Proton Mail

Proton Mail

Secure email that protects your privacy.

#2 dans Email Client
2 min read · Updated 10/4/2025
Proton Mail homepage screenshot

At a glance

Quick overview for Proton Mail: rating, pricing summary, key features, and highlights.

Ciroapp review

4.0
Best-in-Class Security, Service Needs Work

We find Proton Mail offers truly exceptional end-to-end encryption and operates under robust Swiss privacy laws. The email product itself is outstanding, but the overall user experience is hindered by severely lagging customer support and occasional confusion in account management. Overall, Proton is the gold standard for email privacy, provided you do not anticipate needing technical assistance.

Pros

  • Pro:Core email is end-to-end encrypted with zero-access security.
  • Pro:Operates from Switzerland under strong, protective privacy laws.
  • Pro:Feature-rich free tier and paid plans offer excellent suite value (VPN, Drive).
  • Pro:Easy Switch tool simplifies fast migration from other providers.

Cons

  • Con:Customer support responsiveness is frequently reported as slow and inadequate.
  • Con:Account management and settings can be cumbersome or confusing for users.
  • Con:Reliability issues noted occasionally with peripheral services like Proton Drive.
  • Con:Users report ongoing challenges with refunds and account suspension resolution.
Free trial
Yes — 14 days
Money-back guarantee
Yes — 30 days
Range: Not explicitly statedFree plan, Monthly subscription, Yearly subscription
This section is a summary. Detailed sections about features, use cases, pricing, and reviews follow below.

Proton Mail review, pricing, features, pros & cons

Are you tired of popular email providers scanning your messages to profit from your data? Most services use your email content to create detailed profiles on you. Proton Mail solves this frustration by providing end-to-end encryption and zero-access security.

✨ This powerful system ensures only you can ever see your emails, protecting your conversations from digital spies.

What is Proton Mail?

Proton Mail is a secure email service built on uncompromising privacy standards. It is incorporated and headquartered in Switzerland, meaning your data is protected by some of the strictest privacy laws in the world. Proton Mail is the world’s largest end-to-end encrypted email service.

It uses strong encryption that works seamlessly in the background, so anyone can use it, regardless of technical ability. 🛡️ Millions of journalists, activists, and everyday citizens trust Proton Mail to protect their communications.

Proton Mail Key Features

🛡️ Uncompromising Confidentiality with Encryption

Your conversations stay completely private, guaranteed by strong encryption methods. Proton Mail uses end-to-end encryption, ensuring that conversations only travel between you and your recipient. No third parties can intercept or read your messages.

The service also uses zero-access encryption. This powerful security measure means that not even Proton can view the content of your emails or your attachments. This protects your data because the decryption keys are stored only on your local devices.

All Proton services are built on open-source code and are independently audited for security. This transparency helps maintain the highest standards of privacy and trust.

✨ Essential Protection from Trackers and Phishing

Proton Mail automatically prevents companies and advertisers from watching your inbox activity. The built-in protection blocks email trackers that tell senders if you opened the email or what links you clicked. This stops digital spies from following you around the web.

To keep you safe from common online attacks, PhishGuard is built right into your inbox. It blocks known phishing attempts and actively warns you if an incoming email looks highly suspicious. Furthermore, Link confirmation ensures you never accidentally fall for a malicious website.

✨ Secure Communication with Anyone

You can send highly confidential emails securely, even if your contacts do not use Proton Mail. You have the option to protect an email message with a password before sending it externally. You can also easily set an expiration date for these sensitive exchanges.

Sending password-protected messages adds an important layer of control. This flexibility allows you to securely share critical information with anyone, regardless of their standard email provider. This feature ensures sensitive exchanges remain confidential outside of the encrypted ecosystem.

✨ Effortless Migration using Easy Switch

Switching to a private email inbox is simple and quick, without the fear of losing your old data. The Easy Switch tool lets you move seamlessly from any previous provider in just one click. You can transfer all your existing emails, contacts, labels, and calendars immediately.

Once imported, you can set up automatic forwarding to receive future messages in your secure Proton Mail inbox. This process makes transitioning to a fully private email service easy, requiring no technical experience.

✨ Identity Management and Inbox Control

Proton Mail offers multiple ways to manage your identity and declutter your inbox. You can create "hide-my-email" aliases when signing up for new services or online forums. Using an alias prevents potential targeted attacks and greatly reduces unwanted spam by hiding your real email address.

