When setting up your email on a phone, tablet, or computer, you’ll be asked to choose between POP3 and IMAP. The choice affects how your email behaves across devices — and even whether it appears in your online webmail. Here’s a simple breakdown to help you decide:
POP3 (Post Office Protocol)
- Downloads emails to your device and usually removes them from the server.
- Best if you check email from only one device (like just your computer).
- Once downloaded, the emails are stored locally and won’t appear on other devices or in webmail.
- Emails will disappear from webmail after being downloaded, so you won’t see your full inbox if you log in through a browser later.
Pros
- Saves server space
- Can access email without internet connection
- Good for single-device use.
Cons
- No syncing
- Limited access
- Uses more storage space on your device
- Higher risk of data loss if your device fails.
IMAP (Internet Message Access Protocol)
- Leaves emails on the server and syncs them across all your devices.
- Ideal if you use email on your phone, computer, and webmail.
- Any changes (like reading, deleting or moving emails) are reflected everywhere.
- Your inbox in webmail stays fully updated, so you can log in anytime from a browser and see the same emails as on your devices.
- Created folder structures are also synced
Pros
- Syncs across devices
- Reliable access from anywhere
- Easier to stay organized if accessing email from multiple devices
- Easier to manage if more than one person is monitoring/replying a single email address
Cons
- Uses more server space (which can eventually mean additional costs)
- Requires an internet connection.
So, which should you choose?
-
Choose IMAP if you want your email to stay in sync across your phone, computer, and webmail — this is what most people use today.
-
Use POP3 only if you want to manage everything on a single device and don’t need access from webmail or multiple devices.
✅ Recommended: IMAP — for full access and syncing with your devices and our webmail service.
