中文版: POP3 和 IMAP 是什么,我应该使用哪一个

What are POP and IMAP, which one should I use?

  • POP and IMAP are 2 different methods to access emails. Each has advantages and disadvantages.

If you don't want to read, or don't understand, choose POP
如你不想看或看不懂 请选POP

Which one should I use?

  • If you mostly use your office computer to access your email, use POP3.
  • If you often use both Phone and Computer to access your email, use IMAP.

POP3 - Emails are stored on your own computer (not synchronized between devices)

  • Advantages
    • your server mailbox never get full. You don't need to delete emails from server to free up mailbox space.
    • if the server crashed, you will not lost any emails or address book.
    • if you sometimes need to access your office emails from outside, you can use WebMail.
  • Disadvantages
    • if you deleted an junk mail on your office desktop PC, the same junk mail is still on your phone, you have to delete it again.
    • when you send email on business PC, the sent email will not appear in your phone's Sent Items (unless you BCC to yourself)

IMAP - Emails are stored on the server.

  • Advantages
    • Email on all devices are synchronized, that means you replied or deleted and email on your business PC, the same email also replied or deleted on your phone.
  • Disadvantages
    • You have to manually remove emails before your server mailbox storage become full. Or you have to pay more to get more space on the server.