What is the difference between POP3 and IMAP protocols? (In English!)
When setting up email, you will often be asked if you want to use POP3 or IMAP. We are going to skip all the technical mumbo jumbo and explain it in English:
| POP3 Post Office Protocol | IMAP Internet Message Access Protocol |
|---|---|
| Only downloads emails from your Inbox to your local device | Allows you to see all the folders on the mail server |
| Can only be used by one device at a time | Can be used by multiple devices |
| You can’t organise emails on the mail server | You can organise emails directly on the mail server |
| You can’t create, delete & rename email on the mail server | You can create, delete & rename email on the mail server |
| Changes made on a device don’t affect the content on the server | Changes made on any device (or the server) are made on all the devices & server |
| Very fast | A little slower than POP3 |
| Two modes : delete and keep Delete mode, the mail is deleted from mail box after you download it Keep mode, the mail remains in the mail box after you download it | Multiple copies of every email are kept on the mail server, in case of loss on a local device, the mail can still be retrieved |
| Changes in the mail can be done using local email software. | Changes made web interface or email software stay in sync with the server. |