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Head-to-head · Secure Email Providers

Proton Mail vs mailbox

  • Updated Oct 2026
  • Both researched from official sources
  • 6 checks side by side
Higher score Proton Mail #1 in Secure Email Providers 9.4/10 Free plan Free plan✓ 3 of 3 features Visit Proton Mail
mailbox #6 in Secure Email Providers 8.2/10 30-day trial Free trial✓ 2 of 3 features Visit mailbox

Proton Mail leads on 3 checks, mailbox on 0, and 3 are even. Who comes out ahead on the 6 yes/no, price and count checks where we have data for both products. The editor score weighs everything else too.

Our verdict

  • Highest scoreProton Mail · 9.4/10
  • Free planonly Proton Mail
  • Free trialonly mailbox
  • Most featuresProton Mail · 3 of 3

Proton Mail scores higher on our rubric for secure email providers: 9.4 against 8.2 out of 10; our editors rank them #1 and #6.

Proton Mail offers free plan; mailbox doesn't. Proton Mail leads on mailbox storage: 15 GB versus 2 GB. Proton Mail leads on email aliases: 10 aliases versus 3 aliases. On mail protocol support, mailbox gives you Imap_smtp where Proton Mail offers Bridge.

Proton Mail is the better fit for most users seeking a complete secure email suite. mailbox is the better fit for low-cost secure hosting with client flexibility.

  • Proton Mail fits best

    Most users seeking a complete secure email suite

  • mailbox fits best

    Low-cost secure hosting with client flexibility

Advertiser disclosure: iTechGuides is reader-supported. Vendors can pay for top positions in our rankings and for a place on other products' pages, and we may earn a commission when you click some links. Bought places stand at the number bought; this page and our disclosure say so. Paying vendors may get a fuller, more detailed review from our editors, and that review can change their score. How we rank.

Side by side

Feature Proton Mail 9.4/10 Visit ↗ mailbox 8.2/10 Visit ↗
At a glance
Editor score 9.4 8.2
Ranking #1 in Secure Email Providers #6 in Secure Email Providers
Best for Most users seeking a complete secure email suite Low-cost secure hosting with client flexibility
Pricing model Free plan + paid Paid
Starting price — €1/mo
Free plan ✓ (best) —
Free trial — 30 days
Deployment Cloud, Desktop, Mobile Cloud, Desktop, Mobile
Platforms Web, Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, Android Web, Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, Android
Integrations 5 integrations 10 integrations
Features Proton Mail 3/3 · mailbox 2/3
End-to-end encryption ✓ ✓
Custom domain ✓ ✓
Encrypted calendar ✓ (best) Not checked yet
Specs
Mailbox storage 15 GB (best) 2 GB
Email aliases 10 aliases (best) 3 aliases
Mail protocol support Bridge Imap_smtp
Our review
Pros
  • End-to-end encryption and zero-access storage protect messages and attachments
  • Free plan includes 1 GB storage and 1 encrypted email address
  • Bridge connects desktop clients including Outlook, Thunderbird, and Apple Mail
  • Optional PGP and S/MIME encryption with spam and virus protection
  • IMAP, POP3, SMTP, CalDAV and CardDAV support
  • Six-platform coverage with custom domains on paid tiers
Cons
  • Custom domains and expanded storage require a paid plan
  • Some desktop-client features depend on Proton Mail Bridge
  • Advanced plans may offer more capacity than light email users need
  • No free plan is available
  • Light has 2 GB storage and three @mailbox.org aliases
  • Annual Light billing requires a €12 minimum deposit
Our verdict

Proton Mail is an encrypted email service for individuals, organizations, journalists, activists, and businesses. It combines end-to-end encryption for messages between Proton Mail users with zero-access encryption for stored messages and…

Read the review →

mailbox is a Germany-hosted email and collaboration service for private individuals, families, businesses, and public-sector organizations. It combines webmail with PGP and S/MIME encryption, spam and malware filtering, aliases, calendars,…

Read the review →
  1. Proton MailSecure Email Providers 9.4Free plan
  2. mailboxSecure Email Providers 8.230-day trial

Strengths and trade-offs

  • Proton Mail — where it wins

    • End-to-end encryption and zero-access storage protect messages and attachments
    • Free plan includes 1 GB storage and 1 encrypted email address
    • Bridge connects desktop clients including Outlook, Thunderbird, and Apple Mail

    Where it doesn't

    • Custom domains and expanded storage require a paid plan
    • Some desktop-client features depend on Proton Mail Bridge
    • Advanced plans may offer more capacity than light email users need

  • mailbox — where it wins

    • Optional PGP and S/MIME encryption with spam and virus protection
    • IMAP, POP3, SMTP, CalDAV and CardDAV support
    • Six-platform coverage with custom domains on paid tiers

    Where it doesn't

    • No free plan is available
    • Light has 2 GB storage and three @mailbox.org aliases
    • Annual Light billing requires a €12 minimum deposit

More comparisons

All secure email providers comparisons → · Full ranking →

Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026

Last updated · How we research and update