Proton Mail is a free end-to-end encrypted email service accessible via a web interface and mobile app.
The information in this article applies to the web version of Proton Mail and the Proton Mail app for iOS and Android.
Proton Mail offers several advantages and some limitations compared to similar services.
what we likeSimple and secure email encryption.
Multiple encryption options.
Set emails to expire after a specific date.
Access Proton Mail on any device using the mobile app.
The web interface is sometimes slow.
Integration with other email clients is cumbersome.
Free accounts are limited to three folders for organization.
Get proton mail:
Anyone can sign up for Proton Mail and get up to 1 GB of online storage for free (however, you start with 500 MB). Paid accounts include up to 500 GB of storage in addition to priority customer support and other productivity features. If you don't send a lot of emails, a free account might be perfectly fine.
Encryption protects email content from prying eyes. When messages are sent from your computer to the recipient's inbox, they can be intercepted by malicious third parties.
With end-to-end encryption, messages are encrypted when you send them and decrypted when the recipient opens them. Since the message can only be unlocked using the recipient's personal key, no one in the middle can decrypt it. Services like Proton Mail can transfer sensitive information without worrying about it falling into the wrong hands.
When you exchange emails with other Proton Mail users, the message is encrypted using a key in the browser or smartphone app and decrypted when the recipient opens the message. Therefore, you don't have to set a password.
When you send a message to someone who doesn't use Proton Mail, you can choose to encrypt it with a password. Recipients will receive a message containing a link to the Proton Mail web interface, and they must enter a password to view your message. From the same interface, they can reply to encrypted messages protected by the same password.
You can also use PGP to encrypt messages and export your PGP public and private keys from Proton Mail for use with other services. Conversely, if you have been using encrypted email, you can import the existing key into your Proton Mail account.
The Proton Mail web interface includes folders found in other email clients such as Archive and Spam. It includes color-coded labels, stars to make messages stand out, and rules to automatically tag incoming messages. Paid Proton Mail users can create unlimited custom rules, while free accounts are limited to one custom rule. It also has a simple auto-reply feature.
Use the Proton Mail rich text editor to customize messages with HTML formatting and embedded images. Although Proton Mail supports some keyboard shortcuts, it offers limited help in composing emails. For example, you can't set templates or text snippets, and Proton Mail doesn't suggest text, time, or recipients.
Proton Mail's encryption brings another benefit: You can set your emails to self-destruct at a time you specify. For added security, you can enable two-factor authentication.
Proton Mail has a search function, but the searchable fields are limited to information in the message header, such as sender, subject, and date. Encryption prevents Proton Mail from searching the message body, but if you set up the Proton Mail Bridge app on your desktop, you can expand the search to include email content.
Proton Mail Bridge is a desktop application that links your other email accounts with your Proton Mail account. Because of the way Proton Mail encrypts messages, it cannot connect directly with other email clients, so Bridge acts as a remote server to facilitate communication. Any mail client that supports connecting to remote mail servers (such as Outlook and Thunderbird) can connect to ProtonMail this way.
Proton Mail cannot collect mail from your existing email account, and you cannot set it up to send mail using an existing email address. Still, using your favorite email program with Proton Mail may help solve some productivity shortcomings.
Proton Mail Bridge is only available to paid subscribers.
