Proton Mail review

Proton Mail ranks first because it puts encryption at the center of every plan. Messages are end-to-end encrypted on the free tier, and you can send password-protected emails to people who do not use Proton. The free plan is deliberately small: 1 GB of storage, one address, 150 messages a day, three folders and three labels, plus 10 hide-my-email aliases that keep your real address off shopping sites. Mail Plus costs $4.99 a month on monthly billing, or $2.49 a month for the first year when billed at $29.88, and raises storage to 15 GB with 10 addresses, one custom domain, unlimited folders and filters, and IMAP access for desktop apps. Proton Unlimited adds 500 GB plus the VPN, password manager and Drive. The tradeoffs are the tight free limits and a renewal price of $47.88 a year after the first-year offer.

Who it is for

privacy-minded people who want encrypted email

Price

Free plan with 1 GB; Mail Plus $4.99 per month billed monthly, or $2.49 per month for the first 12 months billed at $29.88, then $47.88 a year.

Mail Plus $4.99 $2.49 /month
Quoted from the vendor pricing page on November 12, 2026.

Key features

• End-to-end encryption and password-protected emails on every plan, including Free
• Free plan: 1 GB, 1 address, 150 messages per day
• Mail Plus: 15 GB, 10 addresses and 1 custom email domain
• 10 hide-my-email aliases on Free and Mail Plus, unlimited on Proton Unlimited
• IMAP and SMTP support for desktop email clients on paid plans

Strengths and weaknesses

• Strength: The free plan includes end-to-end encryption, not just the paid tiers
• Strength: Mail Plus first year costs $2.49 a month, billed at $29.88
• Strength: 30-day money-back guarantee on paid plans
• Weakness: Free plan caps sending at 150 messages per day and offers only 1 GB
• Weakness: First-year discount renews at $47.88 a year
• Weakness: Free plan allows only 3 folders, 3 labels and 1 custom filter

Key facts

• Free storage: 1 GB
• Cheapest paid plan: Mail Plus, $4.99 per month
• Paid storage: 15 GB on Mail Plus, 500 GB on Proton Unlimited
• Custom domains: 1 on Mail Plus, 3 on Unlimited
• Based in: Switzerland

Where it ranks

Proton Mail is No. 1 in our Best Email Providers verdict.