Overview

Proton Mail is a freemium email service from Proton AG, based in Geneva and founded in 2014. It suits people and teams who want encrypted email across desktop and mobile, with room to bring existing mail into the service. Its strongest case is privacy backed by practical inbox tools; the trade-off is that the free mailbox is small and the paid plans’ prices are not shown here.

Key features

End-to-end and zero-access encryption, an encrypted calendar, open-source apps and independent audits give Proton Mail a security-focused foundation. Tracker blocking helps limit companies’ ability to monitor email activity, while phishing and spam protection, password-protected messages and link confirmation add safeguards around everyday use. The inbox is ad-free. These protections make it a considered choice for privacy-conscious users, though they do not remove the need to evaluate whether its storage and client setup fit your workflow.

Proton Mail also covers routine email management: users can schedule, undo or snooze messages, and sort mail with folders, labels and categories. Easy Switch imports email, calendars and contacts from Gmail, Outlook, Yahoo, Apple and other providers, which can reduce the friction of moving an existing account.

Paid plans support external email clients through IMAP and SMTP using Proton Mail Bridge. That makes Proton more workable for users who rely on desktop clients, but the feature is reserved for paid subscribers. Mail Plus includes priority support; Proton Unlimited includes dedicated support.

Pricing

The free plan costs 0.00 USD per free, billed monthly, requires no credit card and includes 1 GB of storage and one encrypted email address. The FAQ says storage starts at 500 MB, so users should check the allowance shown for their account before relying on the full 1 GB. The free tier has the same security level as paid plans, but its storage and single address make it a better starting point for personal use than a roomy long-term mailbox.

Mail Plus has custom pricing and includes 15 GB of storage, 10 extra email addresses, one custom email domain, 10 hide-my-email aliases, and unlimited folders and labels. It fits an individual who needs a custom domain or additional addresses without the broader allowances of Unlimited. The stated storage per mailbox is 15 GB; the attachment limit is 25 MB.

Proton Unlimited also has custom pricing. It raises storage to 500 GB, includes 15 extra email addresses and three custom domains, and provides unlimited hide-my-email aliases. It is the more suitable tier for users who need substantially more storage or several domains, but those allowances may be unnecessary for someone with a single, lightly used mailbox.

Paid subscriptions include a 30-day money-back guarantee. The desktop app has a 14-day free trial. Paid plans display monthly billing, and the stated starting price is 3.99 /user/mo; compare the plan’s custom price and included allowances with your seat and storage needs before committing.

Platforms

Proton Mail is available on the web and on Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS and Android. The broad desktop and mobile coverage makes it viable across mixed-device teams. Users who need third-party email clients should account for the paid-plan requirement for Bridge-based IMAP and SMTP access.

Who it's for

Proton Mail is a strong fit for privacy-conscious individuals, businesses seeking encrypted email and users moving from another provider who value import support. Proton says it secures more than 100,000 businesses and reports more than 100 million accounts. Family users may also consider Proton Family, which supports up to five additional members and 3 TB of total storage.

It is less compelling for someone who needs a large free mailbox, or for a team that cannot decide on a paid tier without a visible plan price. Before switching, check whether the free allowance, paid storage and Bridge requirement align with how you use email.

Pros and cons

Pros: End-to-end and zero-access encryption, an encrypted calendar, open-source apps and independent audits make privacy central rather than an add-on.
Pros: Tracker blocking and protections against phishing and spam address common email risks, while scheduling, snoozing and organization tools cover everyday inbox work.
Pros: Easy Switch can import email, calendars and contacts, and paid plans add custom domains and external-client support.
Cons: The free plan’s 1 GB storage and single email address may constrain users with larger mail archives or multiple identities; the FAQ also says storage starts at 500 MB.
Cons: IMAP and SMTP access through Bridge requires a paid plan, ruling out that workflow on the free tier.
Cons: Mail Plus and Proton Unlimited have custom pricing, making it harder to compare their costs before assessing the allowances.

Alternatives

For a broader comparison, browse Email providers, Secure Email Providers, Private Email Services and Personal Email Services.

Choose Aster Mail if you want an open-source option with a free plan that includes 10 GB encrypted storage, five aliases and one custom domain. Tuta Mail is another freemium alternative, with a free plan that includes 1 GB storage, one calendar, three labels and end-to-end encryption. Consider eclipso Mail Europe for its free plan’s 4 GB storage and one email address, or Mailfence if its free tier’s 1 GB total storage, split between email and document storage, suits your needs.

Mailo offers a free plan with 1 GB email storage, five aliases and IMAP4 and EAS access, while mail.de has a free plan with no contract period and a 60 MB attachment limit. SecureMyEmail offers a free plan for one email address. Choose mailbox instead if you prefer a paid service with a published Light plan at 1.00 EUR per month, billed annually, including 2 GB mailbox storage, three aliases, calendar and address book, and IMAP and POP3 access.

Verdict

Choose Proton Mail if encrypted email, privacy protections and a migration path from an existing provider matter more than maximizing free storage. Its security features and broad platform coverage are compelling, and paid tiers add custom domains, capacity and client support. Look elsewhere if you need a larger free mailbox, require external-client access without paying, or need clearly priced paid plans before comparing options.

	Proton Mail	Thexyz Email
Free plan	Yes	No
Free trial	No	No
Paid from	Free	$2.95/mo
Open source	No	No
Platforms	Web, Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, Android	Android, iOS, Web
Free plan	Yes	No
Mailbox storage	15 GB	10 GB
Email aliases	10 aliases	—
Paid from	—	2.95 /mo
Private calendar	—	Yes

Proton Mail vs Thexyz Email

Proton Mail

Thexyz Email