Are you tired of big companies tracking your every move online and filling your inbox with ads? Unfortunately you’re not alone because almost everything done online is tracked no matter who you are or where you live.
It may seem unstoppable but there are ways to stop companies tracking you and get away from all those annoying ads. That’s where Proton Mail comes in.
In this Proton Mail Review I will walk you through Proton Mail and breakdown everything it has to offer so you can take control and reclaim your sanity with the private and secure space you rightfully deserve.
Affiliate Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links including Proton affiliate links as I’m affiliated with Proton. This means if you purchase anything using the links on this page I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. I only recommend products that I genuinely believe will benefit you and suit your needs.
What Is Proton Mail?
Proton Mail is an end-to-end encrypted email service launched by Proton AG in 2014. It uses client side encryption to protect emails and user data before they are sent to Proton mail servers.
The service was founded by scientists that met at CERN in Switzerland and was sparked by growing concerns over mass digital surveillance and online privacy.
The founders believe in the right to digital privacy and wanted to build an email service where privacy is the top priority that’s available by default and not a premium feature.
Proton Mail is one of the most secure email services out there that actually keeps your data private and prevents spam from reaching you. Your inbox remains ad free and you have total control over the emails you receive.
There are no ads, tracking or selling of user data meaning it’s a truly private email service. It’s accessible via webmail, mobile apps and a Tor hidden service.
Proton Mail is available in multiple languages and is free to join no matter where you live in the world.
What’s Included With Proton Mail?
Proton Mail isn’t just secure it’s also a practical and user friendly email service.
It’s packed full of powerful privacy and security features as well as some exciting extras like a secure calendar and encrypted cloud storage.
Rest assured you will get everything you would normally get from any other email provider meaning you won’t have to sacrifice usability or convenience to protect your privacy.
Ease Of Use
Proton Mail is very easy to use and navigate. The user interface is easy on the eyes, user friendly and looks very nice.
The setup process is quick and easy taking less than 5 minutes to complete. It actually has one of the quickest sign up processes I have encountered in a while which is very pleasing.
When I signed up for Proton Mail it was as simple as choosing an email address and password, setting a display name and then choosing an inbox theme.
After that I was able to read the welcome message and then I was free to explore the interface and do whatever I wanted.
All folders and sections are clearly labelled so you know what they are and there are a few different themes you can choose from so you can have the look and feel like you like for your inbox.
Privacy & Security Features
Proton Mail prioritises security very highly and is full of powerful security features.
Its core security feature is it’s end-to-end encryption meaning every email you send between Proton users is encrypted including contacts and subject lines.
Even recipients outside of Proton Mail can still be emailed and they will receive an encrypted and password protected link to view your message.
Emails can even be set to expire and self destruct after your chosen timeframe.
Proton Mail also uses PhishGuard to block out spam and includes dark web monitoring for your email addresses.
Proton Mail’s security is so strong that even the team at Proton can’t read your emails or other data and there’s an anonymous onion Proton Mail website accessible via the Tor browser that you can use any time you like.
Aside from these core features other great security features on Proton Mail include two factor authentication for your account and no ads, tracking, logs or selling of user data.
This means your inbox will remain secure and clutter free.
Cloud Storage & Other Extras
Proton includes cloud storage and other extras available to all users even those on the free plan.
Every user has access to Proton Drive which is their encrypted cloud storage and there is also a secure calendar included that is also encrypted.
There is also a VPN included called Proton VPN which can be used on 1 device for free and you can select from 5 different countries on the free plan. There are many more countries available in Proton VPN if you have a paid plan.
Proton Mail also includes Proton Pass which is a series of secure encrypted vaults for storing sensitive details like passwords, login information and credit card information.
You also get access to Proton Wallet which gives you a free encrypted Bitcoin wallet for all your BTC transactions.
Aside from all these features you can also create custom aliases as well as get custom domains if you have a paid plan.
As you can see Proton Mail is more than just an email provider it’s a one stop shop for all your security needs.
Proton Mail is always updated and constantly improving making it a solid email provider that is worth checking out if you are serious about privacy and security.
Plans & Pricing
Proton Mail has a free plan as well as multiple paid plans to suit all budgets and needs.
While the prices are a bit higher than some of its competitors the robust security features and all the included extras make up for it.
Whether you are looking to get Proton Mail for yourself or your whole family there is something for everyone.
Free Plan
Proton Mail’s free plan gives you full access to a secure inbox with all the encryption and security features included. You also get access to the VPN, cloud storage and all other included extras but some limits apply.
On the free plan you get 500MB email storage and you can send up to 150 emails per day.
You can increase your storage to 1GB by doing a few simple tasks listed in the getting started section but there is no way to increase the amount of emails you can send per day without upgrading to a paid plan.
There are also limits on the VPN as you can only use it on 1 device and you can only select from 5 different countries.
