Yes, Proton Mail has a free tier.

Is Proton Mail open source?

Proton Mail is partially open source.

Does Proton Mail use end-to-end encryption?

Yes, Proton Mail uses end-to-end encryption.

What platforms does Proton Mail support?

Proton Mail is available on web, android, ios, desktop.

Where is Proton Mail based?

Proton Mail is based in Switzerland.

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Proton Mail

Name: Proton Mail
Availability: InStock

Swiss-based encrypted email with zero-access

and free tier available

Privacy score 88 Free Technical: Beginner

Visit website

Proton Mail offers a privacy-conscious alternative in the email space, with a stronger focus on data protection than many mainstream tools.

🔀

Recommended alternatives

Tutanota Mailbox.org Posteo StartMail

Web Android iOS Desktop

Who is this for?

✓ Good for you if:

• You want encrypted email with Swiss privacy protections
• You need a free email option (Proton Mail has free tier)
• You want zero-access
Cryptographic transform providing confidentiality.
Read full definition
(Proton can't read your emails)
• You prefer open-source email service
• You need
It's like whispering a secret that only your friend can hear — not even the phone or app knows what you said.
Read full definition
for Proton-to-Proton emails

⚠ Think twice if:

• You need to email people who don't use Proton Mail (
Cryptographic transform providing confidentiality.
Read full definition
limited)
• You want the cheapest email (free tier has limitations)
• You need extensive storage (free tier has limited storage)
• You want email that works exactly like Gmail
• You need advanced email features (some require paid plan)

Overview

Proton Mail is a Switzerland-based email provider focused on reducing third-party access to mailbox content. It uses strong encryption

in transit (TLS) and applies encryption at rest for stored mailbox data. End-to-end encryption is available in specific cases (for example, between Proton Mail users, or via OpenPGP when configured). As with most email systems, metadata (e.g., sender/recipient and timestamps) can still exist even when message content is encrypted.

Operational notes: Access is available via web, mobile, and desktop. Paid plans add features such as custom domains and Proton Mail Bridge for IMAP/SMTP compatibility with traditional email clients. The key privacy trade-off is usability vs. minimizing provider visibility into content.

Privacy highlight

This score will be updated after a full review.

Quick facts

Country:: 🇨🇭 Switzerland
Pricing:: Free
Platform:: Web, Android, iOS, Desktop
Technical:: Beginner
It's like whispering a secret that only your friend can hear — not even the phone or app knows what you said. Read full definition :: Yes
Automatic collection of operational and usage signals from clients to a service. Read full definition :: Minimal telemetry
Software with publicly available source code under an open license; enables review and reuse. Read full definition :: No
Open-source status:: Partially open source
Operational practice of hosting and administering services under your own control. Read full definition :: No
Right enabling individuals to receive and transmit their data in a structured, machine-readable format. Read full definition :: Yes

Key features

Encrypted mailbox with a user-friendly web and mobile experience
Optional
It's like whispering a secret that only your friend can hear — not even the phone or app knows what you said.
Read full definition
(Proton-to-Proton; OpenPGP where supported)
Aliases/custom domains and advanced features on paid plans

Security & encryption Click to expand

It's like whispering a secret that only your friend can hear — not even the phone or app knows what you said. Read full definition: Yes
Encryption protocols: OpenPGP, TLS 1.2+
Lifecycle control for cryptographic keys. Read full definition: Client-side keys protect mailbox content. Your password is used to encrypt your private keys; decryption happens in the client. For end-to-end encrypted mail, the sender encrypts to the recipient’s
Asymmetric cryptography key used for encryption or signature verification.
Read full definition
; the provider cannot read the content without the recipient’s keys.
Offline support: Yes

Telemetry & tracking Click to expand

Automatic collection of operational and usage signals from clients to a service. Read full definition: Minimal telemetry
Behavioral data collection for profiling and attribution. Read full definition: No
Retention of IP addresses and related metadata. Read full definition: Ip no
Automatic collection of operational and usage signals from clients to a service. Read full definition: Describe the
Automatic collection of operational and usage signals from clients to a service.
Read full definition
pipeline here once you have confirmed the implementation.

Jurisdiction & compliance Click to expand

Geographic location of data storage and, sometimes, processing within specific regions. Read full definition: Switzerland (primary).
Storage duration for data, defined by policy, law, and operational needs. Read full definition: Message content persists until user deletion/account closure. Operational
Ancillary data describing communications/events (e.g., timestamps, identifiers, routing).
Read full definition
and security logs may exist for abuse prevention and reliability; retention windows vary by policy and legal requirements.
Legal frameworks: GDPR; Swiss Federal Act on Data Protection (FADP).
Revenue sources: Subscription, Freemium

Editorial signals Click to expand

Composite metric summarizing privacy characteristics based on a scoring model. Read full definition: 88
Trust score: 90
Trust breakdown (0–10): Encryption: 92, Audits: 85, Open source: 75, Telemetry: 85, Jurisdiction: 85, Transparency: 90, Trackers: 85
Editorial notes: Usability: 8, Performance: 8, Family friendly: 8

User experience Click to expand

Signup requirements: Describe exact signup and identity requirements here.
Onboarding difficulty (1-5): 1
Accessibility features: Web interface with keyboard navigation and screen reader support via ARIA landmarks. Mobile apps (iOS and Android) support VoiceOver and TalkBack respectively. Keyboard shortcuts available for composing, reading, and organizing email.

Backup & portability Click to expand

Right enabling individuals to receive and transmit their data in a structured, machine-readable format. Read full definition: Yes
Migration tools: Import assistant (IMAP and provider imports); Proton Mail Bridge for IMAP/SMTP (plan-dependent).
Processes and factors used to re-establish account access after loss of credentials. Read full definition: 2FA recovery codes; optional recovery email/phrase depending on account settings.

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Proton Mail

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Who is this for?

✓ Good for you if:

⚠ Think twice if:

Overview

Quick facts

Key features

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