POP3 vs SMTP

[kim_foxx]

Which one do you use and why?

I personally use POP3 because I think it's faster if all mail is coming into a desktop mail client.

 

[Sharky]

I'm not sure you understand the two technologies.

Normally it's POP3 vs IMAP, but they both involve the mail being delivered to a desktop mail client. Do you mean POP3/IMAP vs Webmail?

SMTP is the protocol used to instruct your email provider to send an email to another person.

 

[azntechguy]

I've grown to love IMAP in the past few years. Feels like a fast way to replicate, but bypass the webmail interface if you have a favorite e-mail client.

It did take some time for me to make the change when my e-mail providers offered both POP3 and IMAP. I almost always find myself to be one of the last holdouts.

 

[Skizzerz]

SMTP is for sending email, POP3 (and IMAP) are for receiving them. Personally I like IMAP because I access my email across multiple devices, and IMAP ensures the mail will be accessible on all of them, versus POP3 where once my main PC opened the email client, the emails would no longer be accessible elsewhere.

 

[Dark]

I prefer IMAP too.