GoDaddy SMTP Relay: Settings, WordPress Setup & Troubleshooting
Published October 12, 2024 · Updated August 27, 2026 · Guides & Tutorials
If your website is hosted on GoDaddy, its built-in SMTP relay is the quickest way to get contact forms and app notifications sending — it is convenient and already there. But it comes with a low daily cap and specific settings that trip people up constantly. Here is how the GoDaddy SMTP relay works, the exact settings to use, and how to fix it when it stops working.
The GoDaddy relay settings
| Setting | Typical value |
|---|---|
| Relay host (hosted sites) | relay-hosting.secureserver.net |
| Mailbox SMTP host | smtpout.secureserver.net |
| Port | 25 (relay), 587 or 465 (mailbox) |
| Authentication | None (relay) / mailbox login |
The hosted relay requires no authentication when you send from within GoDaddy hosting, which makes it easy for scripts and contact forms — but shared hosting plans typically allow only around 250–500 relayed emails per day.
Applying the settings in WordPress
- Install an SMTP plugin.
- Enter the host and port from the table above.
- For a mailbox host, add your email and password; for the hosted relay, leave auth off.
- Set the "from" address to a mailbox on your domain and send a test.
Troubleshooting: why your GoDaddy relay stopped working
A handful of issues cause almost every failure:
- Daily limit reached. Hit the cap and sending silently stops until the next day.
- Wrong host or port. Hosted sites use
relay-hosting.secureserver.net; mailboxes usesmtpout.secureserver.net. Mixing them up breaks sending. - Wrong "from" address. The relay expects a sender on your GoDaddy-hosted domain.
- Missing authentication. Even relayed mail needs SPF/DKIM/DMARC to reach external inboxes.
To fix it: check whether you have hit the daily cap first, verify the host and port match your setup, confirm the "from" address is on your domain, and test with a single message and read the actual error, not just "failed."
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Frequently asked questions
What is GoDaddy's SMTP relay server address?
Typically relay-hosting.secureserver.net for mail sent from GoDaddy-hosted websites, or smtpout.secureserver.net for a mailbox. Check your hosting panel for the exact settings on your plan.
How many emails can GoDaddy's relay send per day?
Shared hosting plans generally cap the relay at around 250–500 emails per day — enough for forms and notifications, not for bulk campaigns.
Why did my GoDaddy SMTP relay stop working?
Most often you hit the daily cap, or there is a host/port/from-address mismatch. Check the limit first, then verify your settings match the table above.
How do I send more than GoDaddy's relay allows?
Point your site or app at a dedicated SMTP server instead. Same plug-in settings, but with a dedicated IP, no daily cap, and full authentication.