Email Settings GuideQuick answer: the Purelymail IMAP server is imap.purelymail.com on port 993 with SSL. The SMTP server is smtp.purelymail.com on port 465 SSL or 587 STARTTLS. The POP server is pop3.purelymail.com on port 995 SSL. These are the same for every domain. Sign in with your full email address and your password. Turned on two factor authentication? Use an app password in its place.
What Changed Recently#
Purelymail is one of the simpler hosts to set up, once you know how it names things. Here is where things stand before you set up a client.
Latest update
The same servers cover every hosted domain. Purelymail hosts many domains on shared servers, so the host is always imap.purelymail.com or smtp.purelymail.com. You never put your own domain in the server box.
Earlier change
Your normal password works, until two factor. Every client uses your Purelymail password. Only after you turn on two factor authentication does a client need an app password in its place.
Earlier change
Open standards throughout. Purelymail runs plain IMAP, POP and SMTP with SSL, plus ManageSieve for filters, so any standards based client works and your mail stays portable.
Before You Begin#
Nail these two and everything after is fast. Get one wrong and the client stalls despite correct ports.
1. Use the purelymail.com hosts
The server is never your own domain. Type imap.purelymail.com and smtp.purelymail.com, whatever your address ends in.
Where: The server names below →
2. Know which password to use
Your normal password works in a client. If two factor authentication is on, generate an app password for the client instead.
About Purelymail Mail#
Purelymail is a low cost United States email host known for flat usage based pricing, unlimited users and custom domains at no extra charge.
One Purelymail account lets you run as many users on as many custom domains as you like, with the bill tracking storage and mail volume rather than seat count. It runs on plain open standards with SSL across IMAP, POP, webmail and SMTP. It adds nice touches like subaddressing tags, catchall routing and at rest encryption. Webmail is Roundcube, though most people connect a mail client. The one thing that trips up newcomers is the host name. Because many domains share the same servers, you always use the purelymail.com hosts, never a host built from your own domain.
| Service | Purelymail email hosting |
| Based In | United States |
| Pricing Model | Flat, by usage and storage |
| Server Hosts | imap, smtp and pop3 dot purelymail.com |
| Webmail | Roundcube at purelymail.com |
| Protocols Supported | IMAP, POP, SMTP, ManageSieve |
| App Password | Only when two factor is on |
| Extras | Subaddressing, catchall, at rest encryption |
imap.purelymail.com and smtp.purelymail.com. The domain shifts only what you type as username, leaving the host fixed.
Purelymail Webmail Login#
You can always read your mail in a browser. The official sign in pages are:
Webmail
Account Security
Password Recovery
One Set of Servers for Every Domain#
IMAP is on from the moment a user exists, so there is nothing to switch on. The part that catches people is the server name. Purelymail runs shared servers. The same names cover every domain it hosts:
- Incoming, IMAP. Always
imap.purelymail.comon port 993 with SSL. - Incoming, POP. Always
pop3.purelymail.comon port 995 with SSL, if you prefer POP. - Outgoing, SMTP. Always
smtp.purelymail.comon port 465 with SSL (or 587 with STARTTLS). - Your address stays in the username. Type the full address, such as you@purelymail.com or you@yourdomain.com. Only the host uses purelymail.com.
Purelymail IMAP Settings#
IMAP is the incoming choice Purelymail recommends. Because mail lives on the server, phone and laptop read the same inbox. The host is the same for every domain. It also supports push through the IDLE command.
| IMAP Server | imap.purelymail.com | |
| Port | 993 with SSL | |
| Encryption | SSL or TLS, required | |
| Username | Your full email address, such as you@purelymail.com | |
| Password | Your Purelymail password (an app password with two factor on) | |
| Authentication | Required |
Purelymail POP3 Settings#
POP downloads mail to one machine and, by default, removes it from the server after. Purelymail flags this, so choose POP only for a single local copy. The comparison weighs both.
