Comparison · Secure email providers
Posteo vs Proton Mail: which is better in 2026?
Proton Mail ranks higher in our list of secure email providers (#1 against #5, score 92.0 against 84.5).
- 84.5Editorial score92.0
- 1Platforms6
- NoFree to useYes
- NoOpen sourceYes
Which should you choose?
Choose Posteo if you want
Ad-free, low-cost email with anonymous sign-up.
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.
Choose Proton Mail if you want
Private email with a free plan and apps.
Zero-access encryption, a free plan and apps on every major platform, with the web client published under GPL-3.0. Custom domains and extra storage need the paid plans.
The main differences
- Only Proton Mail runs on Linux.
- Only Proton Mail runs on Windows.
- Only Proton Mail runs on macOS.
- Only Proton Mail runs on iOS.
- Only Proton Mail runs on Android.
- Proton Mail is open source; Posteo is not.
- Proton Mail can be used for free; Posteo requires payment.
Side by side
 Posteo |  Proton Mail | |
|---|---|---|
| Score | 84.5 | 92.0 |
| Rank in list | #5 of 10 | #1 of 10 |
| Price | SubscriptionAccounts from 1 euro per month, with 4 GB of storage | Free plan, paid upgradesFree plan; paid Mail Plus and Proton Unlimited add storage |
| Free to use | No | Yes |
| Open source | No | Yes |
| Platforms | WebWeb | WebiOSAndroidmacOSWindowsLinuxWeb, iOS, Android, macOS, Windows, Linux |
| Made by | Not stated | Not stated |
| Encryption | Optional encryption of stored data | End-to-end and zero-access |
| Hosting base | Berlin lab | Switzerland (company) |
| Free plan | No | Yes |
| Best for | Ad-free, low-cost email with anonymous sign-up | Private email with a free plan and apps |
| Strengths |
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| Limits |
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| Links | Visit site | Visit site |
Questions about Posteo vs Proton Mail
- Is Proton Mail better than Posteo?
- Proton Mail ranks higher in our list of secure email providers (#1 against #5, score 92.0 against 84.5). Posteo is best for: ad-free, low-cost email with anonymous sign-up. Proton Mail is best for: private email with a free plan and apps.
- Which is cheaper, Posteo or Proton Mail?
- Posteo: Accounts from 1 euro per month, with 4 GB of storage. Proton Mail: Free plan; paid Mail Plus and Proton Unlimited add storage.
- Do Posteo and Proton Mail run on the same platforms?
- Posteo supports Web. Proton Mail supports Web, iOS, Android, macOS, Windows, Linux.
Choosing between the two
Learning Center
1:17How to decide between two good optionsSettle a close call by sorting it by how hard it is to undo, setting a deadline, scoring the criteria as a tie-breaker and writing down why you chose.
1:20How to compare products fairly: what to keep in mindDefine the job, cap the must-haves, compare like with like, count total cost over one period and weigh the criteria. Includes a worked example.Read more about Posteo and Proton Mail
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