update Updated January 2026 Paid Add-on

Mandrill SMTP Settings

Complete guide to configure Mandrill (Mailchimp Transactional) SMTP for sending transactional emails. Mandrill is a paid add-on for Mailchimp accounts.

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Mailchimp Account Required

Mandrill is not a standalone service. You need an active paid Mailchimp account to use Mandrill. It's available as an add-on starting at $20/month for 25,000 emails.

table_chart Quick Reference

Setting Value
SMTP Server smtp.mandrillapp.com
Port (TLS) 587 Recommended
Port (SSL) 465
Alternative Ports 25, 2525
Username Any valid Mandrill username (often your email)
Password Your Mandrill API Key
Encryption TLS/SSL Required
Pricing Starts at $20/month for 25,000 emails

Step-by-Step Setup Guide

1

Set Up Mailchimp Account

  1. Create or log into your Mailchimp account
  2. Upgrade to a paid Mailchimp plan if needed
  3. Navigate to Automations โ†’ Transactional Email
2

Enable Mandrill Add-on

  1. In Mailchimp, go to Transactional Email
  2. Click 'Add Transactional Email'
  3. Select your email block size (starts at 25,000)
  4. Complete the purchase
3

Get Your API Key

  1. Go to mandrillapp.com and log in with Mailchimp
  2. Navigate to Settings โ†’ SMTP & API Info
  3. Click 'New API Key' to generate a key
  4. Copy and save your API key securely
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The API Key is used as your SMTP password. Your username can be any valid string (often your email address).

4

Verify Your Sending Domain

  1. Go to Settings โ†’ Sending Domains
  2. Add your domain
  3. Add the required DNS records (SPF, DKIM)
  4. Click 'Test DNS Settings' to verify

Code Examples

import smtplib
from email.mime.text import MIMEText
from email.mime.multipart import MIMEMultipart

# Mandrill SMTP settings
SMTP_HOST = "smtp.mandrillapp.com"
SMTP_PORT = 587
SMTP_USER = "your-email@example.com"  # Any valid username
API_KEY = "your-mandrill-api-key"

# Create message
msg = MIMEMultipart()
msg['From'] = "sender@yourdomain.com"
msg['To'] = "recipient@example.com"
msg['Subject'] = "Test Email via Mandrill"

body = "This is a test email sent via Mandrill SMTP."
msg.attach(MIMEText(body, 'plain'))

# Send email
with smtplib.SMTP(SMTP_HOST, SMTP_PORT) as server:
    server.starttls()
    server.login(SMTP_USER, API_KEY)
    server.send_message(msg)
    print("Email sent successfully!")

Mandrill Features

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Mailchimp Integration

Seamless integration with Mailchimp for unified email management

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Template Engine

Use Mailchimp templates for transactional emails with merge tags

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Detailed Analytics

Track opens, clicks, bounces, and spam reports in real-time

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Webhooks

Real-time event notifications for delivery, opens, clicks, and more

Troubleshooting

Cannot access Mandrill

Make sure you have an active paid Mailchimp account with Transactional Email add-on enabled.

Authentication failed

Use your API Key as the password, not your Mailchimp password. The username can be any string.

Emails rejected

Verify your sending domain and ensure you have sufficient email credits in your Mandrill account.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use Mandrill without Mailchimp?

No, Mandrill is now exclusively a Mailchimp add-on. You need an active Mailchimp account to use Mandrill.

What's the difference between Mailchimp and Mandrill?

Mailchimp is for marketing campaigns, while Mandrill is for transactional emails like receipts, password resets, and notifications.

Do unused email credits expire?

Mandrill email blocks don't expire as long as your Mailchimp account remains active with the Transactional Email add-on.