Protecting your online correspondence from prying eyes has never been more important, but most email services offer little in terms of security. That’s why privacy-based email providers attract increasing attention from users worldwide.
If you need a secure provider, consider ProtonMail, one of the best email services for 2022. Our ProtonMail review covers every aspect of this renowned provider, so let’s check it out.
Pros
- End-to-end encryption
- Secure file storage
- Message expiration
- Privacy
Cons
- Limited number of daily messages
Minimum Project Price
$5+ [Free Version Available]
A Comprehensive List of ProtonMail’s Features
ProtonMail is a feature-rich secure email service, offering unbreakable encryption, among other great features. So, it’s best to review ProtonMail by going through its most prominent services one by one.
Open-Source Model
The idea for this encrypted email service first appeared in the cafeteria at CERN, the European Council for Nuclear Research. The home of world-class physicists and engineers is known for pushing the boundaries and improving life on this planet.
In essence, a group of experts had the idea to create the best encrypted email service when launching ProtonMail in May 2014.
Over the years, ProtonMail remained an open-source project dedicated to online neutrality and transparency. Most importantly, security experts have vetted its cryptographic libraries to ensure no back doors are built in its architecture.
Focus on Security and Neutrality
Encrypted email messaging is over 30 years old, so ProtonMail did not invent anything new. However, the company did introduce an elaborate cryptographic system, protecting the users and their mailboxes.
Since the beginning, ProtonMail has aimed towards becoming the best encrypted email provider on the market. For that reason, the company remained under Swiss jurisdiction, abiding by its notoriously strict regulations.
Nowadays, this Swiss email provider offers its services to a global customer base while complying with the Swiss Federal Data Protection Act (DPA) and the Swiss Federal Data Protection Ordinance (DPO).
Convenience and Ease of Use
Even though security is the priority for an email encryption service, messaging must also be efficient and user-friendly. That’s why we also checked the usability for our ProtonMail review.
ProtonMail has a polished and well-designed interface, providing a pleasant user experience at all times. Besides functionality, ProtonMail also put a lot of effort into aesthetic aspects. As a result, users can send and receive encrypted emails in a redesigned UI.
The ProtonMail desktop version offers six templates, including dark-based Carbon and Monokai themes. The buttons are within reach, and the menu on the left side provides quick access to the essential categories.
End-to-End Encryption
For email encryption, ProtonMail opted for Pretty Good Privacy (PGP). To be precise, it uses zero-access encryption that secures email correspondence at every delivery stage.
Encrypted email solutions include either PGP or S/MIME method. Developed by Phil Zimmermann, PGP is the gold standard for encryption, and it provides more convenience than the expensive S/MIME protocol.
So, even though ProtonMail doesn’t encrypt email subject lines, users receive ultimate protection through the use of public keys. Also, ProtonMail has two-factor authentication as an extra layer of protection.
Storage Space
While researching for our ProtonMail review, we also looked at the storage capacity provided by different pricing plans. The company offers multiple levels to meet the various user needs.
ProtonMail provides 500MB of space in the Free version with a daily limit of 150 messages and one email address. Therefore, most people using encrypted email providers will have more than enough space with this option.
ProtonMail is a top encrypted email service, and it offers 5GB in the Plus version. Furthermore, the top-tier Visionary plan provides 20GB of storage and 50 email addresses with no limits on daily traffic.
Self-Destructing Messages
ProtonMail is strongly dedicated to security. For instance, data centers below 1,000 meters of granite rock and guarded bunkers ensure safe mail services at all times.
ProtonMail supports expiring messages, which self-destruct after a period you can specify. Therefore, email contents don’t have to be permanent, and you can protect sensitive information by setting the self-destruction timer.
So, besides the robust personal email encryption, expiring messages boost safety and confidentiality.
ProtonCalendar and ProtonDrive
Like most email services, ProtonMail also offers a way to keep your schedule secure and timely updated. In combination with ProtonDrive, ProtonCalendar ensures complete privacy while allowing for increased productivity.
Most importantly, ProtonMail provides access to the secure calendar even in the Free version. Since ProtonCalendar seamlessly integrates with the email service, users can easily add entries and events to their schedules.
A frequent positive mention in reviews of ProtonMail is the handy ProtonDrive, an online file storage system. However, it is currently in beta version, so it is available only for paying users.
