Cheapest/free place to send emails via SMTP?

hostnoob

I'm running a forum which is behind Cloudflare, but it needs to send emails for new member validation, but I want to hide the IP of the server. IP.Board has settings for SMTP details, so should be easy to set up.

I don't want to use Gmail or Yahoo since you need to provide them with a mobile number, and I don't want to (plus I already have my number on my personal Gmail account, which I don't want to use to send emails)

P.S. We will send < 500 emails a month

matthewvz

Mandrill?

Davidx

Definitely mandrill free for 12k emails?

daxterfellowes

Mandrill gets my vote as well. Very clean, efficient, and quick delivery.

hostnoob

Thanks guys, checking it out now.

Edit: working fine, thanks again

hostnoob

Okay, I tested it and it works perfect, just one thing.

I added those TXT records to my DNS, but on their website it says

When you add the SPF record to your domain, that allows receiving email servers like Hotmail, Gmail, Yahoo, and others, to verify the identity of your emails for the SenderID authentication. Add Mandrill's server information to explicitly give Mandrill servers permission to send on your behalf.

Does this mean the server IP will be revealed? Can people work out the server IP from the added TXT records?

CSharp

@hostnoob said:
Okay, I tested it and it works perfect, just one thing.

I added those TXT records to my DNS, but on their website it says

Does this mean the server IP will be revealed? Can people work out the server IP from the added TXT records?

No, your server IP will not be revealed. By adding those TXT records to your domain, you're giving permission to Mandrill send e-mail on your behalf ([email protected]).

Maounique

Are you sure you can host something behind cloudflare and the IP will not be revealed?

elixir

@Maounique said:
Are you sure you can host something behind cloudflare and the IP will not be revealed?

Looks like it is! Apparently you also have to be quite diligent about how you handle your DNS, full guide here:
http://blog.cloudflare.com/ddos-prevention-protecting-the-origin

hostnoob

@Maounique said:
Are you sure you can host something behind cloudflare and the IP will not be revealed?

You're right, I just found a way

Nyr

@matthewvz @David_P @daxterfellowes @Spenzert

Why are you guys blindly telling him to use Mandrill? Mandrill is not going to hide the origin headers for him.

Boxode

If you need to hide from your attackers, you're doing it wrong.

CSharp

@Nyr said:
matthewvz David_P daxterfellowes Spenzert

Why are you guys blindly telling him to use Mandrill? Mandrill is not going to hide the origin headers for him.

Lol, I just checked the IP headers now and you're correct, sorry. When I first used Mandrill, at first look I didn't find my server IP (I guess next time I need to use the "search text" function).

hostnoob

So Mandrill is no better than using a local mailserver? How about a cheap 64mb VPS just to send email? Could I use an LES box (the main box has IPv6 enabled)

Nyr

@hostnoob said:
So Mandrill is no better than using a local mailserver? How about a cheap 64mb VPS just to send email? Could I use an LES box (the main box has IPv6 enabled)

A relay only for sending email would work, but you would have deliverability problems with LES, get a proper VPS or use a SMTP provider which doesn't reveal the origin IP on the headers.

Navyn

+1 for Mandrill

AnthonySmith

yeah if you are at risk of attack I would rather you did not send them from LES

AnthonySmith

there was a company on LEB last week giving 2 x IPv4 with a $5 p/year plan, they may be worth a try.

hostnoob

@AnthonySmith said:
there was a company on LEB last week giving 2 x IPv4 with a $5 p/year plan, they may be worth a try.

Thanks. Just stuck with Mandrill in the mean time and everything has been fine.