| POP Server | pop3.purelymail.com | |
| Port | 995 with SSL | |
| Encryption | SSL or TLS, required | |
| Username | Your full email address | |
| Password | Your Purelymail password (an app password with two factor on) |
Purelymail SMTP Settings#
SMTP handles outgoing mail. If you can read mail but not send it, the problem is here.
| SMTP Server | smtp.purelymail.com | |
| Port (SSL) | 465 recommended | |
| Port (STARTTLS) | 587 alternative | |
| Encryption | SSL or STARTTLS (required) | |
| Username | Your full email address | |
| Password | Same as incoming mail | |
| Authentication | Required. Check "My outgoing server requires authentication" in Outlook. |
Check Purelymail IMAP Settings Online#
You don't need to download anything to check Purelymail IMAP settings online. This page is the lookup: every value is verified, current and copyable straight from your browser. Not sure your address uses Purelymail servers? Type it below and find out instantly.
Does my email address use these settings?
Runs in your browser only. Your address is never sent anywhere or stored.
Want to confirm the mailbox before setting up a client? Sign in at Purelymail webmail, which proves your address and password are right. With two factor on, also make sure an app password is ready for the client. Once webmail opens, any standards based app connects with the tables above.
Look Up IMAP Settings for Any Email Domain#
This page covers Purelymail. For every other address, work email on a company domain included, we run a free online lookup database: imapsettings.com.
imapsettings.com
Complete email settings database, by Univik
Enter any email address and get the incoming and outgoing server settings for that domain in 1 step:
Your address is used only to find the settings for that domain. Nothing is stored or shared.
Password and Two Factor#
Purelymail keeps this simpler than most. Without two factor authentication, every client signs in with your normal Purelymail password. The one rule is that once you turn two factor on, a mail client can no longer use that password, so you generate an app password for it instead. Here is which one works where:
| Where you sign in | Two factor off | Two factor on |
|---|---|---|
| Purelymail website and webmail | Normal password | Password plus code |
| Outlook, Apple Mail, Thunderbird | Normal password | App password |
| Phone mail apps (IMAP setup) | Normal password | App password |
How to Create an App Password (two factor users)
- Sign in at purelymail.com and open your account settings.
- Find the app password area. It appears once two factor authentication is on.
- Create a new app password and name it after the client, for example Outlook or iPhone Mail.
- Copy the generated password and paste it as the password in your mail app, alongside your full address.
Set Up Purelymail in Email Clients#
The servers and ports are always the same. Only the menus differ. Jump to your app:
Outlook (Windows and Mac)
- Open Outlook and go to File then Add Account. In the new Outlook it lives under Settings then Accounts then Add account.
- Type your Purelymail address. Open Advanced options and switch on the manual setup box.
- Pick IMAP then enter
imap.purelymail.comon 993 with SSL andsmtp.purelymail.comon 465 with SSL. - For the password, use your Purelymail password. Only if two factor is on do you paste an app password instead.
- Finish, then send yourself a test message to prove both directions work.
Apple Mail (macOS)
- Open Mail then Settings, Accounts, Add Account.
- Purelymail is not in Apple's list, so choose Other Mail Account at the bottom.
- Give your name, address and password, then continue. Use an app password here only when two factor is on.
- If Mail asks for servers, drop in the IMAP and SMTP values from the tables above.
- Tick Mail in the final list and save.
iPhone and iPad
- Open Settings, then Apps, Mail, Mail Accounts, Add Account.
- Purelymail is not offered by name, so tap Other then Add Mail Account.
- Fill in your details using your password (an app password when two factor is on), then tap Next.
- Leave IMAP chosen and enter the incoming and outgoing hosts if iOS prompts.
- Tap Save and let iOS check the account.
Two iPhone quirks worth knowing. iOS Mail does not hold IMAP IDLE open, so new mail lands on a Fetch schedule rather than by push. If the Inbox looks empty or the folders are missing, set the IMAP Path Prefix to INBOX under Account then Advanced.
Android
- Open your mail app such as the Gmail app or Samsung Email, then Add account.
