Using Webmail vs Email Client

This is a guide to help determine whether to use webmail or an email client such as Outlook, Thunderbird, Mac Mail, etc., to check/receive and send emails.

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Email Clients

NOTE: By default, all users can access their email via a web client/Webmail.  An email client is any program used to manage email.

• Web clients
  • A client available through a web browser that provides the convenience of accessing email regardless of the device
    EXAMPLE: Horde, Roundcube.
•  Desktop clients
  • A client installed on a laptop or PC to manage email accessible on devices the client is installed and configured on
    EXAMPLE: Outlook, Mac Mail, Thunderbird.

You should use webmail to check your email if:
 

NOTE: When you check your email through webmail, you are checking your email directly on the server. This is useful for troubleshooting and less complicated.

• You're not comfortable with setting up an email account in your email client manually, adjusting the settings for an email account, etc.
   
• You're having issues accessing your email through your email client
• You're having issues with getting or sending emails

You should use an email client to check your email if:

• You're comfortable with your email client and adjusting the settings for an email account and adding one manually
   
• You're transferring emails from one account to another one
• You need to be logged into more than one email account at a time
• You need an easy way to check your email on the go

IMPORTANT: While we can provide you with the settings that you should use in an email client, we don't provide support for connecting over individual email clients.