# Anyone using gmail for SMTP?
**URL:** https://meta.discourse.org/t/anyone-using-gmail-for-smtp/41371
**Category:** Support
**Created:** [March 21, 2016, 3:16pm UTC](https://meta.discourse.org/t/anyone-using-gmail-for-smtp/41371 "2016-03-21T15:16:38Z")
**Posts on this page:** 13
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@JimmyX](https://meta.discourse.org/u/JimmyX)
#### Post date: [March 21, 2016, 3:16pm UTC](https://meta.discourse.org/t/anyone-using-gmail-for-smtp/41371/1 "2016-03-21T15:16:39Z")
Trying to get discourse up and running I used gmail for the SMTP mentoned in app.yml. A feature of gmail is allowing this according to [this article.](https://galleryserverpro.com/use-gmail-as-your-smtp-server-even-when-using-2-factor-authentication-2-step-verification/) It doesn’t work. My settings are something like this (I changed my email and pw).
```plaintext
## on initial signup example 'user1@example.com,user2@example.com'
DISCOURSE_DEVELOPER_EMAILS: 'myemail@gmail.com'
## TODO: The domain name this Discourse instance will respond to
DISCOURSE_HOSTNAME: 'localhost'
## TODO: The mailserver this Discourse instance will use
DISCOURSE_SMTP_ADDRESS: smtp.gmail.com
DISCOURSE_SMTP_PORT: 587
DISCOURSE_SMTP_USER_NAME: myemail@gmail.com
DISCOURSE_SMTP_PASSWORD: thepassword
DISCOURSE_SMTP_ENABLE_START_TLS: true
```
---
### Author:  [@riking](https://meta.discourse.org/u/riking)
#### Post date: [March 21, 2016, 4:42pm UTC](https://meta.discourse.org/t/anyone-using-gmail-for-smtp/41371/6 "2016-03-21T16:42:24Z")
Trying to use gmail to send your email will not go over well.
It’s fine to use for incoming mail, as that’s much lower volume.
---
### Author:  [@JimmyX](https://meta.discourse.org/u/JimmyX)
#### Post date: [March 21, 2016, 4:46pm UTC](https://meta.discourse.org/t/anyone-using-gmail-for-smtp/41371/7 "2016-03-21T16:46:38Z")
It will only be for a couple of messages a day while I tinker. I wouldn’t consider using it for a production site 🙂
---
### Author:  [@sam](https://meta.discourse.org/u/sam)
#### Post date: [March 21, 2016, 11:57pm UTC](https://meta.discourse.org/t/anyone-using-gmail-for-smtp/41371/8 "2016-03-21T23:57:08Z")
Pretty sure the terms and conditions of Google would disallow you from using GMail as an SMTP endpoint. You are probably risking freezing your account or something. Plenty of free options for an smtp service … [https://sendgrid.com](https://sendgrid.com) and for local dev you would just use mailcatcher.
---
### Author:  [@clay](https://meta.discourse.org/u/clay)
#### Post date: [October 5, 2016, 2:03pm UTC](https://meta.discourse.org/t/anyone-using-gmail-for-smtp/41371/13 "2016-10-05T14:03:44Z")
@sam If I’m reading [the G Suite documents](https://support.google.com/a/answer/176600?hl=en) correctly, organizations with a business account can use gmail for SMTP. Is that how it reads to you?
---
### Author:  [@sam](https://meta.discourse.org/u/sam)
#### Post date: [October 6, 2016, 2:41am UTC](https://meta.discourse.org/t/anyone-using-gmail-for-smtp/41371/16 "2016-10-06T02:41:18Z")
It reads as though you could try it out… I would go for a dedicated smtp service which would give you better visibility and diagnostics
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### Author:  [@codinghorror](https://meta.discourse.org/u/codinghorror)
#### Post date: [October 6, 2016, 2:58am UTC](https://meta.discourse.org/t/anyone-using-gmail-for-smtp/41371/17 "2016-10-06T02:58:57Z")
@clay knows what he is doing. Try it out and let us know.
