IMAP
When
checking your email with an IMAP connection, you are accessing and
managing your email directly from the email server. Some the features
included are below:
-
Access - Since the emails are stored on the email server, you can access and manage your email and email folders from multiple computers or mobile devices.
-
Storage - If you have limited online storage space, you may need to delete some emails periodically to avoid exceeding your storage capacity.
-
Backup - Email is automatically backed up every evening; so, if you accidentally delete an email, your email administrator can retrieve it, even up to 14 days later.
-
Internet Connection - If you do not have an Internet connection, you cannot access your email.
Note:
By default, email clients store your sent, draft, and trash email on
your computer, rather than storing it on the email server (as it should
with an IMAP connection). You may need to map your email folders within
your email client.
POP
When
you check your email with a POP connection, new email messages are
downloaded to your computer and are then deleted from the email
server. Some the features included are below:
-
Access - Since your email is stored on your computer, you must be at your computer to access your email.
-
Storage - You dont need to worry about running out of online storage space. Since youre downloading your emails to your computer, you can keep as many emails as your computer can store.
-
Backup - You should implement an effective backup system for your computer, in case you need to retrieve lost or deleted emails.
-
Internet Connection - You will need an Internet connection to download email, but you can view your downloaded email offline (i.e., without an Internet connection).