Alternatives to Proton Mail
Official Proton Mail apps for reading and sending end-to-end encrypted email on phones, desktops and the web. The listings below can replace it for an important use case. Each note says what changes if you switch.
The original
Proton Mail
Official Proton Mail apps for reading and sending end-to-end encrypted email on phones, desktops and the web.
Replacements
Listings that take over the same core job as Proton Mail.
Tuta Desktop
The desktop client for Tuta's encrypted mail service, with end-to-end encrypted mail, calendar and contacts.
Tuta also encrypts subject lines, calendar and contacts end to end, and its desktop client is open source under GPL-3.0, but it has no IMAP or SMTP.
Mailfence
Encrypted email service from Belgium with OpenPGP support, calendars, contacts and document storage.
Mailfence is a Belgian service using OpenPGP in the browser, with standard IMAP, POP and SMTP access and document storage, but no desktop apps.
ElectronMail
Use Proton Mail through an unofficial desktop client.
ElectronMail is an unofficial open-source desktop client for Proton Mail on Windows, macOS and Linux, still requiring a Proton account.
StartMail
Paid private email service from the Netherlands with unlimited aliases and one-click encryption.
StartMail is a paid web-only service from the Netherlands with unlimited aliases and password-encrypted mail to any recipient, and no free tier.
Posteo
German ad-free email provider with calendar, address book and notes, run on green energy.
Posteo is a paid German web service with standard IMAP and POP3, signup without personal details and optional stored-data encryption, rather than end-to-end by default.
Disroot
Donation-funded platform offering free email, cloud storage, XMPP chat and other privacy-focused online services.
Disroot is a free donation-funded service with email, cloud and chat that works with standard IMAP clients, but relies on a small team.
Fastmail
A paid, privacy-focused email, calendar and contacts service with web and mobile apps.
Fastmail is a paid service with email, calendar, contacts, custom domains and EU or USA data residency, but without end-to-end encryption by default.
mailbox.org
A German email and workspace service with mail, cloud storage, video meetings and office tools.
mailbox.org is a paid German service with GDPR hosting, cloud storage, video meetings and office tools, used through the web.
Also worth comparing
These listings name Proton Mail as their own alternative, so the relationship runs both ways.
AOL Mail
A free web-based email service from AOL with spam filtering and mobile apps.
Proton Mail adds end-to-end encryption by default and apps for desktop and mobile, with desktop apps requiring a paid plan after the trial.
FlowCrypt
A browser extension that adds OpenPGP encryption for sending and receiving email in Gmail.
Proton Mail replaces Gmail with its own end-to-end encrypted email service and apps on every major platform, but it only works with a Proton account and desktop apps need a paid plan.
Gmail
Google's email service, used on the web and through Android and iOS apps.
Proton Mail encrypts email end to end by default and has apps for every major platform, but its desktop apps need a paid plan after the trial.
GMX Mail
A free email service with webmail, cloud storage, calendar and support for several addresses.
Proton Mail brings end-to-end encryption by default and desktop and mobile apps, though it only works with a Proton account.
HEY
An email and calendar service from 37signals that screens senders before they reach your inbox.
Proton Mail adds end-to-end encryption by default and apps on every platform, with a free tier, though it only works with a Proton account.
Hushmail
An encrypted email service with secure forms and e-signatures, aimed at healthcare and small practices.
Proton Mail gives end-to-end encrypted email with apps on every major platform and a free tier, but lacks the healthcare forms and e-signatures.
iCloud Mail
Apple's hosted email service, with a web client and built-in support on Apple devices.
Proton Mail adds end-to-end encryption by default with apps on all major platforms, while desktop apps need a paid plan after the trial.
Mail.com
A free webmail service offering addresses on more than 100 domain names.
Proton Mail adds end-to-end encryption by default and desktop and mobile apps, but only works with a Proton account.
Mailvelope
Browser extension that adds OpenPGP encryption to webmail.
Proton Mail replaces your existing webmail with an end-to-end encrypted email service and apps on all major platforms, but requires a Proton account and is not open source.
Microsoft Outlook for iOS and Android
Microsoft's Outlook mobile app for email, calendar and contacts on iPhone, iPad and Android.
Proton Mail offers end-to-end encrypted mail on iOS and Android, but only works with a Proton account rather than Microsoft or other providers.
Migadu
Email hosting for custom domains, priced by usage rather than by mailbox, with webmail.
Proton Mail brings end-to-end encryption by default but requires its own apps or Bridge instead of standard IMAP for any client.
Runbox
A paid, ad-free email service hosted in Norway and powered by renewable energy.
Proton Mail adds end-to-end encryption by default and apps for every major platform, with a free tier but Proton-account-only access.
Yahoo Mail
Yahoo's free web and mobile email service with inbox organisation and AI-assisted features.
Proton Mail offers end-to-end encrypted email by default with a free plan and apps for phones, desktops and the web.
Yandex Mail
A free email service from Yandex with a web client, mobile apps and ad-free inbox.
Proton Mail adds end-to-end encryption by default with apps on every major platform, but only works with a Proton account.
Zoho Mail
An ad-free hosted business email service for custom domains with calendar, contacts, notes and tasks.
Proton Mail adds end-to-end encryption by default with apps on every major platform, but only works through Proton accounts.
Similar software
Related functionality, not a direct replacement.
Proton Mail Bridge
Local gateway that lets standard mail clients read a Proton Mail account.
Canary Mail
Encrypted email client with AI features across desktop and mobile.
Thunderbird
Mozilla’s desktop mail client, with calendar, contacts and a unified inbox, funded by donations rather than ads.
