Proton Mail vs Shortwave

What Proton Mail is

Proton Mail is an encrypted email service based in Switzerland, built so that the provider cannot read message contents. End-to-end encryption and Swiss jurisdiction are the reasons to choose it, and both are real rather than marketing. The consequence is that server-side features other providers take for granted — full-text search on the server, easy third-party client access — work differently or need a bridge.

What Shortwave is

Shortwave rebuilds the Gmail experience around bundles, AI summaries and fast keyboard navigation. It is Gmail underneath, so migration risk is low and labels keep working, while the surface is rebuilt for speed and summarisation. That also means it is Gmail-only, which rules it out for anyone on another provider.

What Proton Mail is built to do

End-to-end encryption

Encrypts messages so the provider cannot read stored content.

Swiss jurisdiction

Stores data under Swiss privacy law rather than US or EU rules.

Custom domains

Runs business mail on your own domain with multiple addresses.

What Shortwave is built to do

Bundled inbox

Groups related mail into bundles delivered on a schedule.

AI summaries and search

Summarises long threads and answers questions over the mailbox.

Gmail-native

Works on top of an existing Gmail account without migration.

Choose Proton Mail if

• People and teams for whom mail confidentiality is a requirement rather than a preference.

Choose Shortwave if

• Heavy Gmail users drowning in threads.

Proton Mail: pros & cons

• End-to-end encryption by default between Proton users
• Swiss jurisdiction and a clear privacy stance
• Free tier available
• Encryption breaks the usual IMAP workflow
• Search inside encrypted mail is limited
• Costs more than mainstream mail providers

Shortwave: pros & cons

• AI summaries of long threads
• Fast keyboard-driven interface
• Works on top of existing Gmail
• Gmail only
• Subscription on top of your mail account
• AI features require sending content to a model