---
### Author:  [@charleswalter](https://meta.discourse.org/u/charleswalter)
#### Post date: [October 6, 2016, 11:29am UTC](https://meta.discourse.org/t/anyone-using-gmail-for-smtp/41371/18 "2016-10-06T11:29:33Z")
@clay, we have used a google for work email account setup for discourse with minimal issues. our reply via email works smoothly. I see they just renamed g suite
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### Author:  [@clay](https://meta.discourse.org/u/clay)
#### Post date: [October 6, 2016, 2:36pm UTC](https://meta.discourse.org/t/anyone-using-gmail-for-smtp/41371/19 "2016-10-06T14:36:53Z")
> [@codinghorror](#):
>
> Try it out and let us know.
I will - might be a few weeks, though.
> [@charleswalter](#):
>
> we have used a google for work email account setup for discourse with minimal issues. our reply via email works smoothly. I see they just renamed g suite
Very glad to hear that. It would simplify the case I’m making to migrate to Discourse both at a school where I’m on the board and at my new job.
---
### Author:  [@peterobrien](https://meta.discourse.org/u/peterobrien)
#### Post date: [October 8, 2017, 9:29am UTC](https://meta.discourse.org/t/anyone-using-gmail-for-smtp/41371/28 "2017-10-08T09:29:47Z")
I’ve also been trying to get setup with paid business gmail from a custom domain and using `smtp-relay.gmail.com`.
Haven’t got it working yet (but I’m a fumbling newbie with this stuff - so don’t write it off on my efforts thus far!)
Is anyone using [smtp-relay.gmail.com](http://smtp-relay.gmail.com) without a hitch? Are there any particular settings that make or break the deal? i.e. [http://crunchify.com/how-to-setup-email-for-discourse-forum-with-google-apps-smtp-relay-right-way/](http://crunchify.com/how-to-setup-email-for-discourse-forum-with-google-apps-smtp-relay-right-way/) suggests not to SMTP authenticate
Or is it advised that paid gmail is not a good enough dedicated email service to feature on the recommend list
Thanks!
---
### Author:  [@DeanMarkTaylor](https://meta.discourse.org/u/DeanMarkTaylor)
#### Post date: [October 8, 2017, 3:04pm UTC](https://meta.discourse.org/t/anyone-using-gmail-for-smtp/41371/29 "2017-10-08T15:04:06Z")
> [@peterobrien](#):
>
> paid business gmail from a custom domain and using [smtp-relay.gmail.com](http://smtp-relay.gmail.com).
You might find this post useful for specific GMail related settings:
[https://meta.discourse.org/t/troubleshooting-email-on-a-new-discourse-install/16326/128?u=deanmarktaylor](https://meta.discourse.org/t/troubleshooting-email-on-a-new-discourse-install/16326/128)
And always refer to the steps here when tracking down issues:
[https://meta.discourse.org/t/troubleshooting-email-on-a-new-discourse-install/16326/2?u=deanmarktaylor](https://meta.discourse.org/t/troubleshooting-email-on-a-new-discourse-install/16326/2)
---
### Author:  [@peterobrien](https://meta.discourse.org/u/peterobrien)
#### Post date: [October 8, 2017, 4:46pm UTC](https://meta.discourse.org/t/anyone-using-gmail-for-smtp/41371/30 "2017-10-08T16:46:29Z")
Thanks Dean! (Hope life is good with you!)
I threw in the towel with gmail and took mailgun up on their free tier in the end - which worked pretty seamlessly.
I did try what was suggested in your linked thread (not to smtp auth) but didn’t get it working - I might have misconfigured something else though…
---
### Author:  [@system](https://meta.discourse.org/u/system)
#### Post date: [May 7, 2021, 1:31pm UTC](https://meta.discourse.org/t/anyone-using-gmail-for-smtp/41371/32 "2021-05-07T13:31:01Z")
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