- In the Gmail app pick Other, then Personal (IMAP), since Purelymail is not a Google account.
- Enter your address and password (an app password with two factor on). If auto setup does not catch, switch to Manual setup.
- Type the servers:
imap.purelymail.com993 SSL for incoming andsmtp.purelymail.com465 SSL for outgoing. - Finish and pull down to sync the inbox.
Thunderbird
- Open Thunderbird, then Account Settings, Account Actions, Add Mail Account.
- Give your name, address and password, then Continue. An app password goes here only with two factor on.
- Let Thunderbird probe the servers. It usually finds imap.purelymail.com. Check that IMAP is chosen.
- If the probe misses, pick Configure manually and key in the table values above.
- Select Done. Folders fill in on first open.
Purelymail Webmail Settings#
The server values wire up your apps. The controls here decide how the mailbox itself behaves. Purelymail runs Roundcube webmail. Most of these sit under its Settings menu.
Signature
In Roundcube under Settings then Identities. A signature set here shows in webmail only. Outlook and other clients keep their own, so which one appears depends on where the message left from.
Vacation Auto Reply
Set through a Sieve vacation rule in webmail. Give it start and end dates so it stops on its own. Because Purelymail answers from the server, it replies even while your computer is off.
Filters via Sieve
Purelymail filters use Sieve, edited in webmail or over ManageSieve at mailserver.purelymail.com on 4190. Server rules sort mail before any device sees it. A rule built inside Outlook only runs while Outlook is open.
Subaddressing Tags
Purelymail lets you tag any address, so you+shop@purelymail.com and you_shop@purelymail.com both reach you. Everything after the first non letter symbol is ignored for delivery, which makes throwaway tags simple to filter. Periods work the same way, so exam.ple@purelymail.com routes like example@purelymail.com. Tagging is on by default and can be switched off per custom domain.
POP3 vs IMAP#
| Feature | IMAP | POP3 |
|---|---|---|
| Where mail lives | On the Purelymail server | Downloaded to one device |
| Multiple devices | ✅ Everything stays in sync | ❌ Each device sees different mail |
| Sent and deleted mail | ✅ Synced everywhere | ⚠️ Stays only on that device |
| Offline reading | ⚠️ Cached mail only | ✅ Full local copy |
| Server storage used | Yes, counts against your quota | Can be freed after download |
| Best for | Phone + computer, everyday use | Single PC, local archives |
Purelymail Settings Worth Knowing#
Purelymail prices on usage rather than fixed tiers, so the numbers that matter are less about caps and more about how the account is set up. These are the settings worth knowing before you migrate or bulk forward:
| Pricing basis | Storage plus mail volume, not seat count |
| Users and domains | As many as you like on custom domains, no extra charge |
| Custom routing | Catchall and rules supported |
| Storage encryption | At rest, with an optional zero access mode |
| Deliverability | SpamAssassin filtering, with SPF, DKIM and DMARC on custom domains |
| Push support | IMAP IDLE for immediate delivery |
| Contacts and calendar | CardDAV, CalDAV and WebDAV sync for address books and calendars |
Troubleshooting Purelymail Connections#
Find the exact error your email app shows, then apply the fix:
| Error you see | What it means | Fix |
|---|---|---|
| Login failed after enabling 2FA | The client still holds your old password | With two factor on, a client needs an app password. Generate one and replace the saved password. |
| Server not found | A host built from your own domain was used | The host is never your domain. Use imap.purelymail.com and smtp.purelymail.com for every Purelymail address. |
| iPhone push not working | Apple limits IDLE on the default Mail app | Purelymail supports push through IMAP IDLE, but iOS Mail falls back to Fetch. Either set a Fetch schedule or pick an app that keeps IDLE open. |
| iPhone shows no Inbox or missing folders | iOS Mail needs the IMAP path prefix set | Open Settings, Mail, Accounts, your account, Account, Advanced, then set IMAP Path Prefix to INBOX in capitals. Under Mailbox Behaviours point Sent and Trash at the server folders. Add the account again if folders still hide. |
| Cannot connect to server | Wrong port or encryption | Check IMAP 993 SSL and SMTP 465 or 587. Antivirus and VPN apps can also block these ports. |
| Password keeps being asked | Username is not the full address | Type the whole address such as you@purelymail.com, not the part before the at sign. With two factor on, use an app password. |
| Messages stuck in Outbox | SMTP authentication is off | Enable "outgoing server requires authentication" with the same login as incoming mail. |
Reader Reported Fixes
Pick Personal IMAP in the Gmail app. Android users kept getting an error until they chose Other then Personal (IMAP) rather than the Google option. Purelymail is not a Google account, so the Google path never authenticates.
