Corbett

Webmail Backup Tool

Corbett Webmail Backup Tool pulls a hosting mailbox out of Roundcube, Horde or SquirrelMail on cPanel or Plesk and saves it on Windows in eight formats from PST to TXT. Corbett talks IMAP to the mail server named in the hosting panel so no SSH or file manager access is needed.

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4.6 out of 5 from 683 reviews

Your PC connects to the host IMAP server itself. Corbett relays nothing.

Free demo, scanned clean on VirusTotal and a 30 day refund window.

Lifetime licence from $99 Free trial saves 10 emails per folder

Hosting mailbox coverage

Webmail Backup Tool for cPanel, Roundcube and Horde

Corbett Webmail Backup Tool Copies a Hosting Mailbox Over IMAP to Your PC

Cancel a hosting plan or move a domain and the old mailbox is wiped. Webmail Backup Tool copies that mailbox to a local drive first. Below is what the backup holds and what stays with the hosting panel.

Comes across

All mail folders
Attachments
Inline images
Message dates
Read and unread status
Full headers
HTML formatting

Webmail clients

Roundcube
Horde
SquirrelMail
cPanel mail
Plesk mail
Any IMAP host
Maildir on disk

Saves as

PST
MBOX
EML
MSG
PDF
HTML
CSV
TXT

Not included

cPanel files
Website databases
Horde calendar
Horde contacts
Server side filters

Webmail client is just a window onto IMAP

Roundcube, Horde and SquirrelMail all open the same mailbox on the server. Whichever one the host shows in the browser makes no difference, because Webmail Backup Tool talks to the IMAP mailbox directly.

Export cPanel mail to PST

Named hosts have pages of their own. They include GoDaddy email backup tool, Bluehost backup tool and cPanel email backup software. Any other mail source is on the email backup software page.

Core features

Webmail Backup Tool in Five Steps

Five screens of the webmail backup software, from server details to the file on disk.

Webmail IMAP server details screen with port and address fields

Connect

Enter the Webmail IMAP Server Details

Select the IMAP option and enter the incoming server, port, email address and password. These four values sit in the hosting panel, on the Connect Devices page next to the webmail login.

Incoming servers are commonly mail.yourdomain or the host name in cPanel. Use port 993 with SSL or 143 where the host has no certificate and the full email address as the username. Proxy support handles a server behind a firewall.

Webmail folder tree with message counts and checkboxes

Folder selection

Choose Which Webmail Folders Get Saved

Hosting inboxes pile up contact form leads, order receipts and server alerts. Folder tree shows every one with a message count so a single busy folder can be archived and the noise left out.

Tick any IMAP folder or subfolder, cPanel or Plesk alike. Folder tree is kept in place in the saved copy and empty folders can be tucked away on request.

Message preview

Inspect Webmail Messages Before Saving

Any message opens next to four forensic tabs. Web developers handing a site to a client use the header and raw tabs to prove which address actually sent an order or a complaint.

Content renders body text above the address fields, message header exposes every hop between sender and inbox, properties handles flags, size and attached items and hex and raw message return the source as stored.

Webmail filters by date, sender and size

Selective backup

Filter Hosting Mail Before Saving

Filters apply before the copy begins so the disk holds only the selected mail. On a shared hosting inbox that is one project or everything before the date a site changed hands.

Date range with start and end dates, find mail by sender, recipient, subject line or body words, messages with an attachment only, a size ceiling and drop junk or repeated messages.

Webmail backup format and destination options

Output options

Select a Webmail Backup Format and Destination

Last step is to choose the target. Local folders, USB disks, NAS shares and fresh mailboxes on the new host all work. Document files follow a naming rule so thousands of saved emails stay searchable.

Outlook PST or MBOX for Thunderbird, plus EML and MSG, PDF and HTML for clients, CSV and TXT for records. Move mail into Gmail, a new host or another cPanel mailbox with the email migration tool.

