Optimize Email Deliverability with Magento 2 AWS SES

• What is AWS SES?

• Key Features of Magento 2 AWS SES

• Why Use AWS SES with Magento 2?

• Prerequisites of Magento 2 AWS SES

• Tips for Using AWS SES with Magento

• FAQs

• Summary

What is AWS SES?

Amazon's simple email service is a cloud-based platform. It enables businesses to send transactional and notification emails.

Built for high deliverability, SES ensures your emails reach inboxes, not spam folders. It supports SMTP and API integration. It is ideal for applications like Magento 2.

AWS SES enhances the authenticity and reliability of email. It is through domain verification and bounce-handling features. Its pricing model makes it an affordable solution for all-sized businesses.

AWS SES helps maintain consistent and professional email communication from your platform. It is whether you are sending order confirmations or promotional campaigns.

Key Features of Magento 2 AWS SES

1. Reliable Email Delivery

• Magento 2’s native email system may face issues with deliverability. It often causes important emails to end up in spam. These include order confirmations or password resets.

• AWS SES improves this by using a trusted infrastructure and proper authentication. It helps ensure emails reach inboxes.

2. SMTP and API Integration

• AWS SES supports both SMTP and API-based email sending. Magento 2 can connect to SES using SMTP credentials via third-party SMTP extensions.

• Developers can also use the SES API to send emails from the Magento backend. It provides more control and performance.

3. Domain and Email Authentication

• AWS SES helps verify your domain and set up SPF and DMARC records. It enhances credibility and prevents spoofing.

• It ensures receiving email servers can trust the sender. It improves inbox placement and protects your brand’s reputation.

4. Email Sending

• AWS SES scales with your needs whether you send hundreds or millions of emails monthly.

• Magento 2 store owners can rely on SES. It helps handle growing traffic and customer communication. It eliminates the need for extra mail server management.

5. Cost-Effective Solution

• AWS SES follows a pay-as-you-go pricing model, making it affordable.

• You only pay for the number of emails sent. If Amazon EC2 hosts your Magento 2 store, you get a generous free monthly tier.

• It reduces overhead and supports budget-conscious businesses.

6. Email Logs and Analytics

• AWS SES provides detailed reports and metrics for every email sent.

• Through the AWS Management Console or CloudWatch, you can track:

  1. Delivery success

  2. Bounce rates

  3. Complaints

  4. Open rates

• The visibility helps optimize your email campaigns and troubleshoot issues.

7. Enhanced Security and Access Control

• With full integration into AWS IAM, Identity, and Access Management, you can:

  1. Create secure credentials

  2. Assign permissions

  3. Track usage

• It prevents unauthorized access and ensures your email system is well protected.

8. Sandbox and Production Modes

• SES allows you to start in sandbox mode for testing purposes. It comes with limits on email recipients.

• Once it verifies and tests your setup, you can request production access. It helps remove limitations and go live with your Magento store.

Why Use AWS SES with Magento 2?

1. Improves Email Deliverability

• Many Magento 2 stores face the issue of emails ending up in the spam folder. They might also not deliver the emails at all.

• Amazon’s trusted infrastructure builds AWS SES. It helps improve email reputation and ensure that emails reach customer inboxes.

• SES supports email authentication through SPF and DMARC. It increases credibility with ISPs and filters out spam.

2. Scales with Business Growth

• As your store grows, you need to communicate with more customers.

• AWS SES offers a smooth scale. It supports anything from hundreds to millions of monthly emails without performance issues.

• There is no need to invest in or manage your mail server infrastructure.

3. Smooth SMTP and API Integration

• AWS SES provides different options for integration.

• For Magento 2, the most common approach is SMTP. It uses extensions like Mageplaza or Amasty SMTP.

• More advanced users can also connect via the AWS SES API. It offers faster performance and tighter integration.

4. Centralized Monitoring and Reporting

• With SES, you get access to a full suite of analytics. It is via the AWS Management Console and Amazon CloudWatch.

• You can track delivery success, track bounces, and set alerts for suspicious activity.

• The insight helps you maintain a clean sender reputation and diagnose problems.

5. Strengthens Brand Trust and Security

• Verifying your domain and signing outgoing emails with DKIM builds trust. It also protects your brand from spoofing or phishing attacks.

• Customers are likelier to trust emails that pass all security checks. They come from a verified domain.

6. Supports Both Transactional and Marketing Emails

• Magento 2 uses email for transactional purposes. It uses AWS SES for:

  1. Marketing campaigns

  2. Newsletters

  3. Abandoned cart reminders

  4. Promotional content

• It is a one-stop solution for all your email communication needs.

7. Quick Setup and Testing Environment

• AWS SES offers a sandbox mode that allows you to test your email integration before going live.

• After configuration and verification, you can request production access. It opens full sending capabilities.

• It ensures your Magento 2 store is ready for real-world operations.

Prerequisites of Magento 2 AWS SES

1. Magento 2 Store Setup

• You must have a functional Magento 2 installation. It could run on a local development environment or a live production site.

• Make sure Magento 2 can send emails. The server has access to external SMTP services.

• If AWS EC2 or another cloud platform hosts your store. Ensure all necessary ports, like 587 or 465, are open for outgoing SMTP traffic.

