Webmail vs. a mail program
What is it about?
Your email lives on a server; that service is called email hosting. To read and send your messages, you need something that talks to that server. That can be done in two ways:
- Webmail is a mail environment in your browser. You surf to a login page, log in and you're straight in your mailbox. There's nothing to install, on any device.
- A mail program (also called a mail client or mail app) is software you install on your computer or phone and set up once with your account details. After that it fetches your mail and shows it in the app.
Both show the same mailbox. The difference is in the way you access it.
Webmail vs mail program at a glance
| Webmail | Mail program | |
|---|---|---|
| Installing | no, works in the browser | yes, per device |
| Setting up | log in, done | fill in server settings |
| Where you can access your mail | any device with a browser | the device you installed it on |
| Reading offline | limited | yes, fetched mail |
| Always the latest version | yes, automatically | you work with the app version |
| Handy for | quick, on the go, changing devices | fixed device, lots of mail, calendar integration |
When do you choose what?
- Choose webmail if you want to start quickly, mail from different devices (at home, at the office, a borrowed computer), or simply don't feel like installing and setting up. You log in and you mail: ideal for those who want to keep it simple.
- Choose a mail program if you mail a lot on one fixed device, like to manage your email together with your calendar and contacts in one app, or often want to be able to work offline. You set it up once and after that it opens by itself.
- Feel free to combine. Nothing stops you from using a mail program on your fixed computer and quickly logging in to webmail on the go. Thanks to the IMAP protocol you see the same, synchronised mailbox in both.
If you want to set up a mail program, you need the right server addresses and ports. You'll find those in the IMAP and server settings.
Our advice
Start with webmail. It's the quickest, simplest way to get going: no installation, no settings, usable straight away on any device. If you later find you prefer a mail program (for example to have everything in one app), you set it up alongside without any problems. So you don't have to choose in advance, and you're never stuck with one way of working.
Still in doubt about other practical matters? Then take a look at our frequently asked questions.
In short
- Webmail works straight away in your browser, without installation, on any device.
- A mail program you install and set up per device, with a bit more possible locally.
- You don't have to install an app to mail: webmail suffices, and combining is always allowed.
At Mailflux you get webmail that works straight away via webmail.mailflux.eu, on any device and without installation, plus full support for any common mail program via POP, IMAP and SMTP. You mail on your own domain, hosted in Europe and GDPR-compliant, however it suits you. More about that in email on your own domain.
FAQ
Frequently asked questions
Do I have to install an app to check my email?
No, you don't. With webmail you simply log in your browser and you're straight in your mailbox, on any device and without installation. If you'd rather have a fixed app on your computer or phone, that's possible too, but it's not a requirement to be able to mail.
Can I use webmail and a mail program at the same time?
Yes. Thanks to the IMAP protocol they show the same, synchronised mailbox. You can use a mail program on your fixed computer and quickly log in to webmail on the go. What you read or move on one, you see on the other too.
Which is safer, webmail or a mail program?
Both are safe as long as you use a secure connection and, where possible, switch on two-factor authentication. Webmail always works with the latest version, without you having to update. With a mail program you keep the app up to date yourself. So the choice is mainly a matter of convenience, not of security.