Custom SMTP to send automated emails from Staq

Client PDF reports and billing emails can go out from your own address instead of a wpstaq.com address. These steps set that up. This is not the mail service WordPress uses to send from a website.

Open Custom SMTP

1. Go to Clients.
2. Open the Custom SMTP tab.
3. Or go to Global Settings → Custom SMTP. Same form.

Fill the server and sender

1. Enter Host, Encryption (TLS or SSL), and Port. TLS uses 587. SSL uses 465.
2. Enter Username and Password.
3. Enter From email and From name.
4. Click Save Changes.
5. Click Send Test Email after the save. The test uses the saved values.

FAQ

What SPF record do I add?

Use one SPF record on the From domain. Authorize your email provider and any other service that sends for that domain. Also authorize the Staq mail server with a:mail-01.wpstaq.com. Do not create a second SPF record at the same hostname.

Mailgun and the Staq mail server:

v=spf1 include:mailgun.org a:mail-01.wpstaq.com ~all

SendGrid and the Staq mail server:

v=spf1 include:sendgrid.net a:mail-01.wpstaq.com ~all

Office 365, Mailgun, and the Staq mail server:

v=spf1 include:spf.protection.outlook.com include:mailgun.org a:mail-01.wpstaq.com ~all

Office 365, SendGrid, and the Staq mail server:

v=spf1 include:spf.protection.outlook.com include:sendgrid.net a:mail-01.wpstaq.com ~all

Google Workspace, Mailgun, and the Staq mail server:

v=spf1 include:_spf.google.com include:mailgun.org a:mail-01.wpstaq.com ~all

Google Workspace, SendGrid, and the Staq mail server:

v=spf1 include:_spf.google.com include:sendgrid.net a:mail-01.wpstaq.com ~all

Can an AI write the record for me?

Yes. Use ChatGPT, Claude, or another AI you prefer. Paste this prompt and fill the brackets:

Help me create the correct SPF DNS record for my domain.

- My domain: [your domain]
- My email provider: [provider name]
- Other services sending emails for my domain, including website forms and newsletters: [list services or "unsure"]
- My current SPF record: [paste record or "unknown"]

My website is hosted by WPStaq, which asks me to authorize its direct mail server using `a:mail-01.wpstaq.com`.

Check my email providers' official SPF requirements and combine all required senders into one SPF record, preserving existing legitimate senders. Check the SPF DNS lookup limit and tell me the DNS record type, hostname and value to enter.

If any information is missing, ask me before generating the final record. Do not guess provider SPF values or tell me to create a second SPF record at the same hostname.

What’s the difference between Global SMTP and Sendgrid?

SendGrid is great for when you want the emails to send from the actual domain name but you can only apply when the site is on production. Since php mailers are completely disabled, we still recommend Global SMTP which is accessible via Global Settings → SMTP. Why? If the website is in dev mode or staging, at least you can still receive emails from the website using a global mailer. It’s also neat to use just in case you forget to apply SendGrid or a custom SMTP. It’s great as a fallback solution. 

Need some help?

Open a support ticket if the control is not in Staq, or the change does not save.