{"id":492,"date":"2025-08-29T07:35:38","date_gmt":"2025-08-29T07:35:38","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/1v0.net\/blog\/?p=492"},"modified":"2025-08-29T07:35:40","modified_gmt":"2025-08-29T07:35:40","slug":"how-to-send-emails-in-laravel-with-smtp-mailgun-and-postmark","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/1v0.net\/blog\/how-to-send-emails-in-laravel-with-smtp-mailgun-and-postmark\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Send Emails in Laravel with SMTP, Mailgun, and Postmark"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

How to Send Emails in Laravel with SMTP, Mailgun, and Postmark<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Sending emails is a core feature for many applications\u2014whether it\u2019s delivering account confirmations, password reset links, or notifications. Laravel 12 makes email delivery simple with its built-in Mail<\/code> system and support for multiple drivers such as SMTP<\/strong>, Mailgun<\/strong>, and Postmark<\/strong>. In this guide, you\u2019ll learn how to configure each driver, send your first email, use a mailable inside a controller, trigger emails from events, and test email delivery in your project.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Configuring SMTP in Laravel<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

SMTP (Simple Mail Transfer Protocol) is one of the most common ways to send emails. Laravel provides an SMTP driver out of the box. Open your .env<\/code> file and add the following configuration:<\/p>\n\n\n

MAIL_MAILER=smtp\nMAIL_HOST=smtp.mailtrap.io\nMAIL_PORT=587\nMAIL_USERNAME=your_smtp_username\nMAIL_PASSWORD=your_smtp_password\nMAIL_ENCRYPTION=tls\nMAIL_FROM_ADDRESS=no-reply@example.com\nMAIL_FROM_NAME=\"My App\"<\/span><\/code><\/span>Code language:<\/span> Bash<\/span> (<\/span>bash<\/span>)<\/span><\/small><\/pre>\n\n\n
This sample uses Mailtrap for safe testing. In production, replace with your provider (e.g., Gmail SMTP, SendGrid). MAIL_FROM_*<\/code> values define the default sender for outgoing mail.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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Sending Emails with Mailables<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Laravel uses Mailables<\/strong> to structure, render, and send emails. Generate one with Markdown support:<\/p>\n\n\n
php artisan make:mail WelcomeMail --markdown=emails.welcome<\/code><\/span>Code language:<\/span> Bash<\/span> (<\/span>bash<\/span>)<\/span><\/small><\/pre>\n\n\n
This command creates a mailable and a Markdown Blade view so you can style emails quickly and consistently.<\/p>\n\n\n
namespace<\/span> App<\/span>\\Mail<\/span>;\n\nuse<\/span> Illuminate<\/span>\\Bus<\/span>\\Queueable<\/span>;\nuse<\/span> Illuminate<\/span>\\Mail<\/span>\\Mailable<\/span>;\nuse<\/span> Illuminate<\/span>\\Queue<\/span>\\SerializesModels<\/span>;\n\nclass<\/span> WelcomeMail<\/span> extends<\/span> Mailable<\/span>\n<\/span>{\n    use<\/span> Queueable<\/span>, SerializesModels<\/span>;\n\n    public<\/span> $user;\n\n    public<\/span> function<\/span> __construct<\/span>($user)<\/span>\n    <\/span>{\n        $this<\/span>->user = $user;\n    }\n\n    public<\/span> function<\/span> build<\/span>()<\/span>\n    <\/span>{\n        return<\/span> $this<\/span>->subject('Welcome to My App'<\/span>)\n                    ->markdown('emails.welcome'<\/span>)\n                    ->with([\n                        'name'<\/span> => $this<\/span>->user->name,\n                    ]);\n    }\n}<\/code><\/span>Code language:<\/span> PHP<\/span> (<\/span>php<\/span>)<\/span><\/small><\/pre>\n\n\n
build()<\/code> sets the subject, selects the Markdown template, and passes data (name<\/code>) to the view for personalization.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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Using a Mailable Inside a Controller<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Send the WelcomeMail<\/code> right after user registration from your controller:<\/p>\n\n\n
