In the business, emails are an important factor that defines the interaction with customers. Any mail that is sent to a recipient with the intention of completing a transaction must get to the recipient as soon as possible and in one piece. There are two main ways of sending emails in businesses, namely SMTP and API. Knowing the peculiarities of these methods as well as their benefits will assist you in selecting the best option. In this article, we will show you the differences between SMTP and API so that you can make the right decision.
Understanding SMTP for Email Sending
SMTP, or Simple Mail Transfer Protocol, is one of the most common protocols for transferring messages between servers and a proper method for sending emails. It works in a way that it forwards messages from one server to another until it gets to the recipient side. It is effectively used because of its simplicity and compatibility with different programs. To configure SMTP one has to input the server credentials, the TLS/SSL security and the port details in an email client or application.
Thus, SMTP has a number of definite advantages, one of which is the simplicity of connection. There is no coding required at all: to start using the service, you need to fill in the server settings only. Due to the fact that the SMTP is a standard protocol used by most Internet email clients, it is compatible with different email clients. However, some of the servers may not support all the SMTP versions, which may result in a limitation of some ports. Also, SMTP involves multiple handshakes between the servers sending the email and the server of the recipient, especially in the case of mass emailing.
How APIs Work for Email Sending
APIs, or Application Programming Interfaces, allow applications to interact with email service providers to send messages automatically. Instead of managing servers for emails, developers can incorporate an API into the application to perform the email tasks. This is especially so for organizations that need high levels of customization and sophisticated analysis.
If an event occurs, for example, a customer purchase, then the API sends a call to the email service provider to process and deliver the email. APIs are more flexible than SMTP since they enable the management of the content of the emails, monitoring of the performance in real-time, and the automation of processes. As for APIs, unlike conventional e-mailing services, they utilize HTTPS instead of the need to install other programs.
Another advantage of an API is that it is always faster as compared to the normal way of doing things. Due to the lower number of interactions between servers, email is delivered faster than through SMTP. Furthermore, most email APIs have features that enable businesses to track delivery in real-time and have a chance to address complications on the same day. Nevertheless, the use of an API entails the need to write code, and changes in API versions may also call for frequent updates.
Selecting Between SMTP and API for Your Business
When it comes to choosing between SMTP and API, it all depends on the business requirement. When it comes to having an uncomplicated and easy to set up email solution, then Simple Mail Transfer Protocol (SMTP) is perfect for use. It is very easy to use and compatible with almost all the email clients available in the market. But if speed, automation, and tracking are important, the API based solution is the right one to choose.
For organizations that want an effective and dependable way of sending emails, Mailrelay offers both SMTP and API features to the users. It provides the most extensive free account of all the website builders so that it may be of great interest to startups and businesses in the process of development. It has an artificial intelligence email editor, instant statistics, and a strong development API. Mailrelay has been in the email marketing business for many years and offers high deliverability and professional help for all its users, even those who are using the free version of the service.
Final Thoughts
Now, both SMTP and API have their advantages, so the choice in favor of one or another will depend only on the needs of your business. SMTP is best used for simple emails and does not require any coding, while API is more advanced and quicker in processing. No matter the approach you take, Mailrelay as an email service provider will help in delivering your emails to the customers. Outsourcing your emails will strengthen your communication plan and engage your clients.