Flexible use

Three Ways to Backup Webmail With One Tool

Webmail Backup Tool handles all three, from one hosting mailbox, a list of client mailboxes or a move to a new host. Test your job in free demo before you buy.

Backup one hosting mailbox

Enter the IMAP server from the panel, tick folders and save a PST or PDF copy before the plan ends.

Backup client mailboxes

Add every address on the domain, then process the queue in one go. Every mailbox gets a separate file.

Move hosting mail to a new host

Name a mailbox on the new host or Gmail as the target and the mail lands in matching folders.

Before connecting

Webmail IMAP Settings for cPanel and Plesk

Hosting mailboxes have no fixed server like Gmail so three details come from the hosting panel before the first backup.

In cPanel

Server name and port

Open Email Accounts, then Connect Devices next to the address. Host page lists the secure IMAP server and port 993.

Plesk shows the same under Mail then the account. Copy those values into Webmail Backup Tool with the address and password.

Which client

Roundcube or Horde does not matter

Webmail clients in the browser only alter how mail looks on screen. Roundcube, Horde and SquirrelMail all sit on one IMAP mailbox.

Backups copy that mailbox, not the client. Horde was dropped from cPanel in 2022 and SquirrelMail years before.

If it fails

Blocked port or self signed cert

Some hosts sit IMAP on a nonstandard port or use a certificate the tool flags. Port 143 without SSL works where 993 is closed and the connection can be allowed past a self signed certificate. Both are set on the same login screen.

Well known hosts have their own pages, like the GoDaddy email backup tool, Bluehost backup tool and cPanel email backup software. Webmail Backup Tool handles any IMAP mailbox without a page of its own.

Working process

How to Backup Webmail Emails in Four Steps

Follow four steps to get a hosting mailbox onto your drive. Practice on one folder in free demo.

Enter the IMAP server details

Install Webmail Backup Tool, select IMAP and type the incoming server, port, email address and password from the hosting panel.

Select folders and filters

Mailboxes show as a tree with counts. Tick the folders to save, then limit by date, sender, attachment or size.

Select format and location

Choose PST, MBOX, EML, MSG, PDF, HTML, CSV or TXT, then point the tool at a folder, a USB disk or a NAS share.

Start webmail backup

Press Export and track every folder on the progress screen. You get a log and a CSV report that list all saved mail.

Want screenshots for every click? Follow IMAP backup guide.

Working process

See Webmail Backup Tool at Work

Prefer screenshots? IMAP backup guide handles a Roundcube or Horde backup click by click.

Webmail backup tool video walkthrough showing folder selection and backup progress

Extra options

More Webmail Backup Features for Hosting Mail

Small options that save hours on busy hosting inboxes.

IMAP server and port

Port 993 with SSL or 143 without

Self signed cert allowed

Connect past a certificate warning

Several mailboxes queued

One separate file per address

Totals per folder

Live tally beside every folder

Date range filter

Frame the backup with From and To dates

Sender and text search

Look up by sender, recipient, subject or words

Attachment filter

Only mail carrying attachments

Size limit

Leave oversized messages behind

Duplicates dropped

Drop junk and repeated copies

Resume on drop

Broken connections resume, not restart

Folder, USB or NAS

Save to a folder, USB disk or NAS share

Log and CSV report

Proof of what was saved

Choose output

Webmail Backup Formats and Where They Open

Eight output formats are on offer. Match the format to what you plan to do with the saved mail.

Format	Best for	Opens in
PST	Outlook users and mail that moves to a new host	Microsoft Outlook
MBOX	Moving mail to a free email client	Thunderbird and Apple Mail
EML	One file per email, searchable by name	Windows Mail and most email clients
MSG	Single messages kept as Outlook items	Microsoft Outlook
PDF	Printing and reading without Outlook	Any PDF viewer
HTML	Reading mail with no email client	Any web browser
CSV	Lists of senders, dates and subjects	Excel and Google Sheets
TXT	Plain text archives of hosting mail	Any text editor

Free demo

Put Webmail Backup Tool to Work on One Inbox

Install the demo, enter the IMAP server name and port from the hosting panel, tick one folder and select a format. Files appear only once the backup begins.

