Proton Mail
Encrypted email from a Swiss-based company with a free plan
- #1 of 10 in best secure email providers
- Free plan, paid upgrades
- Free to use
- Open source
- WebiOSAndroidmacOSWindowsLinux
Ranked 1 of 10 in best secure email providers
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.
Best for Private email with a free plan and apps
About Proton Mail
Proton Mail encrypts messages between Proton users end to end and uses zero-access encryption for stored mail, according to its site. The service runs on the web and in apps for iOS, Android, macOS, Windows and Linux. It is part of a wider Proton ecosystem that includes calendar, drive, VPN and password manager products on one account.
The free plan is listed at 0 dollars on the pricing page. Mail Plus and Proton Unlimited add storage, custom domains and extra email addresses, and custom domains appear only on the paid plans. Proton publishes its web client source on GitHub under GPL-3.0, and the company says it is funded entirely by paying subscribers.
Key features
- Zero-access encryption
- End-to-end encryption between Proton users
- Apps for iOS, Android and desktop
- Open-source web client
- Part of the Proton product family
Strengths
- Zero-access encryption, as described on its site
- Free plan and apps on every major platform
- Web client published under GPL-3.0
Limits
- Custom domains are listed only on paid plans
- Extra storage needs Mail Plus or Unlimited
Where Proton Mail ranks
How Proton Mail compares
| Product | Score | Price | Platforms | Encryption | Hosting base | Free plan |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1Proton Mail | 92.0 | Free plan, paid upgrades | WebiOSAndroidmacOSWindowsLinux | End-to-end and zero-access | Switzerland (company) | Yes |
#2 Tuta | 90.0 | Free plan, paid upgrades | WebiOSAndroidWindowsmacOSLinux | End-to-end, post-quantum | Germany (servers) | Yes |
#3 Mailfence | 86.5 | Free plan, paid upgrades | WebiOSAndroid | OpenPGP end-to-end in browser | Belgian privacy law | Yes |
#4 StartMail | 85.5 | Subscription | Web | PGP and password-protected replies | Netherlands | No |
#5 Posteo | 84.5 | Subscription | Web | Optional encryption of stored data | Berlin lab | No |
The full comparison table for best secure email providers has all 10 products.
Alternatives to Proton Mail
All 18 alternatives
ThunderbirdFree desktop email app with calendar and contacts- TutaEncrypted email and calendar with a free plan and open clients
SparkCross-platform email app with a smart inbox and shared threads
OutlookEmail, calendar and tasks from Microsoft for Windows and Mac- MailfenceOpenPGP email and calendar with a free plan and Belgian privacy law
- MailspringOpen-source desktop email client for Mac, Windows and Linux
Questions about Proton Mail
- Is Proton Mail free?
- Proton Mail can be used without paying: Free plan; paid Mail Plus and Proton Unlimited add storage. Check the vendor’s pricing page for current limits.
- Is Proton Mail open source?
- Yes. Proton Mail publishes its source code under the GPL-3.0 license.
- Which platforms does Proton Mail support?
- Proton Mail is available on: Web, iOS, Android, macOS, Windows, Linux.
- What is Proton Mail best for?
- Private email with a free plan and apps. In our ranking of secure email providers it is number 1 of 10 with a score of 92.0.
- What are the best alternatives to Proton Mail?
- The highest-ranked alternatives on listme.name are Thunderbird, Tuta, Spark, Outlook.
Show this ranking on your site
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