Proton Mail
End-to-end encrypted email based in Switzerland, with a free plan
Own Proton Mail? Claim it, free to correct the facts and get the verified badge.
Pricing
Free · from $3.99/mo
Open source
Yes
Company
Proton AG
Platforms
What is Proton Mail?
Proton Mail is an encrypted email service run by Proton AG in Geneva, Switzerland. Messages are protected with end-to-end and zero-access encryption, so Proton says it cannot read users' inboxes on any plan. The encryption runs in the background, so you don't need technical knowledge to use it.
The service runs on the web and has open-source apps for Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS and Android. Bridge adds IMAP/SMTP access for desktop email clients. Built-in tools block email trackers and phishing, create hide-my-email aliases, and schedule, undo or snooze messages. Easy Switch imports mail, calendars and contacts from Gmail, Outlook, Yahoo and others, and can keep syncing with Gmail.
Paying subscribers fund the service, not ads. The free plan has 1 GB of storage. Mail Plus adds custom domains and more addresses. Proton Unlimited bundles VPN, Pass, Drive and more. Family and Business plans are also available.
Key features
- End-to-end and zero-access encryption
- Email tracker blocking
- PhishGuard phishing protection with link confirmation
- Hide-my-email aliases
- Password-protected emails
- Easy Switch import from Gmail, Outlook, Yahoo
- IMAP/SMTP support via Bridge
- Schedule, undo send and snooze
Use cases
Who it's for
Leaving Gmail
Import your mail, contacts and calendars, and keep receiving Gmail messages in your Proton inbox.
Sensitive communication
Journalists and activists can send end-to-end encrypted or password-protected emails.
Reducing spam
Sign up for websites with aliases that you can cut off later.
Private business email
Use custom domains with a Swiss-based provider that lists HIPAA, GDPR and ISO 27001 compliance.
Proton Mail pricing
From the vendor's site, checked Nov 8, 2026. Prices change — confirm on their pricing page.
| Plan | Proton Free | Mail Plus | Proton Unlimited |
|---|---|---|---|
| Paid monthly | Free | $4.99/mo | $12.99/mo |
| Paid yearly | Free | $3.99/mo−20% | $9.99/mo−23% |
| Storage | 1 GB | 15 GB | 500 GB |
| Email addresses | 1 | 10 | 15 |
| Custom domains | — | 1 | 3 |
| Hide-my-email aliases | — | 10 | Unlimited |
| Also |
|
|
|
Per GB on the cheapest plan: $0.33$4.99 ÷ 15. Worked out from the figures in Proton Mail in numbers below.
Get an email when Proton Mail changes its prices
One mail per change, a stop link in each. Nothing else.
Proton Mail in numbers
- Cheapest paid plan
- $4.99
- Per month, yearly
- $3.99
- Storage (GB)
- 15
- Free plan storage (GB)
- 0.5
- Custom domains
- 1
- Encryption
- OpenPGP end-to-end, zero-access at rest
- IMAP/SMTP
- Yes
- Open-source apps
- Yes
- No phone signup
- Yes
- Pay with crypto
- Yes
The free plan starts with 500 MB and goes up to 1 GB once you finish the Get started checklist; Mail Plus costs $47.88 a year when billed yearly. From Proton Mail's own pages, checked Nov 8, 2026. Each figure links to the page it is from; fields the vendor doesn't state are left out.
How Proton Mail compares
- Proton Mail has the weakest free plan storage (gb) of the 3 services here: 0.5.
| Tool | Per GB on the cheapest plan | Cheapest paid plan | Storage (GB) | Encryption | Jurisdiction | Custom domains | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PProton Mail | $0.33 | $4.99 | 15 | OpenPGP end-to-end, zero-access at rest | Switzerland (Proton AG, Geneva; servers in Switzerland) | 1 | |
T Tuta | $0.20 | $3.99 | 20 | Own E2EE (post-quantum x25519 + Kyber-1024, AES-256), zero-knowledge | Germany (company and servers) | 3 | Proton Mail vs Tuta |
M Mailfence | — | — | 5 | OpenPGP end-to-end (opt-in), password-protected messages; no zero-access | Belgium | 0 | Proton Mail vs Mailfence |
Figures from each vendor's own pages; — means the vendor doesn't state it. The closest alternatives in our directory by category. “Starts at” is the cheapest paid plan per month, as each vendor lists it.
Pros and cons
Strengths
- Free plan with the same encryption as paid plans
- Open-source apps, independently audited
- Apps for web, desktop and mobile
- 30-day money-back guarantee
Limitations
- Free plan limited to 1 GB storage and 150 messages per day
- No custom domain on the free plan
- Attachments capped at 25 MB on all plans
- Desktop app only a 14-day trial on the free plan
Proton Mail FAQ
Is Proton Mail free?
Yes. The free plan includes 1 GB of storage, one address and 150 messages per day, with no credit card required.
How much do paid plans cost?
Billed yearly, Mail Plus is $3.99/month and Proton Unlimited is $9.99/month. Billed monthly, they cost $4.99 and $12.99.
Can Proton read my email?
No. Proton says zero-access encryption means it cannot read your inbox on any plan.
Which platforms are supported?
Web, Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS and Android. Desktop email clients can connect over IMAP/SMTP through Bridge.
Can I use my own domain?
Yes. Mail Plus supports 1 custom domain and Proton Unlimited supports 3.
Used Proton Mail? Rate it
Sign in to rate this tool and share how you use it.
Proton Mail
Free · from $3.99/mo