Download free demo

Try before you buy

Free Demo vs Full Webmail Backup Tool

Free demo connects over IMAP, shows every folder, applies every filter and previews mail. Only saving is capped.

Feature	Free demo	Full version
IMAP login and folder list	Yes	Yes
Preview, filter and analysis views	All available	All available
Emails saved per folder	10	Unlimited
Mailbox size limit	Saving stops at 10 per folder	None
Price	Free	$99 one time
Machines per licence	Not applicable	Up to 5
Money back window	Not applicable	30 days

Download free demo Purchase now

Use cases

Webmail Backup for Host Moves, Quotas and Suspensions

Email tied to a hosting account is only as safe as the account. Three moments where a local copy earns its place.

Leaving a host

When a domain moves or a plan is cancelled, the old mailbox is wiped. Save every folder before the switch.

Full quota

Busy addresses hit their quota fast and senders get a bounce. Move old years to a local file to clear space.

Suspended account

Missed hosting invoices can lock the panel overnight. Copies on a local drive keep the mail reachable.

Why Corbett

Why Choose Corbett Webmail Backup Tool?

One licence

Works with any IMAP host and 209+ other providers

No subscription

Lifetime price from $99

Read only access

Nothing is deleted on the host

Direct connection

PC connects to the host itself

Eight formats

Plus move to a new host

No size limit

Any mailbox size or message count

Free demo

10 emails saved per folder

30 day money back

Refund window on every licence

Before purchase

Thunderbird vs Webmail Backup Tool

Thunderbird can add any IMAP mailbox from a host and keep a synced copy at no cost. That suits one inbox living inside Thunderbird. Below is where it falls short.

Task	Thunderbird over IMAP	Webmail Backup Tool
Cost	Free and open source	$99 one time
One mailbox kept inside a mail client	Exactly its purpose	Handles it too, alongside the rest
Where the copy lives	Inside the Thunderbird profile, hard to reuse	A standalone file to name and move
Output format	MBOX inside the profile only	PST, PDF and six other outputs
Filter by date, sender or subject	No filtered export	Narrow by date, sender or size first
Several mailboxes	Add one at a time, then wait for every sync	Process them as one batch
Waiting on a full sync	The entire mailbox downloads into the profile	Pulls from the server straight to a file
Headers and raw source	Behind a source view shortcut	Every email inspectable before the save

Rows tinted green are where Thunderbird wins.

One mailbox that can live inside Thunderbird needs only an IMAP connection and costs nothing. For a standalone file, a chosen format, a filtered slice or several mailboxes at once, Webmail Backup Tool is worth it. Convert a finished file later with the email converter tool.

Global recognition

Webmail Backup Tool Users Trust

Users rate Corbett backup software 4.6 out of 5 across 683 reviews and software directories list it.

CNET
Download.io
UpdateStar
TopSoftware Advisor
SaaSHub
Uptodown

Specifications

Webmail Backup Tool PC Specs

Windows Versions Supported by Webmail Backup Tool

Download details

Released: Dec 2020
Download size: 87.4 MB
Trial limit: 10 emails per folder
Delivery: Download link and key by email
Licence: Lifetime, up to 5 machines

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System

Hard disk: 150 MB to install, plus room for output
RAM: 4 GB minimum
Processor: 1 GHz, 2.4 GHz advised
Rights: Run as Administrator
Connection: IMAP access on the host

Supported editions

Windows 11, 10, 8.1, 8 and 7, in 32 and 64 bit. Windows Server 2025 down to 2008. Outlook is not required.

No macOS or Linux build.

Corbett has built Windows email utilities since 2020. Questions about Webmail Backup Tool go straight to its developers.

