SMTP2GO vs Bulko: SMTP Relay Pricing and Features Compared (2026)

Choose SMTP2GO if you want a subscription SMTP service with a free plan of 1,000 emails a month, many alternative ports, detailed reporting and ticket, chat and phone support, and you send a predictable volume every month. Choose Bulko if you would rather prepay once: 20,000 emails cost $15 with no expiry, while the same month on SMTP2GO Starter costs $27 to $30.

SMTP2GO and Bulko are closer to each other than most providers in this series, because both are built around SMTP rather than a marketing platform. The difference is mainly in billing, extras and payment options. Prices below are from the official SMTP2GO pricing page and Bulko's price list, checked in October 2026.

Quick comparison

Pricing

SMTP2GO's pricing page offers a Free plan with 1,000 emails a month, Starter at $15 per month for 10,000 emails (extra emails $1.20 per 1,000) or $30 for 50,000 ($1.00 per 1,000 extra), Professional at $75 per month for 100,000 ($0.85 per 1,000 extra) or $170 for 250,000, and custom Premier pricing above 3 million. Paying yearly gives two months free, and SMTP2GO promises a full refund within 30 days. Professional plans include a dedicated IP address. Bulko's packages are 5K for $5, 20K for $15, 50K for $30 and 150K for $60.

Bulko is cheaper at 5,000, 20,000 and 150,000 emails. At 50,000 a month the two are level on monthly billing, and SMTP2GO is cheaper if you pay yearly ($300 a year, or $25 a month, versus $30 per Bulko 50K package). The comparison flips again when volume is uneven, since a Bulko package does not expire between busy months. Keep Bulko's default limit in mind: 2,000 emails per day per SMTP account, which support raises on request.

Prices checked October 2026, see the SMTP2GO pricing page for current plans.

Setup and deliverability

SMTP2GO asks you to verify a sender, either a whole domain through DNS records or a single email address, and to create an SMTP user under Sending > SMTP Users. The server is mail.smtp2go.com, with regional hostnames for the US, Europe and Australia. Its main port is 2525, and it also accepts 8025, 587, 80 and 25 with TLS, plus 465, 8465 and 443 with SSL. That wide port list is useful on networks that block the usual SMTP ports. SMTP2GO lists blacklist monitoring, spamtrap detection, feedback loops and automatic DKIM and SPF among the features on all plans.

Bulko works differently. There is no account review before you can send: you pay for a package and the SMTP credentials are shown in the dashboard and emailed to you immediately. You can send from any address on a domain you control. Verifying the domain is optional but recommended: Bulko gives you a DKIM TXT record (selector bk1) and a CNAME bnc.yourdomain.com for the return path, which lets SPF, DKIM and DMARC align. Without verification, mail still sends.

Mail goes out through Bulko's own MTA, which throttles warm-up per mailbox provider, processes bounces and monitors blocklists. Every message also passes an AI content filter (rules plus AI) that looks for phishing, malware, brand impersonation and scams. Messages that fail are rejected with 554 5.7.1 and are not delivered, so you see the problem immediately instead of finding it later in a reputation report. The default limit is 2,000 emails per day per SMTP account, and [email protected] can raise it on request.

No provider can promise inbox placement, and Bulko does not publish delivery-rate numbers. What decides the result is the same everywhere: authenticated domains, clean lists and content people asked for. The SPF, DKIM and DMARC setup guide and the blacklist checker help with the first two.

When SMTP2GO is the better choice

• You want more than sending. SMTP2GO includes reporting, subaccount management, SMS messaging and, on Professional, email testing tools and a dedicated IP. Bulko offers none of these on the relay.
• You need an API. SMTP2GO has an HTTP API alongside SMTP. Bulko SMTP Relay is SMTP only, without webhooks.
• You want phone and chat support. SMTP2GO lists ticket, chat and phone support. Bulko support is by email at [email protected].
• Your network blocks standard ports. Ports 80, 443, 8025 and 8465 give SMTP2GO more fallback options than Bulko's 587, 465 and 2525.
• You send a steady 50,000 or more each month and are happy to pay yearly, or you manage email for many clients as an MSP.

When Bulko is the better choice

• No subscription at all. You buy a package once, nothing renews, and unused emails stay on your balance.
• Small volumes. 5,000 emails cost $5, a third of SMTP2GO's lowest paid plan.
• Crypto payment. Bulko accepts USDT, BTC and other coins, plus Visa and Mastercard through Stripe. SMTP2GO takes cards, PayPal and, for some plans, ACH or wire.
• Quick credentials. The username and password are ready right after payment, and you can verify the domain afterwards.
• Content screening built in. Bulko's AI filter rejects phishing, malware and impersonation before delivery, which protects shared sending reputation.

For a broader view, see the best SMTP services in 2026 and free SMTP servers and their limits.

How to switch to Bulko SMTP

1. Buy a package on the Bulko SMTP Relay page with a card or crypto. Your SMTP username and password appear in Dashboard > SMTP Access and are also emailed to you right after payment.
2. In your app, plugin or server config, replace mail.smtp2go.com with smtp.bulko.io.
3. Pick a port: 587 with STARTTLS (many apps label it "TLS"), 465 with implicit SSL/TLS (often labeled "SSL"), or 2525 with STARTTLS if your hosting provider blocks 587 and 465. Port 25 is not offered for submission.
4. Paste the Bulko username (it looks like smtp_xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx) and password into the SMTP username and password fields. Authentication is AUTH LOGIN or PLAIN, which every common SMTP library supports.
5. Use a From address on a domain you control. Optionally verify the domain under Sending Domains: Bulko gives you a DKIM TXT record (selector bk1) and a CNAME bnc.yourdomain.com for the return path, so SPF, DKIM and DMARC align.
6. Send a test message before moving all traffic. A 535 reply means the credentials are wrong; see SMTP error 535.

SMTP host: smtp.bulko.io
Port: 587 (STARTTLS) or 465 (SSL/TLS) or 2525 (STARTTLS)
Username: smtp_xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Password: from Dashboard > SMTP Access

If you are unsure which port your software expects, the SMTP ports guide explains the difference between 465, 587 and 2525.

If your SMTP2GO setup uses port 80, 443, 8025 or 8465, move it to 587, 465 or 2525, since Bulko does not listen on the other ports.

FAQ

Is Bulko cheaper than SMTP2GO?

At 5,000, 20,000 and 150,000 emails a month, yes: $5, $15 and $60 against $15, $27 and $117.50 per month. At 50,000 a month both cost $30 on monthly billing, and SMTP2GO's yearly plan works out cheaper at $25 a month.

Does SMTP2GO have a free plan?

Yes, 1,000 emails per month with no credit card, and no extra emails beyond that. Bulko has no free SMTP plan; its 500 free credits are for the Campaign Platform only.

Which ports does Bulko support compared to SMTP2GO?

Bulko supports 587 and 2525 with STARTTLS and 465 with SSL/TLS. SMTP2GO additionally accepts 25, 80, 8025, 443 and 8465.

Do Bulko emails expire?

No. Unused emails never expire, and an unused package can be refunded within 14 days.

Can I pay SMTP2GO with crypto?

SMTP2GO does not list crypto among its payment options (cards, PayPal, and ACH, wire or check for some plans). Bulko accepts USDT, BTC and other coins.