namespace<\/span> App<\/span>\\Http<\/span>\\Controllers<\/span>;\n\nuse<\/span> App<\/span>\\Mail<\/span>\\WelcomeMail<\/span>;\nuse<\/span> App<\/span>\\Models<\/span>\\User<\/span>;\nuse<\/span> Illuminate<\/span>\\Http<\/span>\\Request<\/span>;\nuse<\/span> Illuminate<\/span>\\Support<\/span>\\Facades<\/span>\\Mail<\/span>;\n\nclass<\/span> RegisterController<\/span> extends<\/span> Controller<\/span>\n<\/span>{\n    public<\/span> function<\/span> store<\/span>(Request $request)<\/span>\n    <\/span>{\n        $user = User::create($request->validate([\n            'name'<\/span> => 'required|string|max:255'<\/span>,\n            'email'<\/span> => 'required|email|unique:users'<\/span>,\n            'password'<\/span> => 'required|min:8'<\/span>\n        ]));\n\n        Mail::to($user->email)->send(new<\/span> WelcomeMail($user));\n\n        return<\/span> redirect('\/home'<\/span>)->with('success'<\/span>, 'Account created and welcome email sent!'<\/span>);\n    }\n}<\/code><\/span>Code language:<\/span> PHP<\/span> (<\/span>php<\/span>)<\/span><\/small><\/pre>\n\n\n
This keeps the flow simple: create the user, then send the email. For larger apps, consider events to decouple email logic from controllers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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Using a Mailable with Events<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Events and listeners separate concerns and make registration extensible (send email, log analytics, etc.). Generate an event and a listener:<\/p>\n\n\n
php artisan make:event UserRegistered\nphp artisan make:listener SendWelcomeEmail --event=UserRegistered<\/code><\/span>Code language:<\/span> Bash<\/span> (<\/span>bash<\/span>)<\/span><\/small><\/pre>\n\n\n
These commands scaffold a UserRegistered<\/code> event and a SendWelcomeEmail<\/code> listener that will react to the event.<\/p>\n\n\n
\/\/ app\/Events\/UserRegistered.php<\/span>\nnamespace<\/span> App<\/span>\\Events<\/span>;\n\nuse<\/span> App<\/span>\\Models<\/span>\\User<\/span>;\nuse<\/span> Illuminate<\/span>\\Foundation<\/span>\\Events<\/span>\\Dispatchable<\/span>;\nuse<\/span> Illuminate<\/span>\\Queue<\/span>\\SerializesModels<\/span>;\n\nclass<\/span> UserRegistered<\/span>\n<\/span>{\n    use<\/span> Dispatchable<\/span>, SerializesModels<\/span>;\n\n    public<\/span> $user;\n\n    public<\/span> function<\/span> __construct<\/span>(User $user)<\/span>\n    <\/span>{\n        $this<\/span>->user = $user;\n    }\n}<\/code><\/span>Code language:<\/span> PHP<\/span> (<\/span>php<\/span>)<\/span><\/small><\/pre>\n\n\n
The event carries the User<\/code> instance so listeners have everything needed to perform follow-up actions.<\/p>\n\n\n
\/\/ app\/Listeners\/SendWelcomeEmail.php<\/span>\nnamespace<\/span> App<\/span>\\Listeners<\/span>;\n\nuse<\/span> App<\/span>\\Events<\/span>\\UserRegistered<\/span>;\nuse<\/span> App<\/span>\\Mail<\/span>\\WelcomeMail<\/span>;\nuse<\/span> Illuminate<\/span>\\Support<\/span>\\Facades<\/span>\\Mail<\/span>;\n\nclass<\/span> SendWelcomeEmail<\/span>\n<\/span>{\n    public<\/span> function<\/span> handle<\/span>(UserRegistered $event)<\/span>: void<\/span>\n    <\/span>{\n        Mail::to($event->user->email)\n            ->send(new<\/span> WelcomeMail($event->user));\n    }\n}<\/code><\/span>Code language:<\/span> PHP<\/span> (<\/span>php<\/span>)<\/span><\/small><\/pre>\n\n\n
The listener\u2019s handle()<\/code> method receives the event, then dispatches the WelcomeMail<\/code> to the new user\u2019s email address.<\/p>\n\n\n
\/\/ app\/Providers\/EventServiceProvider.php<\/span>\nnamespace<\/span> App<\/span>\\Providers<\/span>;\n\nuse<\/span> Illuminate<\/span>\\Foundation<\/span>\\Support<\/span>\\Providers<\/span>\\EventServiceProvider<\/span> as<\/span> ServiceProvider<\/span>;\nuse<\/span> App<\/span>\\Events<\/span>\\UserRegistered<\/span>;\nuse<\/span> App<\/span>\\Listeners<\/span>\\SendWelcomeEmail<\/span>;\n\nclass<\/span> EventServiceProvider<\/span> extends<\/span> ServiceProvider<\/span>\n<\/span>{\n    protected<\/span> $listen = [\n        UserRegistered::class => [\n            SendWelcomeEmail::class,\n        ],\n    ];\n}<\/code><\/span>Code language:<\/span> PHP<\/span> (<\/span>php<\/span>)<\/span><\/small><\/pre>\n\n\n
Registering the mapping in $listen<\/code> tells Laravel to run SendWelcomeEmail<\/code> whenever UserRegistered<\/code> is dispatched.<\/p>\n\n\n
