Discuss can send email notifications when new comments are posted or when someone replies to a comment. Configuration is per-domain and done through the admin dashboard under Domains > Settings > Notifications.
- Admin notifications — you receive an email when a new comment is posted on your site, or when someone replies to one of your comments.
- Commenter notifications — when a visitor leaves their email address and someone replies to their comment, they receive a notification automatically. No opt-in flow required.
Credentials are encrypted at rest using AES-256-GCM. Set ENCRYPTION_KEY in your .env before configuring SMTP — see Configuration.
Running your own mail server is technically possible but not recommended. VPS IP ranges are commonly block-listed, and maintaining deliverability (SPF, DKIM, DMARC, bounce handling) is ongoing work. Use a dedicated mail provider instead.
| Provider | Free tier | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Gmail | 500/day | Personal projects, easy setup |
| Resend | 3,000/month | Best developer experience, modern API |
| Postmark | 100/month | Best deliverability, transactional email |
| Brevo | 300/day | Generous free tier |
| Mailgun | 1,000/month (trial) | Flexible, good API |
For most self-hosters, Gmail or Resend is the right starting point.
Gmail requires an App Password — your regular Google account password will not work.
- Enable 2-Step Verification on your Google account.
- Go to Google Account > Security > App passwords.
- Create a new app password (name it "Discuss").
- Use the generated 16-character password in the SMTP Password field.
| Setting | Value |
|---|---|
| SMTP Host | smtp.gmail.com |
| Port | 587 |
| SSL/TLS | Off (587 uses STARTTLS) |
| Username | your Gmail address |
| Password | the 16-character app password |
- Sign up at resend.com and verify your sending domain.
- Create an API key.
| Setting | Value |
|---|---|
| SMTP Host | smtp.resend.com |
| Port | 465 |
| SSL/TLS | On |
| Username | resend |
| Password | your API key |
- Sign up at postmarkapp.com and create a server.
- Get your SMTP credentials from the server's API Tokens tab.
| Setting | Value |
|---|---|
| SMTP Host | smtp.postmarkapp.com |
| Port | 587 |
| SSL/TLS | Off |
| Username | your server API token |
| Password | your server API token |
Set Sender Name to a display name like Discuss or your site name. The actual sending address is always your SMTP username — this just controls what recipients see in their inbox.
Use the Send test email button in the Notifications tab to verify your SMTP settings. Use the Preview links to see how each email template looks before a real comment triggers it.