And like most cloud-based storage services, it will allow you to generate links and share files with friends.
Mobile Apps for ProtonMail
Nowadays, sending emails on the go is standard practice. For that reason, ProtonMail offers apps for Android and iOS. After all, ProtonMail is the best email service for privacy and security in 2021.
Thanks to their well-designed interface, ProtonMail’s apps are attractive and easy to use. So far, the Android app has over a million downloads and a 4.2 rating. Similarly, the iOS version has a 4.1 rating.
In any case, mobile apps provide lots of ProtonMail info and review comments, making it easy to verify the quality of this email service. Overall, the apps are well-received because they offer advanced features like customizable swipe gestures and expiring emails.
Pricing and Free Plan
As we already mentioned, ProtonMail is available in the Free version. At this level, users receive 500MB of storage, 150 messages per day, and limited customer support. So, for a small business, email encryption in the Free tier could be sufficient.
On the other hand, ProtonMail also offers three additional plans, called Plus, Professional, and Visionary. With the Plus tier, for €4.00 (approx. $4.62 a month), users receive 5GB of storage, 1,000 messages per day, and a personalized domain.
Likewise, the Visionary tier is suitable for individual users, offering 20GB of storage, no sending limits, and up to 50 email aliases. The monthly subscription for this level is €24.00 (approx. $27.76 a month).
Finally, the ProtonMail cost for corporate clients is €6.25 (approx. $7.22) per user, on a monthly basis. The Professional plan provides unlimited user support, migration tools, and custom domains. Additionally, end-to-end encryption is a part of the package, together with flexible storage management.
ProtonMail’s Customer Service
Client satisfaction is a priority in the modern business world, and email services must also go above and beyond to meet the customers’ needs. That’s why ProtonMail complaints are few and far between.
More precisely, ProtonMail offers various levels of support, which correspond to the pricing plans. For instance, the Free users get limited customer service, while the Visionary members receive priority customer support.
In any case, users can reach customer service via email or ProtonMail’s social media profiles. Also, users can find plenty of information on its blog, including guidelines on how to delete a ProtonMail account or use its mobile apps.
Why Use ProtonMail?
ProtonMail provides unrivaled protection thanks to advanced encryption, expiring messages, and super-safe data centers. Plus, this Swiss-based email service is not under the EU or US jurisdiction, an element that plays a massive role in privacy and confidentiality.
Although ProtonMail doesn’t encrypt subject lines and requires phone verification, our ProtonMail review for 2021 shows that it is still among the best options on the market. Thus, it’s a perfect fit for companies and individuals looking for top-drawer security.
Even in the Free plan, ProtonMail offers an array of features, which increase as you opt for a paying version. Best of all, the company is more affordable than most encryption mail providers, offering a high-quality service for only a couple of dollars per month.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is ProtonMail safe?
ProtonMail is the safest email service because it boasts robust encryption protocols and several other safety systems. For instance, it strips IP addresses from emails, offers two-factor authentication and self-destructing messages.
Furthermore, even ProtonMail can’t read your messages, ensuring complete privacy at all times. From all this, it’s clear that this Swiss-based email service provides maximum safety and transparency.
How does ProtonMail work?
Launched in 2014, ProtonMail is a privacy-focused email service that offers high levels of online security. Available on mobile and desktop devices, its modern interface provides users with ultimate convenience and usability.
ProtonMail works on a combination of public-key cryptography and symmetric encryption. As a result, no one can read the contents of your messages unless you provide them with the key.
Is ProtonMail legitimate?
ProtonMail has an excellent reputation in the online privacy community, with millions of satisfied clients. Since this email service uses PGP encryption standards, no one can have unauthorized access to users’ emails.
More importantly, ProtonMail complies with Swiss laws. Namely, it follows the standard prescribed by the Swiss Federal Data Protection Ordinance (DPO) and the Swiss Federal Data Protection Act (DPA).
Also, ProtonMail’s data centers and server hardware are highly secured and require biometric access.
Is ProtonMail safer than Gmail?
Gmail might be the most popular and the most used email service, but it’s far from the safest. For instance, Gmail records your every login and has access to all emails in your inbox.
Moreover, Gmail’s data-protection policies allow the option for sharing user information with third-party companies.
On the other hand, ProtonMail uses end-to-end encryption, the safest option invented. As a result, no one can read your emails, and there’s no sharing of information with outside sources.