HostGator SMTP Settings
Shared host whose secure mail settings use the server hostname, not your own domain
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Outgoing mail (SMTP)
SMTP server
mail.yourdomain.com
Port. STARTTLS
587
Port. SSL/TLS
465
Security
SSL/TLS on 465 (recommended) or STARTTLS on 587.
Incoming mail (IMAP)
IMAP server
mail.yourdomain.com
Port. SSL/TLS
993
Port. STARTTLS
143
Incoming mail (POP3)
POP3 server
mail.yourdomain.com
Port. SSL/TLS
995
Port. STARTTLS
110
Sending limits & login
Daily send limit
HostGator caps shared hosting at roughly 500 messages per hour per domain.
Authentication
Sign in with your full email address and the mailbox password you set in cPanel.
App password
No app password. Reset the mailbox password under cPanel > Email Accounts.
HostGator pairs mail.yourdomain.com with the unencrypted ports and asks you to enter your own server name, for example gator1234.hostgator.com from your Customer Portal, for the SSL ports. If your mailbox is HostGator Professional Email, which is added to most new hosting orders, use imap.titan.email, pop.titan.email and smtp.titan.email instead.
Sending cold email? EmailChaser manages inboxes, warmup and deliverability for you.
Try EmailChaser freeFind the SMTP, IMAP and POP3 server settings for any email provider. Free, with no signup, every field copies with one click.
HostGator SMTP, IMAP and POP3 settings
HostGator is a shared host with two email quirks worth knowing before you type anything. For a secure connection you point the client at the server hostname, such as gator1234.hostgator.com, rather than mail.yourdomain.com, because the certificate covers hostgator.com. It also runs a second SMTP listener on port 26 for customers whose internet provider blocks port 25.
For incoming mail, use the IMAP server mail.yourdomain.com on port 993, or POP3 at mail.yourdomain.com on port 995. Pick the exact values from the tool above and copy them straight into your mail client.
Checked against HostGator's own documentation: hostgator.com. Ports and limits change, so check there too if something will not connect.
HostGator settings at a glance
One card with every server and port on it. Right click to save it, or share the page and this is the preview people see.
What to enter as your HostGator username and password
Wrong credentials, not a wrong port, are the usual reason a HostGator connection fails. These are the exact values to type.
Your full email address, for example you@yourdomain.com
The password set for that mailbox in cPanel
How to set up HostGator in a mail client
The exact path through HostGator's own settings, in order.
- 1
Find your server hostname
Look in the HostGator Customer Portal or in cPanel. Shared and cloud accounts get a name like gator1234.hostgator.com, reseller accounts get servername.websitewelcome.com.
- 2
Open Connect Devices in cPanel
cPanel > Email > Email Accounts > Connect Devices next to the address shows the manual settings for that mailbox.
- 3
Enter the incoming server
Your server hostname with IMAP on port 993 or POP3 on port 995, SSL/TLS, normal password authentication.
- 4
Enter the outgoing server
The same hostname with SMTP on port 465 and SSL/TLS. Without SSL, HostGator lists ports 25 and 26; port 587 works when your provider blocks both.
- 5
Professional Email instead? use the Titan servers
Enable access for third-party apps first, then use imap.titan.email port 993 and smtp.titan.email port 465, both SSL/TLS.
What HostGator looks like filled in
Every mail client asks for the same handful of fields. Here they are with HostGator's values already in place.
Account settings: HostGator
Server
mail.yourdomain.comPort
465Encryption
SSL/TLSAuthentication
RequiredUsername
Your full email address, for example you@yourdomain.comPassword
The password set for that mailbox in cPanelServer
mail.yourdomain.comPort
993Encryption
SSL/TLSAn illustration of the fields, not a screenshot of any one app. Field names differ slightly between Outlook, Apple Mail and Thunderbird; the values do not.
HostGator SMTP settings in Thunderbird
The outgoing server dialog with HostGator's details entered. Outlook and Apple Mail ask for the same four things under slightly different names.
Which port should you use for HostGator?
SSL/TLS on 465 (recommended) or STARTTLS on 587.
STARTTLS
Starts as a plain connection, then upgrades to an encrypted one. The modern standard for sending.
SSL/TLS
Encrypted from the first byte. Widely supported and a good choice when 587 is blocked.
Plain SMTP
Meant for server-to-server relay. Home networks and cloud hosts block it, so do not use it to send from a client.
