POP3 and IMAP4  Compared

POP3 and IMAP4 are protocols for receiving email. POP3 is the older of the two and most widely used but isn't as powerful as IMAP4.

POP3 was designed to be used in offline mode, and was ideal in the days of dialup connections as you would connect to the email server and download your emails, and then disconnect.

Because it was designed for offline working the emails were deleted from the email server once they had been downloaded to your computer (This can be changed).

POP3 has several drawbacks that you should be aware of:

• The email needs to be downloaded to your computer before you can read it.
• It is difficult to access the email from multiple computers.
• The email is stored on your PC and hence you need to make sure you do email backups!
• If you change computers (buy a new one) then you need to transfer email to the new computer.. not that easy.

IMAP4 -

Imap4 was designed as a replacement for POP3.Like POP3 it is a receive only protocol designed to access email from a mailbox on an email server in an online mode.

This means that the email remains on the server where it can be accessed by other email clients at other locations.

This makes it ideal for users who want to access their email from different machines/locations.

In addition Imap4 has richer functionality in manipulating inbox messages, can manage mail folders besides the inbox, and better performance when dealing with large messages.

However not all email providers provide email access using IMAP4 access.

Summary

IMAP4 is the better access method, and is recommended if your email provider supports it (most do but not all).

Resources and References:

• POP3/Imap4
• Transferring/Moving Email to a New Computer