---
title: "Email & SMTP Settings"
description: "Email & SMTP Settings control how HiveCRM sends transactional emails, and let you customize the content of every system email template."
url: "https://hiveplugins.com/docs/email-smtp-settings/"
updated: "2026-09-27"
category: HiveCRM
---

# Email & SMTP Settings

Email & SMTP Settings control how HiveCRM sends transactional emails, and let you customize the content of every system email template.

## How to Open Email & SMTP Settings

Go to **Hive CRM → Settings → Email & SMTP**.

## Email Delivery Method

Choose how HiveCRM sends outgoing email:

- **PHP Mail** — the default, uses your server's built-in mail function. Simplest option, but more likely to be flagged as spam by some providers.
- **Custom SMTP** — authenticate with an external SMTP server for more reliable delivery.
- **Brevo (Sendinblue) API** — route transactional email through Brevo's relay using your v3 API key and a verified sender email from your Brevo account.

After configuring a method, use **Send Test Email** to confirm delivery is working before relying on it.

## System Email Templates

HiveCRM has a built-in template for every system-triggered email (new lead added, task assigned, invoice paid, and so on — matching the triggers listed under [Notifications Settings](notifications-settings.md)). Select a trigger from the list to edit its subject and body.

Templates support placeholders that are automatically filled in when the email is sent, including:

| Placeholder | Description |
| --- | --- |
| `{org_name}` | Your company/organization name |
| `{client_name}` | Client or contact full name |
| `{item_title}` | The record's title (lead, deal, project, task, invoice) |
| `{inv_total}` | Invoice total with currency |
| `{inv_url}` | Public invoice view & online payment URL |
| `{est_url}` | Public estimate view & accept URL |
| `{portal_url}` | Client Portal login URL |
| `{login_url}` | Staff/admin login URL |
| `{user_login}` | Account username or email |
| `{staff_name}` | Assigned staff member's name |
| `{start_date}` | Start date (project/task) |
| `{due_date}` | Due date / expiration date |
| `{budget}` | Project budget value |

## Custom Email Templates

Beyond the built-in system templates, you can create your own custom templates for use elsewhere in HiveCRM (for example manually sending a client an ad hoc email using a saved template). Give it a name, write the subject and body using the same placeholders, and save it.

## Delivery Log

HiveCRM keeps a log of recently sent emails, showing which delivery method (PHP Mail, Custom SMTP, or Brevo Relay) was used for each — useful for troubleshooting delivery issues.

## Related Documentation

- [Notifications Settings](notifications-settings.md)