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Proton Mail

by Proton · 🇨🇭 Switzerland

Proton Mail is an encrypted email service operated from Switzerland. Messages between Proton users are end-to-end encrypted, and stored mail is held under zero-access encryption so the provider cannot read it. The service includes a calendar, contacts and custom-domain support, and its apps are published as open source. It is the most widely used European alternative to Gmail and Outlook for people who want their mailbox outside US jurisdiction.

Visit Proton →Free tier available

A European alternative to Gmail, Outlook.

How the EU-ness score breaks down

Each criterion is worth a fixed number of points, multiplied by how good the evidence is and how recently it was checked. Read the full rubric.

  • Where it is built

    Verified16 / 20 pts

    Developed in Switzerland

    • proton.me · producer · checked 2026-07-29

      “Switzerland is not just where we are incorporated, it is also the location of our headquarters, the majority of Proton's leadership and board members, our main datacenter, and the country where we have the greatest number of employees.”

  • Data hosting

    Verified16 / 20 pts

    Data hosted in Switzerland, Germany, Norway

    • proton.me · producer · checked 2026-07-29

      “Data is always stored in encrypted format on our servers, which are exclusively located in Switzerland, Germany or Norway, under the protection of some of the world's strongest privacy laws.”

  • Company headquarters

    Verified12 / 15 pts

    Headquartered in Switzerland

    • proton.me · producer · checked 2026-07-29

      “The Services are operated by Proton AG (the "Company", "We"), domiciled at Route de la Galaise 32, 1228 Plan-les-Ouates, Geneva, Switzerland.”

    • proton.me · producer · checked 2026-07-29

      “Switzerland is not just where we are incorporated, it is also the location of our headquarters, the majority of Proton's leadership and board members, our main datacenter, and the country where we have the greatest number of employees.”

  • Ownership & control

    Verified16 / 20 pts

    Controlled from an EFTA country

    • proton.me · producer · checked 2026-07-29

      “As Proton's primary shareholder, the foundation exercises its control to ensure that Proton does not deviate from our mission to build a better internet that serves the interests of all of society.”

    • proton.me · producer · checked 2026-07-29

      “The Proton Foundation is a non-profit registered in Geneva, Switzerland with VAT number CHE-418.863.304.”

  • Legal jurisdiction

    Not documented0 / 15 pts

    Could a non-EU government compel access to this data?

  • Underlying infrastructure

    Verified10 / 10 pts

    Own data centres — European provider

    • proton.me · producer · checked 2026-07-29

      “Servers used in connection with the Proton Mail service are wholly owned and operated by Proton or our subsidiaries.”

Documented quality

Not a review score. These are things a maker either publishes and commits to, or does not — warranty length, spare parts, certifications, support windows.

  • Open source

    Verified10 / 20 pts

    Open-source client

    • proton.me · producer · checked 2026-07-29

      “All Proton apps are open source”

  • Data portability

    Verified15 / 15 pts

    Documented export in an open format

    • proton.me · producer · checked 2026-07-29

      “The tool will export all your emails and their metadata. They will be saved as EML and JSON files.”

  • Independent certification

    Not documented0 / 30 pts

    Has an outside body certified anything about this product?

  • Support & maintenance

    Not documented0 / 15 pts

    How long are updates and security fixes guaranteed?

Where it comes from

Designed inUnverified
Switzerland
Developed inVerified
Switzerland
Data hosted inVerified
SwitzerlandGermanyNorway

Who is behind it

Swiss privacy company behind Proton Mail, Drive, VPN and Pass. Grew out of a 2014 crowdfunding campaign by researchers at CERN and is now held by a non-profit foundation.

Legal entity
Proton AG
Founded
2014
Headquarters
SwitzerlandVerified

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