https://wpmailsmtp.com/account/). Click on the **Downloads** tab and download the latest version to your desktop.

![Download the WP Mail SMTP plugin](https://wpmailsmtp.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/download-wp-mail-smtp.png "download-wp-mail-smtp - WP Mail SMTP")Next, open up your WordPress dashboard and upload the zip file to install the plugin.

If you need help with this part, jump over to this [guide to installing a WordPress plugin](https://www.wpbeginner.com/beginners-guide/step-by-step-guide-to-install-a-wordpress-plugin-for-beginners/).

![Upload the WP Mail SMTP plugin to the plugins page](https://wpmailsmtp.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/install-wp-mail-smtp.png "install-wp-mail-smtp - WP Mail SMTP")Once the plugin has been uploaded, hit **Activate**. This will start the WP Mail SMTP Setup Wizard in your browser.

![Start the WP Mail SMTP Setup Wizard](https://wpmailsmtp.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/wp-mail-smtp-setup-wizard.png "click the Let's Get Started button - WP Mail SMTP")Using an API sounds complicated, but our Setup Wizard makes it easy. In fact, there’s only one connection key to paste in.

Before we hit **Let’s Get Started**, let’s open up a new tab and create the API key you’ll need to copy.

## Step 2: Create Your Resend Account

Create a Resend account from the pricing page. Go to [Resend’s pricing page](https://resend.com/pricing "Resend pricing") and pick a plan. We’ll use the free plan, but the steps are the same for any plan.

![Resend pricing page](https://wpmailsmtp.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/resend-pricing-page.png "Choose a Resend Plan")Click the **Get started** button and sign up using your email address. After you verify your email, Resend opens your dashboard. That’s where you’ll add your domain and API key next.

## Step 3: Add and Verify Your Sending Domain

You must verify a sending domain before Resend will deliver your mail. Verification proves that you own the domain and allows Resend to sign your emails. You’ll need to add 3 DNS records to do it.

#### Add your sending domain

In the Resend dashboard, go to **Domains** in the left sidebar.

![Navigate to Domains in the Resend dashboard](https://wpmailsmtp.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/click-domains.png "Open the Domains Page in Resend")Click **+ Add Domain**. Enter your domain (`example.com`), then pick the region closest to your users.

![Enter your domain name and select a region in Resend](https://wpmailsmtp.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/domain-region-smtp.png "Add Your Sending Domain")#### Verify your sending domain

Resend then shows DNS records to add at your domain host. These include SPF and DKIM records.

![Resend domain verification options](https://wpmailsmtp.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/dns-records-smtp.png "Resend Domain Verification Options")Here’s what each record does:

RecordTypeWhat it doesSPFTXTTells inboxes which servers may send mail for your domainDKIMTXTAdds a signature that proves your mail wasn’t tampered withDMARCTXTOptional policy that ties SPF and DKIM togetherCopy each record from Resend into your DNS settings.

![Resend SPF and DKIM DNS records](https://wpmailsmtp.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/add-dns-records.png "Resend SPF and DKIM Records")**Note:** If your domain uses Cloudflare, Resend can add the records for you. Otherwise, see our guide on [how to add DNS records](https://wpmailsmtp.com/docs/how-to-add-dns-records-for-wp-mail-smtp-setup/ "How to Add DNS Records for WP Mail SMTP Setup") for your host.

Save the records, then return to Resend and click **I’ve added the records**. DNS changes can take a few minutes or up to 48 hours.

Once they propagate, your domain shows a **Verified** status.

![Verified domain status in Resend](https://wpmailsmtp.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/verified-status.png "Verified Domain Status")**Pro Tip:** You don’t have to wait for verification. Move to the next step while DNS propagates, but keep this tab open.

## Step 4: Create Your Resend API Key

The API key connects Resend to third-party applications like WP Mail SMTP. In the Resend dashboard, go to **API Keys**, then click **+ Create API key**.

![Create an API key in Resend](https://wpmailsmtp.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/create-api-key.png "Create a Resend API Key")Give the key a name, then set the **Permission** to **Full access**. WP Mail SMTP needs this to track email delivery. Once done, click **Add**.

![Set the Resend API key permission to Full access](https://wpmailsmtp.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/full-access.png "Set Permission to Full Access")Click the copy icon to copy your API key. Keep it somewhere safe.

