These are the 2 common ways that people manage their emails.

I couldn’t find an existing diagram on the internet so had a shot creating one myself. you can also download the PDF version by clicking here.

  • Webmail is where the email program runs on the hosting company’s computer on the internet. You log in to manage your emails using your browser ( like Internet Explorer, Chrome, Firefox or Safari ).
  • An email program ( often called a client ) runs on your computer ( or phone etc ) and downloads the emails from a serving computer owned by a hosting company.Emails are downloaded from the host, and most often your emails are sent using your Internet Service PRovider’s ( ISP’s ) computer.

Types of email clients, or programs are, Microsoft Outlook, Thunderbird ( by Mozilla ) and Mac Mail.