The cloud storage is limited to as you only get 2GB on the free plan which should be higher in my opinion.
You may also find similar limits on some of the other tools and features but it’s nothing major that would be a deal breaker.
The one thing I don’t like about Proton Mail is the free plan is a bit too limited in my opinion.
You shouldn’t have to do tasks to increase your storage limit which is annoying and you should be able to send more emails per day for free.
I also don’t like that you only get 2GB cloud storage on the free plan which is not enough and you can get a higher amount of free cloud storage elsewhere.
The only way to remove these limits and get much higher email and cloud storage is to upgrade to a paid plan.
This may not be a problem for some users but it is a problem if you are working on a large project or running a business.
That being said the free plan is still good for testing the waters and getting to know Proton Mail before you commit to anything so it’s still worth having for that reason.
Paid Plans
The paid plans are where Proton Mail shines starting at $8.19 per month.
Mail Plus costs $8.19 per month and gives you 15GB email storage, 10 extra email addresses, 1 custom email domain, unlimited folders and labels, 10 email aliases and priority customer support.
You can also send unlimited emails every day and you get 15GB cloud storage as well as 10 countries to select from in Proton VPN.
Proton Unlimited costs $21.19 per month and gives you 500GB email storage, 15 extra email addresses, 3 custom email domains, unlimited folders and labels, unlimited email aliases, dedicated customer support and advanced account protection.
You can also send unlimited emails every day and you get 500GB cloud storage as well as full access to Proton VPN with thousands of ultra fast servers in over 120 different countries.
Proton Duo costs $32.59 per month and gives you 2TB email storage, 1 extra user, 30 extra email addresses, unlimited access to all Proton apps and premium features as well as dedicated support and advanced account protection.
You can also send unlimited emails per day and you get 2TB cloud storage as well as full access to Proton VPN with thousands of ultra fast servers in over 120 different countries.
Proton Mail also offers family and business plans which can be pricey but they do offer a 30 day money back guarantee on all their paid plans for your peace of mind.
All in all the paid plans are great and if you like the free plan it is worth upgrading to a paid plan if you need or want to get more out of the service.
Which Plan Should You Choose?
When it comes to choosing a plan for Proton Mail it all comes down to your needs.
Don’t jump in and get a plan you can’t afford just because it sounds amazing. Take your time with it and think over what you actually need before you select a plan.
If you are new to privacy and security or are unsure if Proton Mail is for you go with the free plan to test things out. Then you can upgrade if you like it but you don’t need to rush as there is no pressure to upgrade at any point.
However if you are already familiar with privacy and security or know what you need from Proton Mail a paid plan might be best for you right from the start.
Whatever plan you choose make sure it is the one that suits your needs and make sure you take the time to consider all of your options before you make a decision.
Who Is Proton Mail Suitable For?
Proton Mail has something for everyone whether you’re new to privacy or you’re deep into your journey.
Proton Mail is a great fit for users that want complete privacy from ads, trackers and government agencies. If you’re concerned about surveillance or data harvesting you can also benefit from the service.
Other great fits for Proton Mail are those who need custom email domains, encrypted file sharing or secure communication for work.
Proton’s family plan is great for those wishing to protect their family’s privacy and tech savvy users will benefit from things like the VPN and Tor access the service provides.
The free plan has its uses too as it’s great for those still learning and is a great first step into the world of digital privacy without any financial commitments.
However Proton Mail is not for everyone because there are people that may not find it’s services useful such as those that need to send a large volume of emails or rely a lot on integration with Google or Microsoft products and services.
Proton Mail is built for privacy focused users and prioritises anonymity and encryption. If you like convenience, integrations or large amounts of free storage it may not be suitable for you.
However Proton Mail is definitely worth exploring if you want to take control of your privacy or start learning how to keep your data safer and more secure.
If you’d like to protect more than just your inbox a good antivirus software pairs perfectly with Proton Mail. Check out my guide to the best antivirus software for everything you need to know to secure your devices.
Pros & Cons
Here are the pros and cons of Proton Mail to help you decide if the service is right for you.
Pros
Cons
Conclusion
In conclusion Proton Mail is an end-to-end encrypted email service launched by Proton AG in 2014. It uses client side encryption to protect emails and user data before they are sent to Proton mail servers.
With its end-to end encryption, strong privacy and security and no ads or trackers Proton Mail is a perfect fit for those looking to take control of their privacy.
Despite its drawbacks and limited free plan Proton Mail is still worth checking out especially if you’re new to digital privacy and you want to test the waters.
Proton Mail is a one stop shop for all your security needs and even if you decide it’s not for you you’ll walk away having learned something new.
Thank you for reading. I hope that you enjoyed this Proton Mail review. If you have any questions or if you need any help let me know in the comments.
Frequently Asked Questions
If you’d like to protect more than just your inbox check out my guide to the best antivirus software and you can join proton mail by clicking here