There are two ways to compose and retrieve email. The first is using a Web browser and the second is to use a locally installed application in a desktop computer or smartphone. Many email services offer both Web and locally installed methods.
Method 1 - Webmail - From Anywhere
Also called "online email" or "cloud mail," Webmail is a Web-based email service from Google, Yahoo!, Microsoft and other providers that is accessible from any Web browser on any computing device. The distinct advantage is that messages can be sent and retrieved from any Internet-connected computer in the world.
Method 2 - Installed in Computer or Phone
The use of an email program installed in the user's computer or smartphone. The locally installed versions may have more features than the browser-based versions. However, when an email client is installed in a desktop computer, users are tied to that machine unless they install the program in another computer.
Free Has Limitations
Free email services are supported by advertising and may have limits such as a cap on the number of messages that can be archived or the size of attachments. Paid versions offer greater storage and fewer restrictions.
Keep Your Email Address Forever!
If you change your email provider, you have a change-of-address problem and have to notify everyone you want to stay in contact with. The way to solve that for good is to register your own domain name and have an Internet service provider (ISP) host your mail service so that me@myname.com is yours even if you switch to another ISP. See
email service,
email domain,
POP3 and
IMAP4.