When setting up an email account you may be asked whether to use IMAP or POP. Both are standard email protocols used to retrieve messages from your mail server, but they work in different ways and are suited to different types of use.
Choosing the correct option is important because it affects how your messages are stored, how they appear across your devices, and how easily you can manage your mailbox over time.
For most modern setups, especially where you check email on a phone, laptop, tablet, and webmail, IMAP is usually the better choice. POP is older and is generally only suitable in more limited situations.
In this article, we will cover
- What IMAP is
- What POP is
- The differences between the two
- Which option is recommended
What is IMAP?
IMAP stands for Internet Message Access Protocol. It keeps your email stored on the mail server rather than downloading everything permanently to one device.
This allows multiple devices to stay synchronised. For example, if you read an email on your phone, it will also appear as read on your computer. If you move a message into a folder or delete it in one place, that change will normally be reflected everywhere else as well.
Because IMAP keeps the server as the main source of truth, it works very well for people who access email in more than one place. It also works well with webmail, because your messages remain available on the server even when you log in through a browser.
What is POP?
POP stands for Post Office Protocol. Unlike IMAP, POP downloads messages directly to your device. Depending on the settings used by your email application, messages may then be removed from the server after download.
This means the device becomes the main place where your emails are stored. In some cases, that can make email management less flexible. For example, if messages are downloaded to your desktop computer using POP, they may not also appear on your phone later.
POP was more common when people usually checked email from one computer only. It can still be used today, but it is generally less suitable for users who expect their inbox to stay the same across several devices.
Key differences
- IMAP keeps email synchronised across devices
- POP stores email mainly on one device
- IMAP is better for phones, tablets, laptops, and webmail
- POP is mainly used for single-device setups
Another important difference is convenience. With IMAP, your mailbox stays consistent wherever you sign in. With POP, it is easier for messages to become split between devices, which can lead to confusion if you are trying to find older emails.
Which should you use?
In most cases we recommend using IMAP. It provides a more modern and reliable experience, especially if you check email from more than one device or want your mailbox to remain organised across all of them.
POP may still be appropriate if you only ever use one device and specifically want messages downloaded locally, but this is less common for most users today.
If you are setting up a hosting email account with Falcomms, IMAP will usually be the best option unless you have a specific reason to choose POP instead.
Need help?
If you are unsure which protocol to use, our support team will be happy to help.
