What are the advantages to using "Mail" over just using Safari for email?

[Camarillo Brillo]

I hate how email client apps always seem to take forever to update. When I open my email in the browser and the page loads, I know it's current. When I open Mail, I have done test emails and it seems like I have to wait forever to see something new.

I also hate how using Mail seems to mean that emails will be downloaded onto my computer. When I use the browser, am I not getting the advantage of faster refresh rate and leaving the emails on the server? Then I can just clear the cache right? Or am I misunderstanding how this works?

For these reasons I have given up on Mail, I just like browser email better. But it is annoying to click on an email address and always have the Mail app load up, so I want to ask for other perspectives. Am I missing out on something by not using Mail? Or is there a downside to using Safari that I am not seeing?

 

[triptolemus]

Are you using IMAP or POP3 in Mail app?

Do you host your own email server? If not, what service are you using?

Is "Check for new messages" set appropriately?

Personally, I use both web mail and Mail for different things.

 

[Camarillo Brillo]

No I am not using my own server, and I have no idea. I'm just a regular guy with a lot of junk email I don't want downloaded onto my computer. I use icloud for email and it works fine in the browser, seems very slow to load in Mail.

Well reading about pop3 and imap now and it does clarify some things for me, but now I am unsure how to proceed.

How is my email set up by default on my iphone? I'm assuming it's imap right?

And to add to my confusion, when I open the Mail app on my new mac, it tells me that it needs to import all of my old emails before I can use it. It won't allow me to get to mail preferences first. Does that mean that it's going to download thousands of emails if I proceed? All of this makes me want to continue with browser email

 

[Jzap van der Veen]

Well reading about pop3 and imap now and it does clarify some things for me, but now I am unsure how to proceed.

Main difference between POP3 and IMAP: POP3 only downloads (better said moves) the contents on the inbox of your mailaccount to the inbox on your computer (mail app), the server’s spam-folder remains on the server.

IMAP synchronises all folders on your mailaccount with all mailapps (on MacOS, iOS or iPadOS).

How is my email set up by default on my iphone?

If you are using iCloud or Gmail, IMAP is (as far as I can tell) the only option.

And to add to my confusion, when I open the Mail app on my new mac, it tells me that it needs to import all of my old emails before I can use it.

When you are using the Migration Assistant, all mail data on your ‘old’ computer is migated to the new one. So, if you choose to migrate your mailaccounts in Migration Assistant all mails regardless if they old or recent will be copied to your new Mac.

When using webmail your mail data will not be stored on your computer, that is only stored in the cache files of your browser. If you nver clean your browsers cache, the browser will, in time, wil become seriously slow.

I hope this helps!

 

[BrianBaughn]

I don't see anything wrong with using any email provider's webmail interface if it works for the end user.

 

[AZhappyjack]

I hate how email client apps always seem to take forever to update. When I open my email in the browser and the page loads, I know it's current. When I open Mail, I have done test emails and it seems like I have to wait forever to see something new.

I also hate how using Mail seems to mean that emails will be downloaded onto my computer. When I use the browser, am I not getting the advantage of faster refresh rate and leaving the emails on the server? Then I can just clear the cache right? Or am I misunderstanding how this works?

For these reasons I have given up on Mail, I just like browser email better. But it is annoying to click on an email address and always have the Mail app load up, so I want to ask for other perspectives. Am I missing out on something by not using Mail? Or is there a downside to using Safari that I am not seeing?

The biggest advantage for me is that it allows me to use one app/site/process to view all of my email from multiple email services... I have about 12 email accounts that I use/manage across multiple email services (iCloud, a couple of different Gmail accounts and email accounts on two private domains where the email is managed via Google/Gmail)... with an email client on my computer, it all comes to one place... I leave my email client running on my Mac, and my mail is there when I am ready to check it. I don't have to log into multiple sites/accounts via a webmail interface(s) to see what's going on. Spam filters and mail rules filters out most of the garbage, and moves the important stuff unto an organizational structure that I set up. It just works for me.

 

[TechRunner]

For me, the primary advantage was account volume to manage, like @dwfaust stated. I had nine accounts and aggregating them to one place saved tons of time! Now that I've given up that mad scramble, I'm back to using a browser as my primary means of managing my email.

 

[Ruggy]

If you only have one email address then probably not a lot. It's fairly quick and easy to go online.
If you have half a dozen to check then you have to log out of one, log into another each time and it's a real pain.

I think it's really useful to have multiple email accounts. I have one as a junk email I never check, one for security checks that's different from the main account, one for family, one work etc, etc.
I think I'll start using the new hide my email service when I've updated everything and that will make life a whole lot simpler.

 

[Slix]

Notifications are the biggest reason I like using the native Mail app on the Mac. I get alerted as soon as an email comes in, and I don't have to load a browser tab to see if there's an email.

As others said, you will have to update your Mail app when it prompts (likely after a Migration) only once. Then, you can change settings and view your emails in the app.

 

[Huntn]

I just use Google Mail in by browser, Safari on my Mac.

 

[rforno]

I prefer mail to be in a seperate app from my browsing. Browsers browse, mailers mail. And as a securitygeek by career, I like compartmentalization of my apps ... eg, so that it's highly unlikely that a Safari bug is going to potentially compromise my mail account. On Windows (ick!) that used to be a major problem, if my hazy memory recalls correctly. Plus, as someone said, having all my accounts in one window/app is easier for my style of workflow.

(I used Apple Mail for decades and currently use Mailmate b/c Big Sur Mail sucked for me; maybe Monterrey Mail is better)