Proton Mail
Encrypted email with Swiss privacy protections and a usable free tier.
Proton Mail is an email service built around end-to-end and zero-access encryption, with apps for web, mobile, and desktop. It offers free personal accounts alongside paid plans that add storage, custom domains, extra addresses, aliases, and priority support. Proton is based in Switzerland and presents its service as an alternative to ad-supported inbox providers.
Why it stands out
- Large user base for an encrypted email provider, which makes it more mainstream than many niche privacy mail services.
- Open-source apps and independently audited services, according to Proton’s security claims.
- Swiss incorporation gives users a jurisdictional privacy argument distinct from U.S.-based big-tech email providers.
- Free accounts are funded by optional paid upgrades rather than inbox advertising.
- Part of a broader privacy suite, including VPN, calendar, storage, password management, and aliases.
Good to know
- The free plan shown on the page is limited to 1 GB of storage and one email address.
- Custom domains, more storage, extra addresses, unlimited labels/folders, and priority support require paid plans.
- Proton says it may request extra verification in rare cases to prevent abuse, even though phone-number-free signup is promoted.
Photos
Journalists, activists, privacy-conscious professionals, and everyday users can keep email with a provider designed not to scan inbox contents for advertising. Create a free email account without normally needing to provide a phone number. Move away from Gmail while still connecting Gmail during the transition. Use a custom domain and shared privacy-focused mail setup for a small business or organization. Reduce tracking in newsletters and marketing emails with built-in tracker blocking.
Encrypted email accounts, web/iOS/Android/desktop apps, tracker blocking, phishing and suspicious-link protections, Gmail migration/connection tools, aliases, folders and labels, custom domain support on paid plans, Proton Bridge for desktop mail-client workflows, and business plans with compliance-oriented security features.
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Similar sites elsewhere
- Tuta — tuta.com
- Mailfence — mailfence.com
- StartMail — startmail.com
- Posteo — posteo.de
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