SMTP credentials allow you to authenticate with AhaSend’s SMTP servers to send emails using the Simple Mail Transfer Protocol. This guide will walk you through creating, configuring, and managing your SMTP credentials.
New to SMTP? SMTP (Simple Mail Transfer Protocol) is the standard protocol for sending emails over the internet. It’s supported by virtually all programming languages and email libraries, making it the most compatible way to send emails.

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What are SMTP Credentials?

SMTP credentials consist of a username and password that authenticate your application with AhaSend’s SMTP servers. Unlike API keys, SMTP credentials work with any SMTP-compatible email library or application, making them perfect for:
  • Legacy applications that already use SMTP
  • Email libraries that don’t support HTTP APIs
  • Third-party applications that need SMTP configuration
  • Cross-platform compatibility across all programming languages

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Creating SMTP Credentials

Access Credentials Dashboard

  1. Log in to your AhaSend Dashboard
  2. Navigate to the Credentials section from the main menu
  3. Click the “Create Credential” button

Configure Credential Settings

Select Credential Type:
  • Choose “SMTP” as the credential type
Choose a Descriptive Name:
  • Use a name that helps you identify this credential later
  • Examples: “Production SMTP”, “example.com SMTP”, “Staging Environment”
Naming Tip: If you have multiple domains, include the domain name in your credential name (e.g., “example.com Production SMTP”) to make management easier.

Set Credential Mode

Choose the appropriate mode for your use case:Production Mode:
  • Sends emails to real recipients
  • Use for live applications and real email delivery
  • Emails are delivered normally
Sandbox Mode:
  • Simulates email sending without actual delivery to recipients
  • Perfect for testing and development environments
  • Completely free - doesn’t count toward your email credits
  • Still triggers webhooks for testing your integrations
Sandbox Benefits: Sandbox mode processes emails just like production (including webhook events) but stops short of actual delivery. This makes it perfect for testing your integration safely. Learn more about sandbox mode →

Configure Credential Scope

Global Scope (Recommended):
  • Works with all domains in your account
  • Simplest option for most users
  • Can be changed later if needed
Domain-Specific Scope:
  • Restricts credential to specific domains
  • Better security for multi-domain setups
  • Requires separate credentials per domain
Getting Started: Choose “Global” scope initially. You can always create more specific credentials later as your needs grow.

Generate and Save Credentials

  1. Click “Create Credential” to generate your SMTP credentials
  2. Copy and securely store both the username and password
  3. Save them in your password manager or secure storage

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Managing SMTP Credentials

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Viewing Your Credentials

Once created, you can view and manage your SMTP credentials in the dashboard:
  • Name/Label: The descriptive name you gave the credential
  • Username: Always visible in the credentials list
  • Password: Visible in the dashboard for easy copying
  • Mode: Can be changed between Production and Sandbox
  • Scope: Can be modified to adjust domain restrictions

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Security Best Practices

  • Never commit credentials to version control (Git repositories)
  • Use environment variables to store credentials in your applications
  • Rotate credentials periodically for enhanced security
  • Use different credentials for different environments (dev, staging, production)
  • Limit access to credentials within your team
  • Use scoped credentials to restrict domain access when possible
  • Monitor usage through the dashboard’s activity logs
  • Disable unused credentials to reduce security surface
  • Always use STARTTLS encryption when connecting
  • Prefer port 587 for most applications
  • Use port 2525 if 587 is blocked by your network
  • Avoid port 25 unless specifically required

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Using SMTP Credentials

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Connection Settings

Configure your email library or application with these settings: 
Host: send.ahasend.com
Port: 587 (recommended) or 25, 2525
Security: STARTTLS (required)
Username: [Your SMTP username from dashboard]
Password: [Your SMTP password from dashboard]

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Integration Examples

Node.js

Nodemailer and other Node.js email libraries

Python

Django, Flask, and smtplib examples

PHP

PHPMailer, Laravel, and native PHP

Go

Standard library and gomail examples

Ruby

Action Mailer and Net::SMTP

Command Line

Send emails directly from terminal

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API Management

For programmatic management of SMTP credentials, use our REST API:

Create SMTP Credential

Create new SMTP credentials via API

List SMTP Credentials

Retrieve all your SMTP credentials

Get SMTP Credential

Get details of a specific credential

Delete SMTP Credential

Remove SMTP credentials you no longer need
API vs Dashboard: The API is perfect for automation, infrastructure-as-code, or when you need to manage credentials programmatically. For manual setup, the dashboard provides a more user-friendly experience.

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Troubleshooting

Common causes:
  • Incorrect username or password
  • Using your dashboard login instead of SMTP credentials
  • Credentials not created or expired
Solutions:
  • Verify credentials in your dashboard
  • Create new SMTP credentials if needed
  • Check for typos in configuration
Common causes:
  • Network firewall blocking SMTP ports
  • Incorrect host or port configuration
  • ISP blocking outbound SMTP
Solutions:
  • Try port 2525 if 587 is blocked
  • Check firewall settings
  • Contact your ISP about SMTP restrictions
Common causes:
  • Outdated TLS libraries
  • Incorrect security settings
  • Self-signed certificate issues
Solutions:
  • Enable STARTTLS (not SSL/TLS)
  • Update your email library
  • Verify TLS version support
Symptoms:
  • Emails being deferred or rejected
  • Temporary errors during high-volume sending
Solutions:
  • Check your plan’s rate limits
  • Implement exponential backoff
  • Contact support for higher limits

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Advanced Configuration

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Multiple Credentials

You can create multiple SMTP credentials for different purposes:
  • Environment separation: Different credentials for dev, staging, and production
  • Domain isolation: Separate credentials for each domain you send from
  • Team access: Individual credentials for different team members or applications

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Credential Scoping

  • Works with all domains in your account
  • Simplest setup for single-domain users
  • Good for getting started quickly
  • Restricts sending to specific domains
  • Better security for multi-domain setups
  • Prevents accidental cross-domain sending

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Next Steps

Now that you have SMTP credentials set up:

Configure Sandbox Mode

Set up a safe testing environment for development

Learn About Special Headers

Use custom headers for tracking and metadata
Pro Tip: Start with sandbox mode credentials for testing, then create production credentials when you’re ready to send real emails. This prevents accidental emails during development.