Productivity
Proton Mail
Encrypted email from Switzerland.
What it is
Proton Mail is an encrypted email service funded entirely by subscriptions, with zero-access encryption meaning the provider cannot read stored mail on any plan. The free tier is deliberately narrow — one gigabyte of storage and a single address — while Mail Plus widens storage, addresses and aliases, and Proton Unlimited bundles the rest of the Proton suite: VPN, password manager and encrypted cloud storage. The plan structure is clear on the vendor's page even though the prices themselves render client-side, so the limits below are recorded without the figures.
Proton Mail pricing
Proton Mail does not publish a plan ladder we could verify. Free tier available.
Prices read from the vendor's own pricing page on 2026-09-10. Vendors change plans without notice — check the source before you budget.
Key features
Zero-access encryption
Stored mail is encrypted so the provider cannot read it, on every plan.
Hide-my-email aliases
Disposable addresses; 10 on Mail Plus and unlimited on Unlimited.
Bundled Proton suite
VPN, password manager and encrypted cloud storage included with Unlimited.
Strengths and trade-offs
What works well
- Zero-access encryption on every plan including free
- Unlimited hide-my-email aliases on the top tier
- 30-day money-back guarantee
Where it falls short
- Free tier is 1 GB and one address
- Attachments capped at 25 MB
- Custom domains and IMAP access are paid features
Who it is for
Privacy-focused individuals who want encrypted mail without self-hosting.
Pick it or skip it
Pick Proton Mail if
- Trying encrypted mail at no cost: the free tier gives 1 GB and one address with the same zero-access encryption
- Individuals wanting a custom domain and aliases, which is Mail Plus with 15 GB and 10 aliases
- People who also want a VPN, password manager and encrypted cloud storage, all bundled into Proton Unlimited with 500 GB
- Buyers who want an exit: a 30-day money-back guarantee applies
Skip it if
- You need real mailbox space on the free plan — it is 1 GB with a single address
- You use a desktop mail client: IMAP and SMTP support is a paid feature
- You send large files, since attachments are capped at 25 MB
- You need a firm price before signing up; the vendor's pricing page renders its figures client-side
Our verdict
The free tier is a demonstration rather than a daily driver. Mail Plus is the real individual plan; Unlimited only pays off if you want the VPN and password manager too.
Frequently asked questions
- What does the Proton Mail free plan include?
- 1 GB of storage and one encrypted email address, with the same zero-access encryption as the paid plans and unlimited messages per day.
- What is the difference between Mail Plus and Proton Unlimited?
- Mail Plus gives 15 GB, 10 addresses, 1 custom domain and 10 aliases. Proton Unlimited gives 500 GB, 15 extra addresses, 3 custom domains, unlimited aliases, and adds Proton VPN, the password manager and encrypted cloud storage.
- Does Proton Mail support IMAP?
- Email client support via IMAP and SMTP is listed as a paid feature, not part of the free plan.
- How much does Proton Mail cost?
- The vendor's pricing page renders its figures client-side and served placeholder values when this record was checked, so no price is published here. A 30-day money-back guarantee applies, and prices are offered in CHF, EUR and USD.
- Does Proton Mail have a free plan?
- Yes. Proton Mail offers a free tier with limits; paid plans unlock higher usage or team features.
- Who is Proton Mail best for?
- Privacy-focused individuals who want encrypted mail without self-hosting.
- What are the main drawbacks of Proton Mail?
- The trade-offs we noted: Free tier is 1 GB and one address; Attachments capped at 25 MB; Custom domains and IMAP access are paid features.
- When should you not use Proton Mail?
- Skip Proton Mail if: You need real mailbox space on the free plan — it is 1 GB with a single address; You use a desktop mail client: IMAP and SMTP support is a paid feature; You send large files, since attachments are capped at 25 MB.
What we checked
- Public APIOffers a documented API you can build against.Yes
- Mobile appHas a native app for iOS or Android, not just a mobile website.Yes
- Open source / self-hostableSource is open and the tool can be run on your own infrastructure.Yes
- SSO (SAML)Supports SAML single sign-on on at least one plan.Yes
“Not checked” means exactly that — we have not verified it, and we do not guess.
Evidence and freshness
Status: Official sources reviewedReviewed: 2026-09-10
- Proton Mail — Pricing ↗
Checked 2026-09-10 · Supports: Proton Free: 1 GB storage, 1 encrypted email address, Mail Plus: 15 GB storage, 10 encrypted email addresses, support for 1 custom email domain, 10 hide-my-email aliases, priority customer support, Proton Unlimited: 500 GB storage, 1 user, 15 extra email addresses, support for 3 custom email domains, unlimited folders and labels, unlimited hide-my-email aliases, dedicated customer support, Proton VPN, encrypted password manager, encrypted cloud storage for photos and documents, advanced account protection, Messages per day are unlimited and attachments are capped at 25 MB, 30-day money-back guarantee; prices can be shown in CHF, EUR or USD, billed monthly or over 12 months, Personal, Family and Business plan groups are offered separately, The Proton Scribe writing assistant is an add-on with a free trial, Paid features listed in the comparison include password-protected emails, short @pm.me addresses, contact groups, IMAP/SMTP client support, auto-reply, catch-all email, automatic forwarding and scheduled or snoozed sending, The vendor states Proton Mail is funded entirely by paying subscribers and that it never has access to user data on any plan
Limit: Vendor pricing page was reviewed by an editor on this date, but the plan prices render client-side — the page served placeholder values rather than figures, so no price is recorded here and only the published plan limits are. The Family and Business plan groups were not read; these limits cover the Personal plans.
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