When setting up an email client, you'll typically choose between two protocols: IMAP and POP3. While both allow you to receive emails, they work very differently. This guide will help you understand the differences and choose the right one.
Quick Answer
Use IMAP if you access email from multiple devices or want your emails synced everywhere. Use POP3 only if you need offline access on a single device and want to save server storage space.
What is IMAP?
IMAP (Internet Message Access Protocol)
IMAP keeps your emails on the server and synchronizes them across all your devices. When you read, delete, or organize an email on one device, the changes appear everywhere.
Port: 993 (SSL/TLS) or 143 (STARTTLS)
How IMAP Works
- Your email client connects to the server
- It downloads email headers (subject, sender, date)
- Full message content is downloaded when you open an email
- Emails remain on the server
- All actions are synced to the server
IMAP Advantages
- Multi-device sync: Access the same inbox from phone, laptop, tablet
- Server backup: Emails are safe even if your device is lost
- Folder sync: Your folder organization syncs everywhere
- Search on server: Search through all emails, not just downloaded ones
- Less local storage: Emails are stored on server, not your device
IMAP Disadvantages
- Requires internet: Need connection to access emails
- Server storage limits: Your mailbox has a quota
- Slightly slower: Downloads content on demand
What is POP3?
POP3 (Post Office Protocol version 3)
POP3 downloads emails to your device and typically deletes them from the server. It's designed for accessing email from a single device.
Port: 995 (SSL/TLS) or 110 (STARTTLS)
How POP3 Works
- Your email client connects to the server
- It downloads all new emails completely
- Emails are usually deleted from the server
- All emails are stored locally on your device
- No synchronization between devices
POP3 Advantages
- Offline access: Read all emails without internet
- No server quota: Emails stored locally, server stays empty
- Privacy: Emails don't remain on external servers
- Faster initial access: All content already downloaded
POP3 Disadvantages
- Single device: Emails only exist on one device
- No sync: Actions don't sync anywhere
- Risk of loss: If device fails, emails are lost
- No folder sync: Organization is local only
Comparison Table
| Feature | IMAP | POP3 |
|---|---|---|
| Email Storage | On server | On device |
| Multi-device | Yes | No |
| Offline Access | Limited | Full |
| Sync | Yes | No |
| Server Storage Used | High | Low |
| Backup | Automatic (server) | Manual (local) |
When to Use Each Protocol
Use IMAP When:
- You check email on multiple devices
- You want emails backed up on the server
- You use webmail alongside a desktop client
- You share a mailbox with others
- You have reliable internet access
Use POP3 When:
- You only use one device for email
- You have limited server storage quota
- You need full offline access
- You want emails stored locally for privacy
- You have slow or unreliable internet
PPMail Recommendation
We recommend IMAP for most users. PPMail provides generous storage quotas and excellent IMAP performance with IDLE support for instant push notifications.
PPMail Server Settings
For PPMail users, here are the settings for both protocols:
- IMAP Server: mail.ppmail.us, Port 993 (SSL)
- POP3 Server: mail.ppmail.us, Port 995 (SSL)
- SMTP Server: mail.ppmail.us, Port 587 (STARTTLS)