What is the difference between POP3 and IMAP?

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The biggest difference between the two mail protocols is that POP3 is suitable is you plan on accessing your mail on one client, versus IMAP being useful if you need mail access across several clients (desktop, a laptop, phone.)

As explained on hyperoffice.com:

POP3 vs. IMAP: Technology

POP3 always downloads all new emails locally to your computer.

IMAP downloads message summaries and doesn't download the entire message until you explicitly select it.

POP3 vs. IMAP: Email Inbox Display

POP3 downloads all emails into 1 mail folder called "Inbox".

IMAP preserves your folder structure in a main folder called "imap.hyperoffice.com".

POP3 vs. IMAP: Multi-Computer Access

POP3 is useful if you only access your email from one computer, since the email is typically downloaded locally (this is the default and can be changed).

IMAP allows email to be manipulated from a desktop computer at home, a workstation at the office, and a notebook computer while traveling, without the need to transfer messages or files back and forth between these computers.

POP3 vs. IMAP: Email Storage

With POP3, your emails can be automatically erased from the server after they are downloaded freeing up space in your account.

IMAP keeps all emails on the server until you erase them.

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