\/\/ app\/Http\/Controllers\/RegisterController.php<\/span>\nuse<\/span> App<\/span>\\Events<\/span>\\UserRegistered<\/span>;\n\npublic<\/span> function<\/span> store<\/span>(Request $request)<\/span>\n<\/span>{\n    $user = User::create($request->validate([\n        'name'<\/span> => 'required|string|max:255'<\/span>,\n        'email'<\/span> => 'required|email|unique:users'<\/span>,\n        'password'<\/span> => 'required|min:8'<\/span>\n    ]));\n\n    UserRegistered::dispatch($user);\n\n    return<\/span> redirect('\/home'<\/span>)->with('success'<\/span>, 'Account created successfully!'<\/span>);\n}<\/code><\/span>Code language:<\/span> PHP<\/span> (<\/span>php<\/span>)<\/span><\/small><\/pre>\n\n\n
Now the controller only fires an event. The listener handles email sending, improving testability and maintainability.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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Mailgun Configuration<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Use Mailgun for transactional delivery by setting these variables in .env<\/code>:<\/p>\n\n\n
MAIL_MAILER=mailgun\nMAILGUN_DOMAIN=your-domain.com\nMAILGUN_SECRET=your-mailgun-key\nMAILGUN_ENDPOINT=api.mailgun.net<\/code><\/span>Code language:<\/span> Bash<\/span> (<\/span>bash<\/span>)<\/span><\/small><\/pre>\n\n\n
With MAIL_MAILER=mailgun<\/code>, all Mail::to(...)->send(...)<\/code> calls route through Mailgun\u2019s API transport.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/div>\n\n\n\n
Postmark Configuration<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Postmark focuses on high deliverability. Configure it like this:<\/p>\n\n\n
MAIL_MAILER=postmark\nPOSTMARK_TOKEN=your-postmark-server-token\nMAIL_FROM_ADDRESS=hello@yourdomain.com\nMAIL_FROM_NAME=\"My App\"<\/span><\/code><\/span>Code language:<\/span> Bash<\/span> (<\/span>bash<\/span>)<\/span><\/small><\/pre>\n\n\n
Once active, Laravel will send via Postmark\u2014helpful for critical emails like password resets and receipts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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Testing Emails with PHPUnit<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Use fakes to test behavior without sending real mail. Here we verify that the event triggers the welcome email:<\/p>\n\n\n
namespace<\/span> Tests<\/span>\\Feature<\/span>;\n\nuse<\/span> Tests<\/span>\\TestCase<\/span>;\nuse<\/span> App<\/span>\\Events<\/span>\\UserRegistered<\/span>;\nuse<\/span> App<\/span>\\Mail<\/span>\\WelcomeMail<\/span>;\nuse<\/span> App<\/span>\\Models<\/span>\\User<\/span>;\nuse<\/span> Illuminate<\/span>\\Support<\/span>\\Facades<\/span>\\Mail<\/span>;\nuse<\/span> Illuminate<\/span>\\Support<\/span>\\Facades<\/span>\\Event<\/span>;\nuse<\/span> Illuminate<\/span>\\Foundation<\/span>\\Testing<\/span>\\RefreshDatabase<\/span>;\n\nclass<\/span> MailTest<\/span> extends<\/span> TestCase<\/span>\n<\/span>{\n    use<\/span> RefreshDatabase<\/span>;\n\n    public<\/span> function<\/span> test_event_triggers_welcome_email<\/span>()<\/span>\n    <\/span>{\n        Mail::fake();\n        Event::fake();\n\n        $user = User::factory()->create();\n\n        UserRegistered::dispatch($user);\n\n        Event::assertDispatched(UserRegistered::class);\n\n        Mail::assertSent(WelcomeMail::class, function<\/span> ($mail)<\/span> use<\/span> ($user)<\/span> <\/span>{\n            return<\/span> $mail->hasTo($user->email);\n        });\n    }\n}<\/code><\/span>Code language:<\/span> PHP<\/span> (<\/span>php<\/span>)<\/span><\/small><\/pre>\n\n\n
We fake both subsystems, assert the event was dispatched, and confirm the expected mailable was sent to the right recipient.<\/p>\n\n\n
PHPUnit 10.*\/Laravel Test Runner\n\n   PASS  Tests\\Feature\\MailTest\n  \u2713 test_event_triggers_welcome_email\n\n  Tests:  1 passed\n  Assertions: 2\n  Time: 0.41s<\/code><\/span>Code language:<\/span> Bash<\/span> (<\/span>bash<\/span>)<\/span><\/small><\/pre>\n\n\n
This output indicates a successful run\u2014your event fired and your mailable was sent, all without hitting external mail services.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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Wrapping Up<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
You configured SMTP, Mailgun, and Postmark; created a reusable mailable; sent it from a controller; refactored to events and listeners for clean separation; and tested the flow with fakes. This foundation ensures reliable, maintainable email delivery in production.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
What\u2019s Next<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Explore more advanced communication and notification patterns:<\/p>\n\n\n\n