--- title: "SMTP relay." canonical: "https://bird.com/email-api/features/smtp" --- # SMTP relay. Connect the software you already use to Bird’s email delivery. Keep your application’s SMTP integration, send over an encrypted connection, and track results in the dashboard or through MCP. [Read customer stories](/customers) [Explore Enterprise](/enterprise) - [Airwallex](/customers/airwallex) - [Glovo](/customers/glovo) - [Zillow](/customers/zillow) - Uber - [Binance](/customers/binance) - Adobe - Meta - PayPal - Pinterest - Square - [Al Jazeera](/customers/aljazeera) - [Aramex](/customers/aramex) - [Bazaar Technologies](/customers/bazaar) - [ComparaOnline](/customers/compara) - [Emma](/customers/emma) ## Check the setup. Then connect your app. Start with your sending identity. Ask Bird MCP to check the domain and its DNS records, then connect your application to the regional SMTP relay with an email-enabled API key. [Connect Bird MCP](/docs/ai/mcp-server) [Explore the Email API](/email-api) [SMTP configuration](/docs/guides/email/smtp) ## Change the connection. Keep the message. Add Bird’s host, port and credentials to your mail library or application. Keep your HTML and attachments. Set category, tracking and IP-pool defaults on the API key so each application sends with its own configuration. Use implicit TLS on port 465 or STARTTLS on 587 or 2525. Match the SMTP region to your API key. ## Your app sends it. Bird shows you what happened. SMTP messages appear in the same email log and reports as API sends. Keep the message ID from the queued response, then follow delivery, deferrals and bounces in Bird or through signed webhooks. [Email log](/docs/guides/email/email-log) [Delivery webhooks](/docs/guides/email/events) [Email analytics](/email-api/features/analytics) ## Your domain. Your reputation. Verify your sending identity. Manage reputation as your volume grows. [Domain setup](/docs/guides/email/sending-domains)[DKIM, SPF & DMARC](/docs/guides/email/dkim-spf-dmarc)[Dedicated IPs](/docs/guides/email/dedicated-ips-and-pools)[Suppressions](/docs/guides/email/suppressions) ## SMTP relay, explained. ### What credentials does Bird SMTP use? Use bird as the username and a regional API key with emails permission as the password. Connect to eu1.smtp.bird.com or us1.smtp.bird.com to match the key region. ### Which ports are supported? Use 465 for implicit TLS or 587 and 2525 for STARTTLS. Authentication requires encryption. Port 25 is not offered for submission. ### Can SMTP render a stored Bird template? SMTP takes content from the MIME message your application submits. Use the Email API when you want to send a stored template with structured parameters. ## Scale without losing control. Organize teams in workspaces, control API access, and trace changes through audit logs. [PowerMTA](/email-api/features/power-mta)[Momentum](/email-api/features/momentum)[Workspaces](/docs/guides/workspaces)[Team roles](/docs/guides/users-teams-roles)[API authentication](/docs/guides/authentication)[Audit logs](/docs/knowledge-base/account-security/audit-log)[Explore Enterprise](/email-api/enterprise) ## Go further. With Email. Everything from your first send to delivery at scale. - [Transactional email](/email-api/features/transactional-email) — Send receipts, confirmations and notifications. - [Email marketing](/email-api/features/email-marketing) — Create broadcasts, newsletters and promotions. - [Email API](/email-api) — Build email into your app or agent. - [Email automation](/email-api/features/email-automation) — Connect customer events to relevant messages. - [Email templates](/email-api/features/templates) — Create reusable, personalized emails. - [Contacts & audiences](/email-api/features/audiences) — Organize contacts and maintain audiences. - [SMTP relay](/email-api/features/smtp) — Connect your existing mail stack. - [Inbound email](/email-api/features/inbound) — Receive replies and attachments. - [Email deliverability](/email-api/features/deliverability) — Authenticate senders and manage reputation. - [Email analytics](/email-api/features/analytics) — Trace delivery, engagement and failures. - [Inbox Insights](/email-api/features/inbox-insights) — Measure inbox placement and run seed tests. - [Competitive Insights](/email-api/features/competitive-insights) — Explore competitor campaigns and sending patterns. [Email quickstart](/email-api/getting-started)[Email pricing](/pricing/email)[Compare providers](/email-api/compare)[Email FAQs](/email-api/faqs)[Email resource library](/email-api/resources) ## Start with one. Build across channels. Bring your next customer conversation into the same workspace. - [Email](/email-api) — Send, receive, and track email. - [SMS](/sms-api) — Send updates. Keep replies connected. - [WhatsApp](/whatsapp-api) — Rich messages and conversations. - [Apple Messages](/apple-messages-api) — Help customers in Messages. - [Voice](/voice-api) — Connect calls and guide conversations. - [Verify](/verify-api) — Confirm access with a code. - [Lookup](/lookup-api) — Check contact details before sending. - [Mailbox](/mailbox-api) — Give your application an inbox. - [eSIM](/esim-api) — Build mobile connectivity into your product. - [Realtime](/realtime-api) — Keep your applications in sync. ## Your next idea. Ready to connect. [Get Started](/dashboard/signup?returnTo=%2Fdashboard%2Fw%2Femail)[Contact Sales](/demo?product=smtp)