Full specification

Webmail Backup Sources and Output Formats

Full source and output list for Corbett Webmail Backup Tool.

Goes in

Webmail account sources

Mail source: Hosting mailboxes over IMAP
Webmail clients: Roundcube, Horde, SquirrelMail
Control panels: cPanel and Plesk mail
Login: IMAP server, port, address and password
Folders: Every IMAP folder and subfolder
Mailboxes per session: Several, queued one after another
Mailbox size limit: None, any mailbox size
Access mode: Read only, nothing deleted on the host
Filters: Dates, sender, recipient, subject, text, attachment, size
Local files opened: PST, OST, MBOX, EML, EMLX, MSG

Comes out

Backup destinations

Client formats: PST for Outlook, MBOX for Thunderbird, EML, MSG
PST options: Unicode PST, split by size, merge mailboxes into one PST
Save locations: Folder, USB disk, NAS share
Document formats: PDF, HTML, CSV, TXT
Host destinations: Gmail, a new host or another cPanel mailbox
Separate extraction: Addresses and phone numbers from contact form mail
Port options: 993 with SSL, 143 without, proxy supported
If your line drops: A broken connection resumes
Reports: Live progress, log and CSV report
Restoring mail: Email Recovery Software

Convert saved files later with email converter tool or single format PST File Converter Tool, MBOX File Converter and EML Converter Tool. Move a hosting mailbox to a new provider with email migration tool. Open a saved file without exporting with free email viewer software.

User testimonials

Webmail Backup Reviews From Users

Across 683 reviews of the backup and restore wizard behind Corbett Webmail Backup Tool.

4.6 out of 5

Pulled from 683 reviews on rating sites and customer emails. Below are three, quoted exactly.

Saved a client inbox before a move

I move client sites between hosts and always dread the old cPanel mailbox getting wiped. Punched in the IMAP server from the panel, ticked every folder and had a clean PST before I cancelled the old plan. Painless.

Nadia Brooks

Old SquirrelMail account still opened

Our host retired SquirrelMail but the mailbox was still there. I was sure the mail was stuck. Turns out the tool just connects over IMAP and ignores the interface completely. Pulled fifteen years of records without a hitch.

Emeka Adeyemi

Cleared a full hosting quota

The info address on our domain kept bouncing mail because the mailbox was full. Backed up everything older than two years to a PST, deleted it from the server, and the quota warning was gone. Copy is on our NAS now.

Lena Toschev

Best practice

How to Keep Your Webmail Backup Safe

Saved mail is only useful if it opens later. These four habits protect your hosting mail archive.

Backup before the host change

Save the mailbox before a plan is cancelled, a domain moves or an invoice lapses.

Open a sample file

After saving, open a handful of messages. Confirm folders, photos and attachments came across.

Save PST and PDF

Repeat the backup with a second format. PST for Outlook and PDF for reading anywhere is a common pair.

Store a copy elsewhere

Store one copy on a home drive and one on a USB stick or NAS, named by address and date.

Common questions

Webmail Backup Tool Questions

IMAP settings, supported webmail clients and where the software stops.

Which webmail clients does Webmail Backup Tool handle?

Roundcube, Horde and SquirrelMail, plus any cPanel or Plesk mailbox and any other IMAP host. They all open the same mailbox on the server so the tool connects to that mailbox over IMAP instead of any one client.

Where do I find my IMAP server and port?

In cPanel, open Email Accounts and click Connect Devices next to the address. Secure IMAP server and port 993 are listed there and Plesk shows the same under Mail. Copy those into the tool with your full address and password.

Do I need cPanel or server access?

No. You only need the IMAP server name, the port, your email address and its password. All four come from the panel but the backup itself works from your own PC and never touches the server beyond a normal mail connection.

Does SquirrelMail still work even though cPanel dropped it?