Switch to 587 when 465 stalls. On some office and hotel networks port 465 is blocked and mail sat in the Outbox. Changing the outgoing port to 587 with STARTTLS cleared it, since both routes reach smtp.purelymail.com.
Keeping a Copy of Your Purelymail Mail#
Because Purelymail runs on plain open standards, your mail is portable. Any IMAP client or backup tool can read the whole mailbox, so nothing is locked to one app.
Moving in from another host? Set Purelymail up with the values above, then copy your old mail across with an IMAP migration. Both sides only need their server settings and a login.
Planning to leave for good? Back up the mailbox first. Once an account closes, mail held only on the server is gone, so a local copy is worth making before you cancel.
Taking your mail to a new account? The Univik Email Migration Tool copies every folder from the old account to the new one. Enter the IMAP settings from this page for the Purelymail side and your new provider's settings for the other.
Rather not do it yourself? Our Email Migration Services team plans and runs the whole transfer for you and verifies every folder arrived.
Use These Settings in Univik Email Backup#
The same IMAP settings above let you download your complete Purelymail mailbox to your computer. Univik Email Backup writes the whole mailbox to PST, MBOX, EML or PDF files you keep for good, even if the account closes.
- Download Univik Email Backup and install it on Windows.
- Select Purelymail from the source list. If it isn't listed by name, choose IMAP.
- Sign in with your full email address and your password. With two factor on, use an app password in its place.
- If the tool asks for server details, use
imap.purelymail.comwith port993and SSL from the IMAP table above. - Pick a saving format and folder, then start the backup. Large mailboxes download in the background.
Univik Tools That Use These Settings#
Many people land here while migrating or archiving a mailbox. All 3 tools use the same IMAP settings from this page:
Email Backup
Download your complete Purelymail mailbox to PST, MBOX, EML or PDF before switching or closing the account.
Email Backup Tool →
Email Migration Tool
Copy every folder from Purelymail straight into Gmail, Microsoft 365 or any other account. No manual export needed.
Email Migration Tool →
Email Converter Tool
Already have MBOX, EML or OST files from an old export? Convert them to PST, PDF or any format your new app opens.
Email Converter Tool →Prefer to hand the whole migration to experts?
If server settings and app passwords feel like too much, you don't have to learn them. Univik's migration team handles the complete project: planning, transfer, verification and a report showing every folder made it. Since 2013, for single mailboxes up to full company moves.
Email Settings Glossary#
IMAP
Internet Message Access Protocol. Reads mail that stays on the server, so all your devices see the same inbox, folders and read status.
POP
Post Office Protocol, at pop3.purelymail.com on 995. Pulls mail down to a single device and may clear it off the server. Older method, still handy for a local archive.
SMTP
Simple Mail Transfer Protocol. Sends your outgoing mail. Every account needs it next to IMAP or POP, which only receive.
SSL / TLS / STARTTLS
Encryption for the connection. SSL/TLS encrypts from the start (ports 993, 995, 465). STARTTLS upgrades a plain connection (port 587).
App Password
On Purelymail, a code you generate only after turning on two factor authentication. It replaces your normal password inside a mail client, so you can revoke one app on its own.
Subaddressing
Tagging an address, so you+shop@purelymail.com and you_shop@purelymail.com both reach you. Purelymail ignores everything after the first non letter symbol, which makes filtering easy.