Inside your inbox, a declutter tool helps manage subscriptions. You can instantly see all your email subscriptions grouped in one place. This makes it easy to decide what is worth keeping and instantly unsubscribe from unnecessary mailing lists.

✨ Seamless Access Across All Platforms

Enjoy the ease and security of Proton Mail wherever you are, thanks to open-source apps. These apps are available for web browsers, desktop computers, Android devices, and iPhones. This ensures your encrypted communications are always accessible.

Beyond basic functionality, the service provides helpful inbox management tools. You can schedule emails to be sent later, quickly undo a sent message, or snooze an entire conversation until you are ready to handle it.

Use Cases

🔄 Migrating Easily from an Existing Provider

Switching email services often feels like a massive chore. You worry about losing important messages or contacts. Proton Mail’s Easy Switch tool eliminates this frustration completely. It lets you quickly import all your existing emails, contacts, and custom labels from any provider.

After importing, you can set up automatic forwarding to receive new mail securely. This process means you are protected immediately, without needing special technical ability. You gain powerful privacy without cleaning out your old inbox first.

🛡️ Protecting Yourself from Digital Spies and Tracking

Many free email services scan your messages to build profiles used by advertisers. This tracking allows companies to know what you click inside an email. You can automatically prevent this kind of digital surveillance with Proton Mail.

The service blocks known email trackers from monitoring you. When you use E2E encryption, advertising monitoring stops instantly. This means you read your mail privately, and advertisers cannot follow you around the web.

💼 Securing Business and Professional Communications

Over 50,000 businesses trust Proton Mail to secure their vital data. Protecting client confidentiality and complying with data privacy laws is crucial for serious organizations. Since Proton is headquartered in Switzerland, your data benefits from some of the world's strictest privacy laws.

All services are open source and independently audited for security. This allows businesses to protect their communications with the highest verifiable standards. It is secure insurance that Big Tech services cannot match.

🔒 Sending Confidential Information to Anyone

Sometimes you need to send sensitive data to a friend or client who doesn't use Proton Mail. You can easily add a password and an expiration date to these specific emails. This ensures the information is protected even outside of the encrypted ecosystem.

Set a secure password that the recipient must use to open the message. Once the expiration date passes, the email is no longer accessible. This feature guarantees confidential information remains viewed only by the intended party and only for a set time.

🚨 Safeguarding Against Phishing and Malicious Links

Phishing attempts try to trick you into giving away personal details through fake websites. Proton Mail’s built-in advanced protection helps warn you before you fall for a trap. Our PhishGuard feature immediately blocks known phishing attempts.

For added safety, link confirmation warns you if an email looks suspicious before you open links. You get crucial warnings before reaching malicious websites. This protection acts as an essential safeguard for your online safety.

👤 Managing Your Identity and Reducing Invasions of Privacy

When you sign up for a new website or service, you usually have to provide your real email. This exposes you to potential spam and targeted attacks. Proton allows you to create unique hide-my-email aliases instead.

Use an alias when you sign up for new sites. If that alias starts receiving excessive spam or shows up in a data breach, you can disable it instantly. This simple step helps keep your primary, real email address completely private.

Pricing Overview for Proton Mail

Pricing range
Not explicitly stated
Pricing types
Free plan, Monthly subscription, Yearly subscription
Money-back guarantee
Yes — 30 days

Proton Mail offers secure, encrypted email with four plan options, starting with a generous free tier. Paid plans require an annual or monthly subscription, providing significantly more storage, custom domains, and access to the full Proton suite.

Plans & Pricing

Proton Free

Contact for pricing
Storage is limited to 1 GB.
  • 1 GB storage
  • 1 user
  • 1 email address
  • No credit card required

Mail Plus

Contact for pricing
  • 15 GB storage
  • 1 user
  • 10 extra email addresses
  • Support for 1 custom email domain
  • Unlimited folders and labels
  • 10 hide-my-email aliases
  • Priority customer support

Proton Unlimited

Contact for pricing
  • 500 GB storage
  • 1 user
  • 15 extra email addresses
  • Support for 3 custom email domains
  • Unlimited folders and labels and hide-my-email aliases
  • Dedicated customer support
  • Ultra fast and private VPN
  • Encrypted password manager
  • + 2 more features

Proton Duo

Contact for pricing
Limits users to 2.
  • 1 TB storage
  • Up to 2 users
  • 30 extra email addresses
  • Support for 3 custom email domains
  • Unlimited folders and labels and hide-my-email aliases
  • Dedicated customer support
  • Ultra fast and private VPN
  • Encrypted password manager
  • + 3 more features

Proton Mail costs between Not explicitly stated and Not explicitly stated per Not explicitly stated with 4 plans: Proton Free (Free), Mail Plus (Price Not explicitly stated), Proton Unlimited (Price Not explicitly stated), and Proton Duo (Price Not explicitly stated).