Why your HostGator connection is failing
The failures people actually hit with HostGator, and what fixes each one.
HostGator's certificate is a wildcard on hostgator.com and websitewelcome.com, not on your domain. Put the server hostname in the incoming and outgoing server fields instead of mail.yourdomain.com.
Many providers block port 25. HostGator also runs Exim on port 26 for this reason, so try 26, or 465 with SSL.
Comcast blocks 25 and 26 on its network, so set the outgoing port to 587 instead.
Shared servers allow 500 outgoing messages an hour per domain. Wait for the next hour and throttle bulk sends so they stay under 500 in any one hour.
Each connecting IP address is limited to 30 POP checks an hour. Increase the check interval or switch the account to IMAP.
HostGator sending limits
The cap is per domain, including addon domains and subdomains, and mailing lists over 900 addresses may only go out at weekends or between 1am and 8am Eastern on weekdays.
Per hour
500 outgoing per domain on shared and reseller plans, unlimited on VPS and dedicated
HostGator servers by region and plan
HostGator does not use one set of hostnames everywhere. Match the row to your account.
| Region or plan | SMTP | IMAP | POP3 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shared and cloud, secure settings | your cPanel server hostname, for example gator1234.hostgator.com | your cPanel server hostname, for example gator1234.hostgator.com | your cPanel server hostname, for example gator1234.hostgator.com |
| Reseller, secure settings | servername.websitewelcome.com | servername.websitewelcome.com | servername.websitewelcome.com |
| Professional Email (Titan) | smtp.titan.email | imap.titan.email | pop.titan.email |
Sending cold email through HostGator
HostGator caps shared hosting at roughly 500 messages per hour per domain. Sign in with your full email address and the mailbox password you set in cPanel.
Those caps make single-mailbox sending fine for personal mail but a poor fit for cold outreach at volume. Emailchaser spreads sending across warmed inboxes and manages deliverability, so you can scale without burning HostGator accounts.
Other business email and web hosting
Setting up more than one mailbox? These sit in the same category as HostGator.
Common questions about HostGator SMTP settings
What are HostGator's SMTP settings?
HostGator's outgoing (SMTP) server is mail.yourdomain.com. Use port 587 (STARTTLS) or 465 (SSL/TLS). SSL/TLS on 465 (recommended) or STARTTLS on 587. Sign in with your full email address and password (or app password).
What is HostGator's IMAP or POP3 server?
HostGator's incoming IMAP server is mail.yourdomain.com on port 993 (SSL/TLS). If you prefer POP3, use mail.yourdomain.com on port 995.
Which port should I use for HostGator?
Use port 587 with STARTTLS wherever it's offered, it's the modern standard for authenticated sending. Port 465 with SSL/TLS is a solid alternative. Avoid port 25, which most networks block for client sending. HostGator's recommended value is above.
Why won't my HostGator SMTP connection work?
Check authentication first: Sign in with your full email address and the mailbox password you set in cPanel. No app password. Reset the mailbox password under cPanel > Email Accounts. Then confirm the host, port and security method match exactly, a 587/SSL or 465/STARTTLS mismatch will fail to connect.
Can I send bulk or cold email through HostGator?
Not at scale. HostGator caps shared hosting at roughly 500 messages per hour per domain. Providers throttle bursts to fight spam, so pushing cold email through one mailbox hits limits and wrecks deliverability. High-volume outreach belongs on dedicated infrastructure that spreads sending across warmed inboxes, which is what Emailchaser does.
Why does HostGator want gator1234.hostgator.com instead of mail.mydomain.com?
Secure connections check the name on the server's certificate. HostGator uses wildcard certificates for hostgator.com on shared plans and websitewelcome.com on reseller plans, so your own domain is not on them. Using the server hostname is what stops the certificate warning. You can find the hostname in the Customer Portal or cPanel.
What is port 26 for?
HostGator runs a second copy of the Exim mail server on port 26 for customers whose internet provider blocks the normal port 25. If sending fails on 25, try 26, or use 465 with SSL. Comcast customers are the exception, since Comcast blocks both 25 and 26, which leaves 587.
Can I send a newsletter to my whole list through HostGator email?
Only a small one. Shared and reseller plans stop at 500 outgoing messages an hour per domain, lists over 900 addresses are restricted to weekends and the 1am to 8am Eastern window on weekdays, and anything over 5,000 addresses needs a VPS or dedicated server. For real campaigns use a dedicated sending service.
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