Proton is a Swiss-based company with a desire to make privacy and security the default experience on the internet. To that end, they have developed a suite of apps to compete with the offerings of Google and Apple, that on the surface appear similar, but function differently behind the scenes.
Proton keeps your data your data
What sets Proton apart
- End-to-End Encryption: With zero-access encryption, not even Proton themselves have the ability to access your data without your permission, meaning not only won't your data be shared, it can't be
- Swiss Privacy: Switzerland has the strictest privacy laws of any country on Earth, which is where your data is stored.
- Open Source: All Proton apps are open source and independtly audited by security experts, so there are no surprises as to what is happening with your data.
- Multi-Device Support: One Proton account goes with you across all your devices; Android, iOS, Windows, MacOS, Linux, you name it.
- Eternally Free: With a belief that privacy is a human right, Proton provides free versions of most of their applications.
Proton offers free versions of all their applications, which unlike the other big tech companies, are not paid for by targeted ads; they truly are free. However, there are a few different reasons why you may want to consider upgrading to a paid plan.
1. More Money, More Features
When you go car shopping, you start with the objective of finding something that will as its most basic function, get you from Point A to Point B. Then, you start looking at the different features that set each car apart. You ask yourself, maybe its worth paying a little more for the air conditioning and the heated seats?
Proton is no different. Will the free Proton Mail let you send and receive e-mails without issue? Absolutely. But wouldn't it be nice to have mail filters sort your incoming mail into folders for you automatically? Or to be able to manage multiple e-mail addresses, say one for work, one for friends and family, and another for volunteer commitments, all together under the same account?
The paid Proton options unleash the full Proton experience, taking you from a bargain beater to a luxury beauty.
2. Buy Only What You Need
Every person and their situation is different, and Proton has kept that in mind with their paid plans. If a user does not need the premium version of each application but would like one or two, there is a Plus plan that unlocks new features and limits for each individual app.
All plans have both monthly and yearly payment options, with a discount on yearly subscriptions
For those who want to experience more of what Proton has to offer, there is the Unlimited bundle, which pairs many of the Plus packages together into one pricing package. The whole family can enjoy the Unlimited bundle's apps and features as well, with the Duo plan, for two users, or Family plan, for up to six users,
Proton didn't forget about business users
Data security and protection should be a top priority for any business in this day and age, and Proton has put together packages with that in mind. The Essential and Professional plans serve up the same ala carte experience as the personal Plus plans, but with additional features suited to businesses. For example, Mail Essentials includes the option to send password-protected e-mails and an appointment scheduling function.
More compehensive plans, like the Unlimited bundle for personal users, are also available to business users, meeting the needs of companies both large and small.
3. Support The Mission
The free versions of Proton applicationd literally are just that, completely free. But like any business, Proton has overhead, staff to pay, and requires funds to operate. By purchasing a paid service from Proton, you are directly supporting the work they are doing to promote internet privacy and data security.
Why free may be the way to go
For some users, the paid Proton apps might not be necessary. The heated seats don't do you much good if you live in California, so to speak. For those who keep their internet usage fairly simple; like to scroll Pinterest, do some online shopping, read the news and e-mail cute puppy pictures to their friends, the free versions likely do the trick. Your privacy is ensured and your personal data is safe.
All plans have the same level of security protection, from the free to the most premium.
Try before you buy
There are a lot of advantages to the paid versions of the Proton suite of applications. While the free versions will do the job, once you try the paid versions you won't want to go back. Don't just take it from us though, try it out yourself! $1 will unlock Proton Unlimited for 30 days, which lets you try out the paid versions of Proton Mail, Proton Calendar, Proton Drive, Proton Pass, and Proton VPN!
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