Shared servers
Purelymail hosts many domains on one set of servers, so imap.purelymail.com and smtp.purelymail.com serve every customer. A domain of your own is never entered as the host.
ManageSieve
The standard way to edit server side Sieve filters, at mailserver.purelymail.com on port 4190 with STARTTLS. Rules set this way run before any device sees the mail.
Catchall
A rule that sends mail for any address on your domain to one mailbox. Useful for custom routing, so a message to anything@yourdomain.com still lands somewhere.
IMAP Path Prefix
A setting inside iOS Mail under Account then Advanced. Typing INBOX in capitals tells the iPhone where your folders sit, so Sent, Drafts and Trash show instead of a bare Inbox.
Push and Fetch
Two ways a phone collects mail. Push delivers the moment a message arrives through IMAP IDLE. Fetch checks on a timer. iOS Mail uses Fetch for Purelymail because Apple limits IDLE.
CardDAV and CalDAV
Open standards for syncing contacts and calendars. Purelymail supports both, plus WebDAV file storage, so address books and events stay in step across your devices.
How We Verify These Settings#
Univik builds email backup, migration and converter software since 2013. Our tools sign in to Purelymail over IMAP and SMTP every day for thousands of users, so a changed server, port or login rule shows up in our connection logs before most guides notice it.
Every value on this page is confirmed with three checks: a live IMAP and SMTP connection from Univik Email Backup to the purelymail.com servers, a comparison against Purelymail's own setup documentation, then a sign in with both a normal password and, with two factor on, an app password. We re verify after any Purelymail change and at least once a quarter.
Found something that no longer matches what Purelymail shows you? Tell us and we will retest and update the page, with the change logged in what changed recently.
Help & Support
Frequently Asked Questions
Use imap.purelymail.com on port 993 with SSL. Sign in with your full email address and your Purelymail password. If two factor authentication is on, use an app password in its place. See the IMAP settings section for the complete table.
Two things cause this on Purelymail. Most often the username is not the full address, so type you@purelymail.com in full. The other cause is two factor authentication being on, which means the client needs an app password rather than your normal one.
IMAP for almost everyone, which is what Purelymail recommends too. It keeps your phone, computer and webmail in sync. POP fits only a single computer where you want a local download. Full comparison here.
Yes. Servers, ports and encryption never change between devices. Only the menus differ, which is what the client setup guides cover.
Only if you have turned on two factor authentication. Without it, your normal Purelymail password works in every client over SSL. With two factor on, a client can no longer use that password, so you create an app password for it instead.
Yes. Every connection runs over SSL. Purelymail also stores mail with at rest encryption, with an optional mode where even Purelymail cannot read it without your password. Keeping two factor authentication on adds a further layer for the account itself.
An email client with IMAP downloads mail as it syncs, but a dedicated backup tool is faster and saves standard files you can open anywhere. See how to back up your Purelymail mailbox. If you already exported files in another format, an email converter changes them to PST, PDF or whatever your new app opens.
Purelymail keeps its servers steady, so a sudden break usually traces to your side. The common cause is two factor authentication being switched on, which then needs an app password in the client. A network newly blocking port 465 is the other, fixed by moving SMTP to 587. See the current status.
An email migration tool copies mail directly between the two accounts over IMAP. You need the Purelymail IMAP settings and your password for this side, an app password if two factor is on, plus the same details for the destination. Every folder and date stays intact.
If setting this up feels risky or you have many accounts to move, our managed email migration service does the entire job for you.
Other Email Provider Settings
Summary: Purelymail Settings at a Glance
- IMAP: imap.purelymail.com on port 993 with SSL
- POP: pop3.purelymail.com on port 995 with SSL
- SMTP: smtp.purelymail.com on port 465 SSL or 587 STARTTLS
- Username is always your full email address
- Same servers for every domain Purelymail hosts
- Pick IMAP for phone + computer sync
- Normal password works (an app password with two factor on)
- Subaddressing tags with plus or underscore