Buzz
POP, the pioneering protocol, was established in 1984 as a means to fetch emails from a remote server to local storage.
IMAP, designed in 1986, enables remote access to emails stored on a remote server. Fundamentally, the major distinction between these two protocols lies in POP fetching emails from the server to local memory, whereas IMAP stores emails on the server and only maintains a local cache (temporary storage) of emails. In other words, IMAP is a form of cloud storage.
Downloading Gmail on iPhone and Android devices
- Download Gmail for Android
- Download Gmail for iPhone
How to Differentiate Between POP and IMAP When Setting Up Gmail, Outlook
Fundamentally, these two protocols differ in their basic operational mechanisms.
Operation of POP:
- Connect to the server.
- Retrieve all emails.
- Store locally as new mail.
- Delete mail from the server.
- Disconnect.
The default behavior of POP is to delete mail from the server. However, most POP clients also offer an option to keep a copy of downloaded mail on the server.
Operation of IMAP:
- Connect to the server.
- Retrieve requested user content and maintain local cache, such as lists of new mail, email summaries, or email content.
- Handle user actions, such as marking emails as read, deleting emails, etc..
- Disconnect.
Clearly, the operational mechanism of IMAP is slightly more complex than POP. Essentially, the folder structure and emails are stored on the server, with only a copy stored locally.
Typically, these local copies are stored temporarily, but if desired, you can store permanent copies.
Distinguishing POP and IMAP When Setting Up Gmail, Outlook
Advantages of POP
As the first protocol, POP adheres to the simple idea of a single client accessing mail on the server and storing mail locally as the best solution. Because of this, POP has several advantages:
- Locally stored mail, meaning it can be accessed anytime even without an internet connection.
- Requires internet connection only when sending and receiving mail.
- Saves server storage space.
- Can store mail copies on the server or not.
- Integrates multiple email accounts and servers into one inbox.
Comparing POP and IMAP When Setting Up Gmail, Outlook
Advantages of IMAP
As mentioned above, IMAP was designed to allow remote access to emails stored on a remote server. The idea is to enable multiple clients or users to manage the same inbox.
Thus, if you log in remotely on another computer or access your personal computer at home, you will see the same email and folder structure because they are stored on the server, and all changes you make to local copies will be synchronized with the server immediately.
Here are some advantages of IMAP:
- Emails are stored on a remote server, meaning they can be accessed from various locations.
- Requires an Internet connection to access emails.
- Faster email downloading and viewing.
- Emails are automatically backed up if the server is properly managed.
- Saves local storage space.
- Optional choice to store emails locally or not.
Which email protocol is the best choice?
Clearly, choosing between the POP and IMAP email protocols depends on your specific variables, and here are some suggestions to help you make the final decision:
Choose POP if:
- You want to access your emails on a single device.
- You need continuous access to emails, even without an Internet connection.
- Server memory is limited.
Choose IMAP if:
- Want to access emails from multiple different devices.
- Have reliable and continuous Internet connection.
- Faster downloading of new emails or emails on the server.
- Limited local storage space.
- Concerned about email backup.
If you're unsure which protocol to choose, IMAP is a better option for you. This is because IMAP is a more modern and flexible protocol, and your emails will be automatically backed up on the server. Moreover, server space is not an issue as you can still locally store important emails.
Above are the differences between POP and IMAP when setting up Gmail, Outlook. Which protocol are you using, POP or IMAP? With the popularity of web-based email services like Gmail, POP and IMAP protocols have become less common. Besides, there is another protocol called Microsoft Exchange, let's explore and distinguish between POP3 IMAP and Exchange to see how they differ.
