Proton Mail

Proton Mail is an encrypted email service based in Switzerland.

Website

Description

Proton Mail is a Swiss-based, end-to-end encrypted email service known for its strong commitment to privacy, security, and user control. Founded by scientists from CERN, Proton Mail is part of a broader ecosystem that includes Proton VPN, Proton Drive, Proton Calendar, and Proton Pass, all designed to protect user data from surveillance and unauthorised access.

Proton Mail offers automatic end-to-end encryption for emails between Proton users, a strict no-ads, no-tracking policy, and open-source and transparency commitment. Recent updates in 2025 include improved mobile apps for iOS and Android, offline access, Dark Web Monitoring, and Proton Scribe, a private writing assistant. The service also introduced Category Views and enhanced organizational tools, making email management more efficient.

In early 2025, Proton Mail faced controversy after CEO Andy Yen made public statements praising the Republican Party. Proton Mail later clarified that the statements were an “internal miscommunication” and reaffirmed its commitment to political neutrality. Despite this, the incident sparked debate among users about the alignment of Proton Mail’s leadership with its mission of privacy and neutrality.

Later in 2025 Proton started relocating its infrastructure from Switzerland, due to concerns about national surveillance laws being introduced.

Proton Mail offers a free account with one Email address and 1GB of storage, paid accounts start at 3.99€ per month on a yearly subscription.

Sustainability Features of Proton Mail

Open Source - Free and Open-Source Software

Proton Mail clients are open-source, allowing for community audits and transparency.

Self-Hostable - Services that can be hosted by users, giving full control over data and enhancing privacy.

Proton Mail offers self-hosting options for enterprises, giving full control over data.

Privacy Friendly - It does not track users unnecessarily.

Proton Mail does not track users or display personalised ads, ensuring a private email experience.

European - Based in Europe, ensuring compliance with GDPR and European privacy and labor regulations.

Proton Mail is based in Switzerland, it's relocating its infrastructure to other more privacy-friendly European countries.

No Ads - No advertisements

Proton Mail does not show ads to their users apart from upgrade suggestions for their own services.

Free of Charge - The services provided can be used for free.

Proton Mail offers one email address with 1GB of storage free of charge.

Summary

Proton Mail is a leading privacy-focused email service, offering end-to-end encryption, a strict no-ads, no-tracking policy, and open-source transparency. Based in Switzerland, it benefits from strong privacy laws and a commitment to user control. Recent updates have further enhanced its usability and security. CEO Andy Yen’s political statements make Proton not the best choice in my opinion.

Sustainability Score
69

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