Gmail is an immensely popular e-mail service. But the service has its flaws. Therefore, a good alternative is not a luxury. Meet Proton Mail.
Google is regularly at the center of discussions surrounding online security. The giant holds the personal data of millions of users, and doesn’t always handle it with great care. Gmail is no exception.
Proton Mail is a great alternative to Google’s e-mail service. The service works much the same as Gmail, but protects your data just a little better.
The difference between Gmail and Proton Mail
Basically, Proton Mail and Gmail are virtually identical. Both services offer apps for all your devices and let you easily manage your inbox. Where the two services differ is in how they handle your data.
The company claims it is “the only e-mail service that is truly free. Because with Gmail, you pay with your privacy. Unlike Proton Mail, Google’s business model relies on ads.
Proton Mail uses end-to-end encryption. This means that all mail is encrypted, and cannot be read by third parties. Not even by Proton Mail itself. Gmail does not use end-to-end encryption.
This is how your data stays safe
To keep your account secure, both Proton Mail and Gmail have two-step verification. In addition to your own password, you then enter a unique code that is sent to your phone.
But Proton Mail goes even further, offering advanced security features, such as biometric authentication, to protect your inbox from hackers. Instead of using a password or PIN, you then use unique body characteristics, such as your fingerprint, face or iris.
Proton Mail believes in the value of transparency. That’s why all of the company’s apps are open source, so anyone can check what its employees are up to. That way, the company can’t lie about sharing personal data.
Other services from Proton Mail and Gmail
Proton Mail, like Gmail, offers several apps for organizing things. These include Proton Calendar, Proton Drive and Proton Pass, among others. These apps also feature end-to-end. That’s different with Google, which has access to all your data.
Proton Pass keeps your passwords safe and offers hide-my-email aliases to protect your identity. And when you connect to Proton VPN, you can unblock censored websites and keep your online activities private.
Both Proton Mail and Gmail offer handy features to keep your e-mail organized. You can set rules to automatically sort your e-mail into folders or apply labels.
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Both platforms also offer the ability to undo and schedule messages, receive alerts for forgotten attachments, set up automatic replies when you’re away and much more.
Are you excited?
Proton Mail is basically a free service, but with limited storage. The free version offers up to 1 GB of encrypted storage. If you want additional storage and premium features, paid subscriptions start at $3.99 a month for 15 GB.
Proton Unlimited offers you 500 GB of storage, three custom domains, unlimited hide-my-mail aliases and all the features of other Proton services. You pay 9.99 euros per month for this.