This pricing structure provides tailored options based on your storage needs and desired suite of privacy tools.

Proton Free

Price: Free Websites Supported: No custom domains supported Best For: Basic individual use Refund Policy: Not applicable Other Features: 1 GB storage, 1 user, 1 email address, No credit card required

This is the perfect way to embrace online privacy without any commitment. You get 1 GB of secure storage, which is great for new users or those who only need basic email functionality. It always remains free, honoring Proton's commitment to secure communication.

Mail Plus

Price: Not explicitly stated Websites Supported: 1 custom email domain Best For: Single users needing more professional email features Refund Policy: 30-day money-back guarantee Other Features: 15 GB storage, 1 user, 10 extra email addresses, 10 hide-my-email aliases, Priority customer support

Choose Mail Plus when 1 GB of storage is no longer enough for your daily activities. You can link your own custom domain, which looks much more professional in emails. The added email addresses and aliases give you better inbox management and control. 📧

Proton Unlimited

Price: Not explicitly stated Websites Supported: Support for 3 custom email domains Best For: Power users who require the full range of Proton services Refund Policy: 30-day money-back guarantee Other Features: 500 GB storage, Dedicated customer support, Ultra fast and private VPN, Encrypted cloud storage, Advanced account protection, Unlimited hide-my-email aliases

This is the recommended comprehensive package, providing access to all Proton privacy tools. You benefit from a huge 500 GB storage pool and dedicated support. If you need a fully encrypted VPN, password manager, and cloud storage alongside your email, this plan provides excellent value.

Proton Duo

Price: Not explicitly stated Websites Supported: Support for 3 custom email domains Best For: Small teams or couples needing extensive secure storage Refund Policy: 30-day money-back guarantee Other Features: 1 TB storage, Up to 2 users, 30 extra email addresses, All Proton Unlimited features included, Advanced threat protection

Proton Duo is designed for sharing, allowing up to two users to secure their communications. This plan boasts the largest storage amount at 1 TB, easily accommodating heavy use by multiple individuals. It offers the absolute highest security and feature set available for individuals or small groups.🛡️

Proton Mail demonstrates faith in their paid plans with a 30-day money-back guarantee for all subscribers. You can try the free Proton Free plan anytime, which offers basic secure services without requiring a credit card to sign up. Additionally, a 14-day free trial is available for the Desktop application.

User Reviews

External feedback paints a dramatically mixed picture, heavily influenced by extreme opinions about customer service versus product quality. Users consistently praise Proton Mail itself (often rated 5/5), along with the idea of uncompromising privacy and the company's strong data protection location in Switzerland.

The suite provides solid value, especially as Proton frequently introduces new features to its unlimited plans. However, customer support is a major pain point, described as "useless," "disgraceful," and having "sluggish response times." Users often complain about a noticeable lack of authority or tools for support representatives to resolve complex issues like account suspensions, configuration access problems, or delayed refunds.

Furthermore, some find the interface "confusing" when managing subscriptions or advanced settings. While the core encrypted email service remains a favorite, potential users should be aware that support responsiveness and the reliability of peripheral services like Proton Drive might be inconsistent.

This polarized feedback results in a low overall third-party rating, despite strong loyalty for the Mail product. 😔

What users say elsewhere

Alex D.
· Trustpilot
5.0 / 5

I’ve experimented with several of Proton's products and found them highly reliable. Proton Mail, specifically, deserves a 5/5 rating. I use it successfully for my custom domain email plan and the security is unmatched.

Marta R.
· Trustpilot
5.0 / 5

I've been a user since 2016 and truly appreciate the strong privacy ethos of the company. I particularly like the Mail product, and the pricing is quite good for the features you receive. I plan to incorporate more of their services soon.

No reviews yet.

Write a Review

Write a Review for Proton Mail
0/100 characters
0/2000 characters

Why use Proton Mail?

