Alternatives
Best Proton Mail alternatives in 2026
Proton Mail is encrypted email from a Swiss-based company with a free plan. These 18 alternatives come from the same rankings, ordered by editorial score. Connected products carry a small, disclosed lift.
Ranked alternatives
- 1
Thunderbird
Free, open source and includes calendar and contacts on Windows, Linux and macOS. It has no phone app of its own, and Thunderbird for Android is a separate project.
Best for Free desktop email with calendar and contacts
WindowsmacOSLinuxFreeOpen source
- 2
Tuta
End-to-end encrypted mail and calendar on a free plan with post-quantum encryption, open-source clients under GPLv3 and servers in Germany. The free plan has only 1 GB of storage.
Best for Encrypted email and calendar on a free plan
WebiOSAndroidWindowsmacOSLinuxFree plan, paid upgradesOpen source
- 3
Spark
One app on iOS, Mac, Android and Windows, with a smart inbox that sorts mail by importance. Its code is closed, and its Premium plan adds the paid features.
Best for One inbox across phone and desktop
iOSmacOSAndroidWindowsFree plan, paid upgrades
- 4
Outlook
Microsoft's mail client for Windows and Mac, with calendar, contacts and To Do in one app and a free web version at Outlook.com. Calendar and mail are tied to the mailbox, and desktop features depend on the account and plan.
Best for Microsoft 365 and Outlook.com users
WindowsmacOSiOSAndroidWebFree plan, paid upgrades
- 5
Mailfence
OpenPGP encryption in the browser and a free plan with 1 GB, under Belgian privacy law. It needs OpenPGP key management, which adds setup that Proton and Tuta do not need.
Best for OpenPGP email in the browser with a free plan
WebiOSAndroidFree plan, paid upgrades
- 6
Mailspring
Open-source GPL-3.0 desktop client for Mac, Windows and Linux, with send later and grammar checking. Its read receipts and link tracking may not suit privacy-minded users, and the Pro plan is $8 per month.
Best for Open-source desktop mail with send later
macOSWindowsLinuxFree plan, paid upgradesOpen source
- 7
StartMail
Hosted in the Netherlands, with PGP encryption in the web app, unlimited aliases and no ads. It has no free plan beyond a 7-day trial that asks for payment details, so it costs money from the start.
Best for Paid private email with PGP and custom domains
WebSubscription
- 8
eM Client
Covers Windows, Mac, Android and iOS with sync for Gmail and Hotmail, and a free version for home users. It is closed source, and its AI features are sold as add-ons.
Best for Desktop and phone email for home users
WindowsmacOSAndroidiOSFree plan, paid upgrades
- 9
Posteo
An ad-free account from 1 euro a month, with anonymous registration and optional encryption of stored data. The site lists no free plan, and only the web platform is listed.
Best for Ad-free, low-cost email with anonymous sign-up
WebSubscription
- 10
Mail
Built into Mac and iPhone at no cost and needs no download on Apple devices. It has no Windows or Android version, so it is limited to Apple users.
Best for Email on Apple devices with no extra app
macOSiOSFree
- 11
Canary Mail
An email client for Mac, Windows, iOS and Android with a unified inbox, one-click unsubscribe, snooze, read receipts and a calendar. The free plan covers the core inbox, and AI Copilot and PGP sit behind paid plans at $36 and $100 a year.
Best for Individuals who juggle several mailboxes
macOSWindowsiOSAndroidFree plan, paid upgrades
- 12
Runbox
Norwegian hosting under Norwegian privacy law, browser PGP compatibility and renewable electricity. It has no free plan after the 30-day trial and lists only the web platform.
Best for Norway-hosted email with PGP compatibility
WebSubscription
- 13
mailbox.org
German data centers certified to ISO 27001, with plans from 1 euro a month after a 30-day trial. The entry plan has 2 GB of mail storage, and there is no free plan after the trial.
Best for German-hosted email with cheap entry plans
WebSubscription
- 14
CTemplar
Iceland-based email with anonymous sign-up and a free membership granted by invitation. Paid tiers start at $8 a month, and the site describes strong encryption without naming a protocol.
Best for Anonymous users who can get an invitation
WebFree plan, paid upgrades
- 15
Mailbird
Combines Gmail, Outlook, Exchange and IMAP accounts in one Windows or Mac workspace, free to download. It has no phone app on its site and is closed source.
Best for Several work and personal accounts on a desktop
WindowsmacOSFree plan, paid upgrades
- 16
Mimestream
A native Mac client for Gmail that uses the Gmail API directly, with several Google accounts in one window and Google Calendar invites. It is Gmail-only and subscription-only, at $49.99 a year or $4.99 a month after a 14-day trial.
Best for Mac users with Gmail accounts who want a native app
macOSSubscription
- 17
Disroot
A privacy platform with free accounts, a 1 GB mailbox, SSL transport and PGP through Mailvelope. Its email page does not state where the servers are, and PGP needs a browser add-on and key setup.
Best for Free email with optional PGP for privacy-minded users
WebFree
- 18
Hushmail
Encrypted email with OpenPGP and SSL, sold mainly to healthcare, legal and small business customers, with a personal use plan. Its pricing page does not state a hosting location, and healthcare plans have 14-day trials.
Best for Personal users who want OpenPGP email with a trial
WebiOSAndroidSubscription
Compare Proton Mail head to head
- Proton Mailversus
Tuta - Proton Mailversus
Mailfence - Proton Mailversus
StartMail - Proton Mailversus
Posteo - Proton Mailversus
Runbox - Proton Mailversus
mailbox.org
Or build your own comparison table with Proton Mail and up to three other products.
About Proton Mail alternatives
- What is the best alternative to Proton Mail?
- On listme.name the highest-scored alternative is Thunderbird, followed by Tuta. The right choice depends on price, platform and whether you need open source.
- Is there a free alternative to Proton Mail?
- Yes. Free options include Thunderbird, Tuta, Spark.
Before you switch
Learning Center
1:16Lock-in and exit costs: check how you leave before you commitLearn what lock-in is, run an export test on real data, compare open formats and local versus hosted storage, and plan an exit with your EU data rights in mind.
1:20How to run a software trial that tells you somethingRun a software trial that answers your question. Set criteria first, use real files, test import, export and sharing, then decide before the end date.Articles that mention Proton Mail
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