There are two ways to retrieve your e-mail: POP and IMAP. The main difference between them is that POP downloads all e-mails from the mail server to your device, while IMAP keeps the e-mails stored on the server.
Which protocol you choose depends on your needs. If you want to access your e-mail from multiple devices, keep your messages safely stored on the server, or save storage space on your hard drive, IMAP is the recommended option. If you prefer to archive all e-mails locally, save storage space on your mail server, or if you do not always have a constant internet connection, then POP may be a better fit. Note that you can choose between these two protocols for each e-mail account you set up.
Advantages and Disadvantages of POP and IMAP
POP stores your e-mail directly on your computer. This means the number of messages you can store is limited only by the storage capacity of your computer. You can also read messages stored on your computer without needing an internet connection. However, accessing your e-mail from multiple computers or applications can cause synchronisation issues, and there is a risk of losing messages if your hard drive fails.
IMAP keeps your e-mail on the server, allowing you to access the same inbox from multiple applications or devices and ensuring your messages remain safe even if your computer crashes. The downside is that you usually need an internet connection to read your e-mail. In addition, the messages you keep will count toward the storage space of your hosting package.
Guidelines for POP and IMAP
Below are some guidelines to help you decide between POP and IMAP. When in doubt, IMAP is generally the best choice. If these guidelines do not fully answer your questions and you would like personal advice, feel free to contact support.
Choose either POP or IMAP. Using both at the same time on multiple devices will cause problems.
Use IMAP if you want to read your e-mail on more than one computer or device.
If you use multiple e-mail applications, configure each one with IMAP.
Webmail works with IMAP. If you use webmail alongside your e-mail application, use IMAP.
Some e-mail applications allow POP accounts to leave messages on the server. If you rely on this feature, consider using IMAP instead.