• Enable Magento’s built-in email queues to manage and send emails.

2. Active AWS Account

• You need a valid Amazon Web Services account to access AWS SES. If you don’t have one, you can create it. The account will also give you access to:

  1. Amazon SES

  2. IAM for credentials

  3. CloudWatch for monitoring email activity

  4. Route 53 for DNS management

• Navigate to the SES service dashboard once logged into the AWS Management Console. You can then begin setup.

3. Domain or Email Address Verified in SES

• AWS SES requires you to verify your domain or email address. It is before sending emails to prevent spam and unauthorized use.

• Verify your full domain for branding and flexibility.

• You can also verify a single email address. Domain verification is the more scalable and professional approach.

4. SMTP Credentials or API Keys

• After verifying your domain or email, you will need SMTP credentials. It helps connect SES to Magento 2.

• IAM, Identity, and Access Management generate it.

• These credentials help send authenticated emails through your Magento store. Store them and never expose them in public code.

5. Magento 2 SMTP Extension Installed

• Magento 2 does not support SMTP integration out of the box. Install an SMTP module to connect to AWS SES. Popular options include:

  1. Mageplaza SMTP

  2. Amasty SMTP

  3. SMTP by Aheadworks

  4. Free community modules from GitHub

• These extensions help enter your SMTP server settings and test the connection. Track email delivery from your Magento admin panel.

6. DNS Access for Domain Configuration

• During the domain verification, SES provides DNS records. Add it to your domain's DNS manager. You must have access to update:

  1. TXT records for SPF and domain verification

  2. CNAME records for DKIM signing

  3. MX records if you are routing email through SES

• Ensure you know how to make these changes or have access to someone who does.

Tips for Using AWS SES with Magento

1. Verify Your Domain Early for Better Deliverability

• AWS SES requires email or domain verification to send emails.

• Verifying your entire domain instead of individual emails allows unlimited sender addresses. It also boosts your sender's reputation.

• Add the provided DKIM and TXT records to your DNS settings in the AWS SES console.

• Track verification status in SES and test with a non-critical email first. Unverified domains risk emails landing in spam.

2. Exit Sandbox Mode Before Going Live

• New SES accounts start in sandbox mode. It limits emails to verified recipients only. It is unsuitable for a live Magento store sending order confirmations.

• Request production access via the AWS SES console. Provide details like your use case and expected volume. Approval takes 24–48 hours as of 2025.

• While waiting, use verified test emails to ensure your Magento setup works. Post-approval, retest with real customer addresses.

3. Choose the Right Integration Method for Your Needs

• SMTP is easier to set up with extensions like Mageplaza SMTP. It is ideal for small stores or beginners. It uses SES SMTP credentials.

• API is faster and more reliable for high-volume stores. It requires an extension like Magenable Amazon SES or custom AWS SDK coding.

• If scaling past 10,000 emails/month, switch to API. It helps handle spikes better and offers detailed tracking.

4. Use Configuration Sets for Email Insights

• SES configuration sets have been available since 2017. It helps track:

  1. Delivery

  2. Opens

  3. Bounces

  4. Complaints

• It is useful for Magento transactional emails.

• In the SES console, create a Configuration Set under "Email Sending." Link it to a destination. Pass the Configuration Set name in Magento via your extension or custom code.

• Set up bounce notifications to flag problematic email addresses in Magento. It also reduces spam complaints.

5. Track SES Sending Limits and Quotas

• SES enforces a sending quota and a rate limit. Exceeding these pauses sending, disrupting Magento workflows.

• Check your limits in the SES console under "Sending Statistics." Request a quota increase if nearing capacity.

• Use Magento’s cron jobs to stagger email sends and stay within SES rate limits.

FAQs

1. Is there any setup cost for using Magento 2 AWS SES SMTP?

There are no setup fees for using AWS SES SMTP with Magento 2. AWS SES has a pay-as-you-go pricing model based on the number of emails sent. Costs are generally low, especially for low to medium email volumes.

2. Can I use AWS SES SMTP for transactional and marketing emails in Magento 2?

You can use AWS SES SMTP for transactional and marketing emails in Magento 2. It is capable of handling a variety of email types. These include order confirmations and password resets. Configuring SES SMTP ensures consistent email delivery for all kinds of communication.

3. What are the limits of using AWS SES SMTP with Magento 2?

AWS SES has sending limits based on your SES account's status. New accounts have a lower sending quota. It can increase as you establish a good reputation for sending. It helps track your sending limits and stay within the approved thresholds.

4. Can I use AWS SES SMTP with Magento 2 to track email performance?

AWS SES provides tracking features such as delivery reports and complaint tracking. You can integrate it with Magento 2 to track email performance. It ensures you can optimize your email strategy and improve deliverability.

Summary

AWS SES is a cloud-based email service designed to improve email deliverability.

• AWS SES helps emails reach customer inboxes instead of spam folders.

• AWS SES uses a pricing model, making it an affordable solution.

• Integrate AWS SES with Magento 2 through SMTP credentials or API access.

• AWS SES helps authenticate emails through domain verification, SPF, and DMARC.

Ready to optimize your email deliverability with AWS SES? Pair it with your store on managed Magento hosting for reliable communication.