What are POP3 and IMAP?
POP3 and IMAP are email protocols. That is, they are the ways in which your email application communicates with the server to receive your messages.
Key differences between POP3 and IMAP
Here's a simple comparison so you can understand it quickly:
| Feature | POP3 | IMAP |
|---|---|---|
| Email download | Downloaded to the device | Kept on the server |
| Emails on other devices | Not synchronized | Synchronized across all your devices |
| Requires constant connection | Not necessarily (uses local copy) | Yes, since it works directly with the server |
| Server space | Frees space when downloading | Uses space because everything stays on the server |
| Ideal for | 1 device only | Multiple devices (PC, mobile, tablet) |
When to use POP3?
Use POP3 if:
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You only check your email from one single computer
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You want to keep a copy of your emails saved locally
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You have little server space and want to free it up
Caution: If you configure POP3 without leaving a copy on the server, emails will be deleted from the server once downloaded. Watch out for this if you check from multiple devices!
When to use IMAP?
Use IMAP if:
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You access email from multiple devices (mobile, laptop, office, etc.)
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You want everything to be synchronized: inbox, sent, deleted…
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You prefer to have everything in the cloud and not worry about local backups
IMAP is the most widely used protocol today and the one we recommend in most cases.
Practical example
Imagine you configure your account on your phone and laptop:
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With POP3, if you download emails on your laptop, they'll no longer appear on your phone.
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With IMAP, everything you read, delete or mark will be reflected the same on both devices.
How to know which one you're using?
From your email program, check the account settings. There you'll see if you're using POP3 or IMAP. You can also change it if needed, but I recommend making a backup before modifying any settings.