![Copy your Resend API key](https://wpmailsmtp.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/click-copy-button.png "Copy Your Resend API Key")**Important:** Resend shows your key only once. If you lose it, you’ll have to create a new one.

## Step 5: Connect Resend to WordPress

With the Resend API key in place, return to the browser tab with your WP Mail SMTP settings open.

Alternatively, you can access the setup wizard by navigating to **WP Mail SMTP » Settings**. Once here, click **Launch Setup Wizard** under the **Primary Connection** section.

![Launch the WP Mail SMTP Setup Wizard](https://wpmailsmtp.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/launch-setup-wizard.png "Launch the Setup Wizard")On the welcome screen, click **Let’s Get Started**.

![Start the WP Mail SMTP Setup Wizard](https://wpmailsmtp.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/click-lets-get-started-button.png "Start the Setup Wizard")### 1. Choose the Resend mailer

The wizard asks which mailer to use. Select **Resend**, then click **Save and Continue**.

![Choose the Resend mailer to send WordPress emails with Resend](https://wpmailsmtp.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/select-resend-mailer.png "Choose the Resend Mailer")### 2. Configure your mailer settings

Next, the wizard asks for your Resend details. Paste your API key into the **API Key** field. Then set your **From Name** and **From Email**.

![Paste your Resend API key into WP Mail SMTP](https://wpmailsmtp.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/enter-api-key.png "Enter Your Resend API Key")Your **From Email** must use the domain you verified in Resend. For example, if you verified example.com in Resend, your From Email should include the `@example.com` extension. We recommend turning on **Force From Email** so it applies site-wide.

![Save your mailer settings in the Setup Wizard](https://wpmailsmtp.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/click-save-button-1.png "Save Your Mailer Settings")When your settings are filled in, click **Save and Continue**.

### 3. Enable email features

The wizard then asks which email features to turn on. Improved deliverability and error tracking are on by default. You can also [track opens and clicks](https://wpmailsmtp.com/email-analytics/ "Email Analytics for WordPress"), keep detailed logs, and get failure alerts.

![Enable email features in the Setup Wizard](https://wpmailsmtp.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/select-email-features.png "Enable Email Features")**Note:** Detailed email logs and open or click tracking need a [paid WP Mail SMTP license](https://wpmailsmtp.com/pricing/ "WP Mail SMTP Pricing"). Sending through Resend works on the free plugin.

Pick the features you want, then click **Save and Continue**.

### 4. Configure email logs

If you selected email logs, you’ll be able to specify the options you want to track. Go ahead and select the ones you want to enable and click **Save and Continue**.

![](https://wpmailsmtp.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/configure-email-logs.png)### 5. Add your license key

If you have WP Mail SMTP Pro, paste your license key and click **Verify License Key**. On the free plugin, click **Skip this Step**.

![Enter your WP Mail SMTP license key in the Setup Wizard](https://wpmailsmtp.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/wp-mail-smtp-setup-wizard-license-key.png "Add Your License Key")### 6. Send a test email

The wizard sends a test email automatically to confirm your setup. If it works, you’ll see a **Congrats** screen. Click **Finish Setup** to wrap up.

![Successful WP Mail SMTP setup confirmation screen](https://wpmailsmtp.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/finish-setup.png "Setup Complete")**Warning:** Your Resend domain must show **Verified** before the test will send. If it’s still pending, wait for DNS to propagate.

If the test fails, the wizard shows a troubleshooting screen. Click **Start Troubleshooting** to see the error and the fix.

![WP Mail SMTP Setup Wizard troubleshooting screen](https://wpmailsmtp.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/wp-mail-smtp-setup-wizard-troubleshooting.png "Troubleshoot a Failed Test")### Enable Email Logging and Tracking in WordPress

Email logs should already be configured from the Setup Wizard. However, you can access it at any time by navigating to **WP Mail SMTP » Settings** and selecting the **Email Log** tab.

![WP Mail SMTP email log feature](https://wpmailsmtp.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/wp-mail-smtp-email-log.png)These 2 features are awesome because they allow you to see:

- The emails your site is sending out, including any attachments that were sent with them
- Whether the recipient interacted with the email (in other words, if it was opened or clicked).