Yes. cPanel removed SquirrelMail as a browser client but the mailbox behind it is unchanged and still reachable over IMAP. Horde works the same way, though cPanel dropped it in 2022. Backups copy the mailbox, not the retired interface.

Will it save the Horde calendar and contacts?

No. Corbett saves the mailbox only. Horde stores calendar and contact data in its own modules outside the IMAP mail store so those are not part of a mail backup. Export them separately from Horde if you need them.

Login fails on the standard port, what now?

Some hosts block port 993 or serve a self signed certificate. Try port 143 without SSL or allow the connection past the certificate warning. Both are set on the screen where the server and password go and neither needs anything changed on the host.

Which format should I choose, PST or PDF?

PST if the mail goes into Outlook or a new host later. PDF if the copy is for a client, an auditor or a PC without Outlook. Second backups in the other format are common.

Does the backup free up space on the hosting quota?

No. Corbett only copies the mailbox. After the local copy opens correctly, delete old folders in Roundcube or Horde to get back under the hosting quota.

How much mail can one backup save?

Licensed editions set no cap on mailbox size. Large accounts are slower because the host limits download speed but the backup finishes. If the connection drops, it resumes from the last saved message.

Is hosting mail sent to Corbett?

No. Corbett works on your computer and connects to your host mail server over IMAP. Backup files land on a drive you choose, never on a Corbett machine.

Will Webmail Backup Tool install on a Mac?

No. Corbett makes a Windows application only, from Windows 7 through Windows 11 and Windows Server 2008 through 2025. Corbett connects over IMAP so the host and its panel can be anything.

What does the webmail demo let me test?

Demo connects to any IMAP hosting mailbox, lists every folder and opens preview plus filters. Output stops after 10 emails per folder so the PST or PDF can be checked before buying.

Can I backup several client mailboxes on one domain?

Yes. Add every address with its own password and queue them together. Every mailbox gets a separate output file so a client handover stays tidy.

Can I backup a Maildir folder that sits on disk?

Yes. Maildirs copied from the server open from disk. For that job the Maildir backup tool page has the details.

Does it work with Plesk mail?

Yes. Plesk shows the IMAP server and port under Mail, then the account. Enter them the same way as cPanel values.

Can I limit the backup to one project or date?

Yes. Filters apply to From and To dates, sender, recipient, subject, words in the mail, attachments and size. On a shared inbox that is one project.

Can I move hosting mail to Gmail or a new host?

Yes. Hand mail over with the email migration tool. For Gmail see Roundcube to Gmail.

Does the tool delete mail from the host?

No. Corbett only reads the mailbox. Delete old folders yourself once the archive is checked.

Can I open a saved file without Outlook?

Yes. Open it read only in the free email viewer software.

Does it work on Windows 7?

Yes. Windows 11 and 10 are supported along with all older versions.

What if the host uses a nonstandard IMAP port?

Type that port on the login screen. Ports other than 993 and 143 work as long as the host allows IMAP connections from your PC.

How much does Webmail Backup Tool cost?

One payment of $99 buys a lifetime licence for up to 5 machines, with a 30 day refund window.

Step by step

Hosting Mail Guides and Tutorials

Guides for hosting mail jobs before and after a webmail backup.

Exporting hosting mail

Moving to another host

Named hosts

You find the full list of providers on the email backup software page. Moving a hosting mailbox uses the email migration tool and putting saved mail back into an inbox uses email recovery software. Related backups include Outlook.com backup tool, Office 365 backup tool, Gmail backup tool, Yahoo backup tool, iCloud backup tool, Google Workspace backup tool and Webmail backup tool.

Get started

Backup Webmail Before a Host Change

Grab the Webmail Backup Tool demo, type the IMAP server from cPanel and save a few messages per folder. You pay $99 once for the full licence and can claim a refund within 30 days.

Download free demo Purchase now

87.4 MB · Windows 11 to 7 and Windows Server 2025 to 2008 · 30 day money back