Read time 5 minutes

Summary: IMAP is a versatile email protocol used by clients like Gmail. IMAP enables remote access to emails, but it’s vital to back up data. Top IMAP backup tools include Kernel, IMAP Downloader, Mailbird, DRS Softech, and Aryson, each offering specific advantages.

The Internet Message Access Protocol (IMAP) is a widely adopted protocol used by email clients for sending and receiving emails. Notable examples of IMAP email clients include Gmail, Yahoo Mail, and Hotmail. What sets IMAP apart from other email clients is its capability to store your emails on a remote server, enabling you to access your email messages from virtually anywhere. To illustrate, if you wish to add an iCloud Account into Outlook, you can utilize its IMAP servers for both incoming and outgoing mail, resulting in the successful activation of the account within Outlook.

However, it’s important to note that IMAP emails can be vulnerable to deletion or loss in the event of server issues. For instance, if the IMAP server falls victim to a malware attack or experiences a server crash, your emails could be at risk. In such scenarios, it becomes crucial to proactively back up your IMAP mailboxes before a potential disaster occurs.

So, how can you back up your IMAP mailboxes?

We won’t delve into the laborious manual process of IMAP backup, as it can be both time-consuming and complex. Fortunately, there are numerous IMAP backup tools readily available in the market that streamline the backup process. In this article, we’ve compiled a list of the top 5 IMAP backup tools that you can leverage for securing your IMAP data.

  1. Kernel IMAP Backup
    Kernel IMAP Backup distinguishes itself as a standout choice for IMAP backup solutions. This advanced utility is purpose-built to efficiently backup all your IMAP mailboxes. What sets it apart is its integration with a range of functionalities that enable you to perform selective backups of IMAP emails, providing you with fine-grained control over your email backup process.

    • You can filter the IMAP mailbox data by date filter and folder selection options
    • Allow you to backup single/multiple IMAP mailboxes at once
    • Save the IMAP emails in numerous formats, including PST, EML, MSG, MHT, DOC, DOCX, and PDF format
    • Supports incremental backup by skipping already backed up items from IMAP mailboxes
    • Supports Novell Groupwise, Exchange, Office 365, and Lotus Notes accounts
    • Provides simple user-interface with minimum steps to save IMAP Data to PST file
    • The tool can also perform automatic backup of IMAP mailboxes if you use a CSV file. Furthermore, it offers a simple and intuitive interface, making it easier even for new users to use the tool.

    PROS

    CONS

    • The software interface carries the server’s name and port number information of multiple IMAP Servers to ease the process for users.
    • Assures data security throughout the IMAP backup process.
    • Comes with advanced features like date filter and folder selection options.
    • It comes with a great GUI, which eases the whole migration process.
    • Only supports IMAP Email backup, not other items like contacts, calendar, etc.
    • Limitations while using the trial version.
  2. IMAP Downloader

    For those in search of an open-source IMAP backup tool, IMAPDownloader stands as an excellent option. This software is remarkably user-friendly, making the backup process a breeze. Just supply the appropriate credentials, and IMAPDownloader will handle the rest on your behalf. What’s more, you can monitor the download progress right within the tool’s user interface as it securely backs up your IMAP data.

    IMAPDownloader conveniently generates a ZIP file containing your emails right on your system, which can subsequently be employed to access your email data. The tool boasts a straightforward and user-friendly interface, requiring nothing more than your IMAP credentials to initiate the backup process. Depending on the size of your mailboxes, the backup typically completes within just a few minutes. Furthermore, if you wish to target specific folders for backup, you can simply make your selections from the intuitive tree structure and proceed with the backup operation.