To unlock these features, you’ll want to use our [Pro version](https://wpmailsmtp.com/pricing/) or higher.

On the settings page, go ahead and click the checkboxes for all of these options:

- **Log Email Content:** Saves a copy of the entire contents of each email sent from your site
- **Save Attachments:** Saves a copy of any attachments that were sent with the emails
- **Open Email Tracking** and **Click Link Tracking**: Allows you to see when your WordPress emails were opened and whether any links were clicked.

You can also adjust the **Log Retention Period** if you want to control how much disk space is used.

![WP Mail SMTP Email Log options](https://wpmailsmtp.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/wp-mail-smtp-email-log-options.gif "WP Mail SMTP Email Log options - WP Mail SMTP")## Step 6: Send a Test Email

At this point, you might want to submit the contact form on your website as a test. If you prefer, you could use the Test Email functionality in WP Mail SMTP to send an email to yourself.

![Send WordPress email with Resend - Test email in WP Mail SMTP](https://wpmailsmtp.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/test-email-tab.png)Once that’s done, we can review the email you sent in your new WordPress email log.

Click on **WP Mail SMTP » Email Log** to open it.

![Open the email log in WP Mail SMTP](https://wpmailsmtp.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/email-log-wp-mail-smtp-30.png "Open the email log in WP Mail SMTP - WP Mail SMTP")In your email log, WP Mail SMTP shows a list of sent emails, and you can click on any email to see:

- Headers and technical information
- The email provider (Resend in this case)
- Email content
- Delivery status
- Which plugin generated the email
- Whether the email was opened or clicked

![Open and click information in WordPress email log](https://wpmailsmtp.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/email-logs.png "Open and click information in WordPress email log - WP Mail SMTP")Now that you’re logging all of your emails, you can see exactly what your WordPress site is sending through your Postmark account. Even better, you can monitor engagement and deliverability to ensure your [WordPress emails don’t go to spam](https://wpmailsmtp.com/wordpress-emails-going-to-spam/).

And that’s it! You’re all set up with the Resend email provider in WordPress.

[Fix WordPress Emails Now](https://wpmailsmtp.com/pricing/)

### FAQs – Send WordPress Emails with Resend

### Do I need the Setup Wizard to use Resend?

No, but it’s the easiest path. The wizard walks you through the mailer, settings, and a test send in order. You can also set Resend up manually under **WP Mail SMTP » Settings**. For the full guide, be sure to check our [Resend mailer documentation](https://wpmailsmtp.com/docs/how-to-set-up-the-resend-mailer-in-wp-mail-smtp/ "Resend").

### Is Resend free for WordPress?

Yes. Resend’s free plan includes 3,000 emails per month, with a limit of 100 per day. That covers most small sites and contact forms. Paid plans start at $20 per month for more volume.

### Do I need to verify a domain to use Resend with WordPress?

Yes. Resend requires a verified sending domain before it delivers your mail. You add SPF and DKIM records to prove ownership. Your From Email must then use that domain.

### What DNS records does Resend require?

Resend requires SPF and DKIM records, both added as TXT records at your DNS host. SPF authorizes Resend’s servers, and DKIM signs your mail. A DMARC record is optional but recommended.

### Why is my Resend test email failing?

The usual cause is an unverified domain or a mismatched From Email. Confirm your domain reads **Verified** in Resend. Make sure your From Email uses that same domain, and that your API key is correct.

## Next, Stop Contact Form Spam in WordPress

You’ve connected Resend to WordPress with the WP Mail SMTP plugin and confirmed your site sends mail reliably.

Next, [make sure your contact forms stay clean](https://wpmailsmtp.com/how-to-stop-contact-form-spam-in-wordpress/ "How to Stop Contact Form Spam in WordPress") too. Spam submissions can flood your inbox and hurt your sender reputation.

Ready to fix your emails? [Get started today](https://wpmailsmtp.com/pricing) with the best WordPress SMTP plugin. If you don’t have the time to fix your emails, you can get full White Glove Setup assistance as an extra purchase, and there’s a 14-day money-back guarantee for all paid plans.

If this article helped you out, please follow us on [Facebook](https://facebook.com/wpmailsmtp) and [Twitter](https://twitter.com/wpmailsmtp) for more WordPress tips and tutorials.

**Categories:** WordPress Tutorials

---