Take back control of your communications and choose an email that is secure and private by default. Proton Mail offers essential protection that Big Tech services cannot match, acting as insurance for your online safety.

  • Block Digital Spies: You’ll automatically prevent email trackers and monitoring. This stops advertisers from following you around the web or knowing what you click.
  • Unmatched Security Standards: Proton services are open source and independently audited for security. Proton uses zero-access encryption, ensuring that not even Proton can read your emails or attachments.
  • Effortless Migration: The Easy Switch tool lets you move everything quickly. You can import your existing emails, labels, contacts, and calendars from any provider in just one click.
  • Stay Safe from Attacks: PhishGuard blocks known phishing attempts and warns you if an email looks suspicious. Link confirmation ensures you never fall for malicious websites.
  • Hide Your Identity: Create hide-my-email aliases when signing up for new services. This simple step helps reduce spam and prevents potential targeted phishing attacks.
  • Secure Communication Everywhere: Enjoy the ease and security of Proton Mail on all your devices. Open-source apps are available for web, desktop, Android, and iPhone.

Proton Mail is essential for anyone who believes their online privacy is worth protecting, from individuals to the over 50,000 businesses already using it. You don’t need technical expertise; the encryption works seamlessly in the background. Join the mission to secure your vital data and create a free account today. ✅

Ready to transform your workflow with Proton Mail?

Proton Mail Alternatives

Other tools in the Email Client category

Frequently Asked Questions

How does the Easy Switch tool facilitate moving my old emails to Proton Mail?

The Easy Switch tool helps you transfer everything easily from providers like Gmail or Outlook. It imports your existing emails, labels, contacts, and calendars automatically. All migrated messages are encrypted immediately upon their arrival in your new secure inbox.

Can I use Proton Mail with standard desktop clients like Outlook or Apple Mail?

Yes, paid plan users can connect third-party clients like Outlook, Thunderbird, or Apple Mail. You must install and use the Proton Mail Bridge software for this functionality. Bridge is currently required to integrate with desktop email clients.

What is the maximum attachment size limit for emails?

The maximum file size for a single attachment is 25 MB across all available plans. Proton does not currently support high-volume bulk promotional or programmatic email sending.

Is there a free trial for the paid services or desktop application?

Paid plans offer a risk-free start supported by a 30-day money-back guarantee. Separately, there is a 14-day free trial available specifically for the Proton Mail desktop application.

What is included in the 30-day money-back guarantee?

Proton offers a 30-day money-back guarantee for all paid subscriptions, whether billed monthly or yearly. If you are not satisfied, you can request a refund within those 30 days.

What does 'zero-access encryption' mean for my emails and attachments?

Zero-access encryption means that only you can ever see your emails and files. Not even Proton employees have the capability to access or read the content of your messages or attachments.

How many custom domains can I use with my paid subscription?

The Mail Plus plan supports one custom email domain. If you upgrade to the Proton Unlimited or Proton Duo plans, you can utilize support for up to three custom email domains.

How is customer support responsiveness handled across plans?

The Mail Plus plan includes priority customer support. Both Proton Unlimited and Duo plans offer access to dedicated customer support. Any specific guaranteed response times (SLA) are not explicitly stated on the official site.

How many users and how much storage are included in the multi-user plans?

The Proton Duo plan supports up to two users and comes with 1 TB of total storage. The Proton Family plan extends this, supporting up to six family members with 3 TB of shared storage.

What are the limits on creating hide-my-email aliases?

The Mail Plus plan provides 10 hide-my-email aliases for professional use. If you choose the Proton Unlimited or Duo plans, you gain access to an unlimited number of hide-my-email aliases.

Can I increase the storage capacity of the free plan?

Yes, the Proton Free plan starts with 500 MB of email storage. You can increase this storage to 1 GB by easily completing the 'Get started with Proton' checklist actions.

What specific tools are included in the full Proton suite for Unlimited users?

Proton Unlimited includes the secure email service combined with a fast VPN, an encrypted password manager, and private cloud storage for documents and photos.

Does Proton offer any features to help manage subscriptions and spam?

Yes, Proton Mail helps declutter your inbox by listing all subscriptions in one place. You can quickly unsubscribe from things you do not want to keep. Advanced phishing protection is also included.

Ready to try Proton Mail? Check out the official site or pricing.