IMAP or POP?

Our email servers support two email protocols: POP and IMAP.

When you are configuring your email accounts with an email client like Outlook, you will need to choose either POP or IMAP protocol.

What's the difference? Which one should you use?

The email protocol you choose will determine where your email is stored—on the server or on your computer.

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IMAP is Email Stored on the Server

IMAP keeps your email on the mail server so you can access it from multiple locations and with multiple email clients, even after you have checked your email with Outlook or any other email client.

IMAP is not suited to offline use.

IMAP allows you to read all of your email in multiple locations.

If you need to see your email when you are offline you should consider using POP instead.

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POP is Email Stored on Your Computer by Your Email Client

POP is recommended for people who need to access their email offline. If you need to connect to the Internet, download your email, and then disconnect, POP is a good choice for you.

POP stores your email on your computer in your email client (i.e. Outlook, or whatever program you use to check email).

POP removes your email from the server and places it on your computer.

With POP, you cannot see email you previously received when you use other computers or other email clients, including Webmail.

POP allows you to read previously received email and attachments when offline.