SMTP vs Gmail API: What Actually Works for Cold Email in 2025
A practical, no-fluff breakdown of modern cold email infrastructure.
Cold email deliverability has changed significantly over the last few years. Techniques that once worked now quietly destroy domain reputation.
Why traditional SMTP is failing
Most cold email tools still rely on generic SMTP pipelines that create artificial sending patterns inbox providers easily detect.
Gmail API and trust signals
API-based sending aligns email behavior with real user activity, improving legitimacy signals over time.
Warm-up is no longer optional
Inbox providers reward consistent, genuine mailbox usage—not simulated engagement.
Where Dripmint fits
Dripmint focuses on controlled pacing, human-reviewed campaigns, and real mailbox behavior—no shortcuts.
The takeaway
In 2025, deliverability is earned through discipline, not configuration.