    PROS

    CONS

    • Simple and Easy to use
    • Free tool
    • As it is open-source software, there is a lack of data security
    • No advanced filter option is available
  3. Mailbird IMAP Backup
    Whether you need to back up IMAP or POP mailboxes, Mailbird has you covered. Subscribers to Mailbird can effortlessly access its backup tool, making it a top choice for email management. It’s renowned for streamlining mailbox organization, enabling users to consolidate emails and contacts from various accounts into a single inbox. Notable features of this tool include:

    • Highly customizable due to the built-in apps like Facebook, WhatsApp, Twitter, Dropbox, Google Calendar, Asana, etc.
    • Offers quick recovery of IMAP mailboxes with a smooth process
    • Integrated with advanced email management functionalities to optimize your mailboxes
    • Provides a free trial to analyze its performance and working process
    • Mailbird is easy to incorporate into your daily lives, as it takes minimum space on your system for installation.

    PROS

    CONS

    • Users can have great deals at a discount price
    • The trial version is available
    • Users can have great deals at a discount price
    • It comes with a user-friendly interface
    • The process is quite lengthy during bulk migration
    • We need to disable the antivirus software to perform well.
  4. DRS Softech IMAP Backup Tool
    The DRS IMAP backup tool empowers you to safeguard and archive your mailboxes from a range of IMAP servers, including Gmail, Yahoo, Zoho Mail, Amazon Webmail, and more. Its user-friendly interface ensures a seamless mailbox backup process, allowing you to efficiently save IMAP emails to your local computer. This versatile tool boasts wide compatibility across multiple platforms and provides a host of robust features, including:

    • Save IMAP mailboxes to various formats, such as PST, JSON, PDF, MBOX, EML, etc.
    • Allow you to download and backup all the IMAP items, including emails, contacts, and calendar
    • Export IMAP mailboxes directly to Yahoo, Office 365, AOL, Yandex Mail, iCoud and other email clients
    • Transfer backup emails to another IMAP account in the safest manner
    • Schedule your IMAP backup process based on your requirements
    • Save your IMAP backup to External Hard Drive, Flash Drive, and Local machine
    • The tool is available as a free trial that allows you to back up a limited number of emails from your IMAP email account.

    PROS

    CONS

    • Useful to backup and save in several file formats like PDF, PST, MBOX, EML, etc.
    • Migrates the IMAP emails into multiple email clients like Gmail, Yahoo Mail, Zoho Mail, etc.
    • Easy to perform bulk migration of the IMAP mailbox data.
    • There is a requirement for a third-party app password to log into the tool.
    • Users need to upgrade to the premium version for more functionality.
  5. Aryson IMAP Backup Tool
    If you’re in search of a utility to securely back up all your IMAP mailboxes to your local system, the Aryson IMAP backup tool is an excellent choice. It offers the flexibility to archive your IMAP mailboxes in a variety of formats such as OST, PST, EML, MSG, MBOX, CSV, PDF, and more. Additionally, this tool provides the capability to seamlessly migrate your mailboxes to Office 365, live Exchange, Gmail, Yahoo, and other IMAP servers. The Aryson IMAP Backup tool is enriched with advanced features, including:

    • Back up all your mailbox items, including emails, contacts, calendar, tasks, etc.
    • Converts and downloads multiple IMAP mailboxes at once
    • Export all IMAP account data to a live Exchange Server
    • Saves all IMAP account contacts in a CSV file format
    • Maintains the data hierarchy and integrity of IMAP account
    • It offers a user-friendly and intuitive GUI for an easy backup process
    • The tool is compatible across all versions of Windows, but it is expensive compared to other IMAP backup tools.

    PROS

    CONS

    • The trial version is available before purchasing.
    • Regularly gets updated
    • User-friendly interface
    • Quick backup process
    • Won’t allow signing into IMAP account without entering the third-party app password.

Key Takeaways

Every organization that relies on IMAP mailboxes must have a backup tool in place to prevent potential disasters or data loss. Below, you’ll find a list of the top 5 IMAP backup tools that can help you effortlessly safeguard and archive your IMAP mailboxes. Keep in mind that each tool has unique capabilities, and we’ve outlined their specific strengths to assist you in selecting the most suitable one for your needs.