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Simple ForwardEmail

WordPress plugin using ForwardEmail.net as an SMTP proxy for outbound mail

by Nonatech · github.com/nonatech-uk/wp-simple-forwardemail · website

★ 0stars

Install

Download source zip No release zip yet

This is the repository archive. It installs, but the folder name will carry the branch suffix and updates will not flow.

Install straight from GitHub with WP-CLI:

wp plugin install https://github.com/nonatech-uk/wp-simple-forwardemail/archive/refs/heads/main.zip
Updates itself. It ships its own updater, so new versions appear under Dashboard → Updates.
Readme github.com/nonatech-uk/wp-simple-forwardemail ↗

Lightweight SMTP plugin for Forward Email with email logging and Healthchecks.io monitoring.

Description

Simple ForwardEmail configures WordPress to send email via Forward Email's SMTP service. It includes built-in email logging and Healthchecks.io integration for independent delivery monitoring.

Features:

  • SMTP sending via Forward Email (or any SMTP provider)
  • Email logging with success/failure tracking
  • Healthchecks.io heartbeat - proves the plugin and cron are alive
  • Healthchecks.io failure pings - immediate alert when an email fails
  • Dashboard with send/fail stats (24h, 7d, 30d)
  • Encrypted credential storage (AES-256)
  • wp-config.php constant support for credentials
  • Test email from the settings page
  • Automatic log cleanup (configurable retention)
  • No external dependencies, no CDN, no tracking

Why not use WP Mail SMTP / FluentSMTP?

Those plugins support 10+ email providers you don't need. Their monitoring and reporting features are paywalled. This plugin does one thing well: Forward Email SMTP with visibility.

Installation

  1. Upload the simple-forwardemail folder to /wp-content/plugins/
  2. Activate the plugin
  3. Go to ForwardEmail > Settings
  4. Enter your Forward Email SMTP credentials
  5. Optionally add your Healthchecks.io ping URL
  6. Send a test email to verify

Recommended: Define credentials in wp-config.php instead of the database:

define( 'SFE_SMTP_USER', 'you@yourdomain.com' );
define( 'SFE_SMTP_PASS', 'your-generated-password' );
define( 'SFE_HEALTHCHECKS_URL', 'https://hc-ping.com/your-uuid' );

Frequently Asked Questions

What SMTP settings do I need for Forward Email?

  • Host: smtp.forwardemail.net
  • Port: 465 (SSL) or 587 (TLS)
  • Username: Your alias email address
  • Password: Generated in Forward Email dashboard under My Account > Domains > Aliases > Generate Password

How does the Healthchecks.io integration work?

Two signals:

  1. Heartbeat - A scheduled ping (every 12h or 24h) that proves the plugin is active and WordPress cron is running. If the heartbeat stops, Healthchecks alerts you.
  2. Failure ping - When an email fails to send, the plugin immediately pings the /fail endpoint so you know right away.

This means you get alerted if: the site goes down, the plugin is deactivated, cron breaks, or an email actually fails.

Why encrypt the Healthchecks URL?

Your Healthchecks ping URL is a secret - anyone with it could send false pings. Encrypting it at rest in the database prevents exposure if the database is compromised.

Can I use this with providers other than Forward Email?

Yes. It works with any SMTP provider. Just change the host, port, and credentials.

Changelog

1.0.0

  • Initial release