Proton Mail

What is Proton Mail?

Proton Mail is a secure, privacy-first email service developed by scientists and engineers from CERN in Switzerland.
It is designed to protect user communications through end-to-end encryption and strong privacy laws under Swiss jurisdiction, ensuring that only the sender and recipient can read the content of emails — not even Proton itself.

Founded in 2014, Proton Mail has become one of the most recognizable names in encrypted communication, widely used by individuals, businesses, journalists, and organizations that prioritize security and privacy.

Key Features

• End-to-end encryption: Emails are encrypted from sender to recipient automatically.

• Zero-access encryption: Proton cannot read user emails or decrypt user data.

• Swiss data protection: Servers located in Switzerland under strict privacy regulations.

• Open-source and independently audited: Transparent code base with external audits.

• Self-destructing emails: Set expiration dates on sent emails.

• Anonymous account creation: No personal information required for basic sign-up.

• Built-in VPN integration: Seamless with Proton VPN for added security.

• Support for custom domains: Especially useful for businesses and power users.

• IMAP/SMTP Bridge: Access Proton Mail through standard email clients like Outlook and Thunderbird.

• Advanced spam filtering and phishing protection.

• Proton Pass integration: Password manager offered alongside Proton services.

Technical Foundation

• Encryption: End-to-end PGP encryption (Pretty Good Privacy) combined with zero-access architecture.

• Protocols: Supports IMAP/SMTP via Proton Bridge; direct web and mobile apps use encrypted channels.

• Infrastructure: Hosted in highly secure Swiss data centers with multiple layers of physical and digital protection.

• APIs: Available for enterprise users and for limited automation cases.

• Authentication: Supports 2FA (TOTP apps like Authy, Google Authenticator) and hardware keys (YubiKey, FIDO2).

• Compatibility: Native apps for iOS, Android, and a fully encrypted webmail client.

Use Cases

• Privacy-conscious individuals: Securing everyday communications from surveillance or interception.

• Journalists and activists: Protecting sources and sensitive data.

• Businesses: Managing secure email communications internally and externally with custom domains.

• Healthcare and legal professionals: Complying with data protection regulations (e.g., GDPR, HIPAA readiness for paid plans).

• Remote workers: Communicating securely across borders without relying on Big Tech infrastructure.

Pricing

Proton Mail offers both free and paid tiers:

• Free: 1 email address, 1 GB storage, 150 messages per day.

• Proton Mail Plus: Starting around €4/month, with 15 GB storage, multiple addresses, and custom domain support.

• Proton Mail Unlimited: Bundled with Proton VPN, Proton Drive, and Proton Calendar (~€10/month).

• Proton for Business: Plans for teams and organizations with priority support and admin tools.

Pricing Notes:

• All paid plans support priority customer service.

• Discounts available for annual and biennial billing cycles.

• Bundled services offer significant value for privacy enthusiasts (e.g., Proton Unlimited plan).

Pros and Cons

Pros:

• True end-to-end and zero-access encryption

• Swiss privacy laws provide strong data protection

• Open-source apps with transparent security practices

• Easy-to-use interfaces even for non-technical users

• Anonymous account creation option

• Wide range of services integrated into one ecosystem (email, calendar, drive, VPN, password manager)

Cons:

• Some features (custom domains, multiple aliases) require a paid plan

• Proton Bridge needed for using desktop email clients

• Larger attachments and high-volume sending limited on free plans

• May have slightly slower delivery times for encrypted-to-encrypted communications compared to unencrypted providers

• No built-in encrypted group chat (requires Proton Mail + Proton VPN or external tools)

How It Differs From Alternatives

• Versus Gmail/Outlook: Proton Mail does not scan your emails for advertising or profiling. Your email content remains completely private.

• Versus Tutanota: Tutanota also provides strong encryption but with a different technical approach (Tutanota encrypts even email subject lines, but uses proprietary encryption instead of PGP standards).

• Versus Zoho Mail: Zoho offers business email hosting with good privacy but focuses less on end-to-end encryption compared to Proton Mail.

• Versus Posteo: Posteo is privacy-friendly and anonymous but does not offer automatic end-to-end encryption between users the way Proton Mail does.

Typical Metrics and Data You Can Track

• Number of emails sent and received

• Storage usage (in GB)

• Alias usage (how many and which aliases are active)

• VPN usage (if using Proton Unlimited)

• Login history and suspicious activity monitoring

• 2FA activation status

Best Practices for Using Proton Mail

• Enable Two-Factor Authentication (2FA): Always add a second layer of security to your account.

• Use encrypted contacts: Proton Mail offers encrypted address book fields.

• Verify encryption indicators: Always check if an email is fully end-to-end encrypted (shield icon).

• Use Proton Bridge for desktop clients: If you prefer working with Outlook or Thunderbird.

• Set email expiration dates for sensitive communications.

• Combine with Proton Drive and Proton Calendar: Build a full privacy-first productivity setup.

• Keep recovery email and recovery codes secure: Losing access could otherwise be permanent.