PopMan

Free plan LinuxWindows

What PopMan is

PopMan is a free desktop utility for managing POP3 and IMAP4 accounts without downloading every message completely. It lists mail on the incoming server, lets users preview text, and allows selected messages to be downloaded without another email client. Unwanted messages can be deleted directly from the server, including through content-based rules. Regular account checks can notify users when new mail arrives. The preview pane shows text from plain-text and HTML messages; HTML is extracted for display rather than interpreted or executed. PopMan is a Windows program and can also run on Linux through WINE. Its ZIP distribution can run from a USB memory stick, with settings stored in PopMan.ini without registry changes. The download page lists version 1.3.18 as a 3.6 MB download and availability in 27 languages. Google Gmail OAuth2 access stopped working in November 2024; the page suggests using an App Password instead.

Who it suits

PopMan suits users who want to inspect, filter, delete, and selectively retrieve POP3 or IMAP4 mail before full download. Portable use and Linux operation through WINE may help users with those needs.

What it does well

Lists server mail without full downloads
Deletes messages directly, including by rules
Checks accounts and notifies about new mail
Runs portably from a USB memory stick
Displays HTML as extracted text

What to know first

Windows program; Linux requires WINE
Gmail OAuth2 stopped working in November 2024
Listed download is version 1.3.18
No full email composition features are listed

Plans

Plan	Billed and limits	Price
PopMan	Windows program; Linux use via WINE	Free

As ch-software.de lists them, read 12 Oct 2026. The maker's own page has the final word.

Verdict

PopMan focuses on server-side mail inspection and cleanup rather than being a full email client. Its free portable design is useful, but Gmail users need an App Password after the stated OAuth2 change.

Facts from PopMan's own pages

App coverage: desktop · ch-software.de, 22 Sept 2026
Background checks: PopMan can check accounts at regular intervals and notify users when new mail arrives. · ch-software.de, 12 Oct 2026
Current listed version: The download page lists PopMan 1.3.18 as a 3.6 MB download. · ch-software.de, 12 Oct 2026
Email authentication limit: The page says Google Gmail OAuth2 access stopped working in November 2024 and suggests using an App Password instead. · ch-software.de, 12 Oct 2026
Free plan: Yes · ch-software.de, 22 Sept 2026
Languages: PopMan is available in 27 languages, according to the download page. · ch-software.de, 12 Oct 2026
Linux support: PopMan is a Windows program that can also be used on Linux with WINE. · ch-software.de, 12 Oct 2026
Maker: The site credits Christian Hübner and shows copyright dates of 2002–2022. · ch-software.de, 12 Oct 2026
Message preview: Its preview pane displays text-based content from plain-text or HTML messages. · ch-software.de, 12 Oct 2026
Portability: The ZIP distribution can be used from a USB memory stick, and settings can be saved in a local PopMan.ini file without changing the registry. · ch-software.de, 12 Oct 2026
Purpose: PopMan manages POP3 and IMAP4 mail and lists messages on an incoming server without downloading them completely. · ch-software.de, 12 Oct 2026
Safe viewing: HTML messages are not interpreted or executed; PopMan extracts and displays their text and information. · ch-software.de, 12 Oct 2026
Selective download: Users can choose individual messages to download without relying on another email client. · ch-software.de, 12 Oct 2026
Server deletion: Users can delete unwanted mail directly from the server and define rules to delete messages based on their content. · ch-software.de, 12 Oct 2026
Support: The maker invites users to submit improvement ideas and provides a contact form for bug reports, feature requests, help, and other topics. · ch-software.de, 12 Oct 2026
Unified inbox: Yes · ch-software.de, 22 Sept 2026

Where PopMan stands on Freedom251

Email clients#103 of 142