Webmail is email you read and send in a web browser instead of a desktop or phone app.
Webmail lets you read, write and organise email in a web browser, without installing an email app. You go to a web address, log in with your email address and password, and your inbox appears. It works the same on any computer, anywhere, which makes it handy when you're away from your usual device.
Big consumer services like Gmail and Outlook.com are webmail. Hosting accounts usually include webmail too, so you can use your own domain's email, like hello@example.com, from a browser.
How webmail works
Your emails are stored on the mail server. A webmail application runs on a web server and talks to the mail server using standard protocols: IMAP to read and organise messages, and SMTP to send them. Your browser just displays the result. Because nothing is stored on your computer, you see the same mailbox whether you log in from a laptop, a shared PC or a phone.
On cPanel hosting, webmail is usually reached at an address like webmail.example.com, and the webmail app it offers is Roundcube.
Webmail vs email apps
- Webmail: nothing to install, works anywhere, always up to date. Best for occasional use or shared computers.
- Email apps like Outlook, Apple Mail or Thunderbird: work offline, handle several accounts in one place, and often have better search and notifications.
You don't have to choose. If your apps use IMAP, webmail and your apps all see the same messages and folders, so an email you read on your phone shows as read in webmail too.
IMAP vs POP3 and webmail
IMAP keeps mail on the server and syncs it across devices. POP3 downloads mail to one device and often deletes it from the server afterwards. If you set up an app with POP3, those messages may disappear from webmail. For most people, IMAP is the better choice.
Common webmail problems
- Can't log in: use the full email address as the username and the mailbox password, not your hosting account password
- Mailbox full: delete large attachments or empty the Trash, because new mail can bounce once you hit your quota
- Missing emails: check the spam folder and your spam filter settings
- No email arriving at all: check that your domain's MX records point to the right mail server
- Your emails landing in other people's spam: see email deliverability
Webmail security tips
Use a strong, unique password for each mailbox, log out when you're on a shared computer, and be wary of login pages reached from links in emails, which are a common phishing trick. Every AblePage plan includes unlimited email accounts with 10 GB of storage each, all reachable through webmail.