ProtonMail vs Gmail: The Ultimate Comparison Guide

While gmail may be the most popular email provider in the world, does protonmail’s security make it the best option?

The answer is not always so clear.

although many users have already switched to protonmail for its great security and privacy features, many gmail users simply don’t see the benefit. Although protonmail is definitely the more secure of the two providers, some users might argue that the additional security is not entirely necessary.

but is it really a safe assumption, especially with the ever-increasing security risks? And what about other features of email, such as ease of use or scalability? while both providers are excellent in their own way, each offers unique advantages and disadvantages.

Read on to learn more as we pit protonmail vs gmail in this head-to-head comparison.

protonmail vs gmail: key differences

gmail is by far the most popular email provider in the world, with over 1.5 billion users.

Screenshot of email porviders

Gmail is the world’s most popular email provider

While far fewer people use (or even know of) ProtonMail, lots of people who look into it tend to make the switch. That’s pretty impressive for a “small” email provider — but why is that the case?

the answer varies between users and their preferences. however, privacy and security tend to be common concerns among those who switch to protonmail. although gmail is not necessarily “lacking” in these areas, protonmail’s extra levels of protection make it very attractive.

That’s not to say that gmail doesn’t have other advantages, or that protonmail doesn’t have its drawbacks.

Generally speaking, protonmail is more secure, while gmail is more flexible. As we’ll see in our quick comparison, gmail’s flexibility makes it a great option for using other google services (such as docs). Similarly, the security of protonmail is invaluable when sending sensitive data.

read on to learn more as we go through some of the finer details.

proton mail summary

Headquartered in Switzerland, protonmail is one of the world’s most private and secure email providers.

The ProtonMail logo

ProtonMail

While many email providers collect a slew of personal data, ProtonMail doesn’t. In addition to anonymous sign-ups and no IP address logging, ProtonMail is one of the few email providers that allows its users to enjoy complete anonymity. Their paid plans even allow users to use anonymous or decentralized payment methods such as Bitcoin.

protonmail also offers remarkably strong security features, at least for an email provider. Among other security features, protonmail provides complete end-to-end encryption, making it impossible for anyone (including protonmail itself) to read your emails.

If that’s not enough, they also offer address verification to ensure your email is delivered to the intended recipient. With other features, such as strong cryptography and encryption methods, protonmail’s levels of privacy and security are unparalleled in a free email provider.

That’s not to say there aren’t any drawbacks or limitations.

While protonmail users can enjoy top-notch privacy and security, this comes at the price of several limitations. Some of these limitations include a sending limit of 150 messages per day and only 500MB of cloud storage. we’ll explore these limitations a bit more below.

proton mail professionals

Looking for unrivaled privacy and strong security? look no further than protonmail.

  • complete privacy and anonymity. protonmail allows its users to remain completely anonymous, without requiring personal information to register. protonmail will also not track users’ ip addresses or review the emails they send, allowing for completely anonymous correspondence, a rare feature of any email provider. paid users can also pay using anonymous methods like bitcoin.
  • strong encryption and security. As an extension of its privacy features, protonmail also encrypts all emails. As of 2022, protonmail uses pretty good privacy (pgp) encryption to protect both emails and sent files. elliptic curve cryptography was also introduced in April 2019, giving users the double benefit of faster speeds and additional security.
  • private correspondence. While this is technically part of the benefits above, it’s worth mentioning. With protonmail’s encryption features, it’s impossible for anyone but you and your correspondent to read your emails, including protonmail itself. The provider also includes address verification so you always know exactly who receives your email.

proton mail cons

Despite its many security benefits, protonmail isn’t exactly the most flexible email service provider.

  • 150 message limit. protonmail only allows users to send 150 emails per day. while that may be a pretty high limit for some, business users will need a paid subscription or other service provider for mass communications. for paid users, this limit increases to 1,000 emails per day.
  • only 500 mb of storage. where gmail and other email providers offer large data limits (if not “unlimited”), protonmail only offers 500mb of secure cloud storage. however, those seeking privacy and security are generally not interested in storing their files remotely.
  • minimal organizational tools. If message and data limits weren’t enough, protonmail offers minimal (if not fewer) organizational tools. With no filters or flags, it’s not a great option for users looking to stay organized. however, users can still use the provider’s free smtp server to access protonmail in outlook and other applications.
See Also:  Send-MailMessage (Microsoft.PowerShell.Utility) - PowerShell | Microsoft Learn

gmail overview

Founded in 2004, Google’s Gmail is one of the most popular email providers in the world.

The Gmail logo

Gmail

With over 1.5 billion users and growing, Gmail is the most popular email provider by a wide margin. The only challenger is in the email client department, with the Apple iPhone’s Mail holding a slight lead in mobile installations.

still, the popularity of gmail is not without good reason.

Like many Google products and services, Gmail offers an intuitive, easy-to-use interface with no clutter and no unnecessary tools. As a result, even first-time users can easily navigate the Gmail interface to send and read emails. Plus, as you’d expect from a search engine, Gmail also makes it easy to search your inbox and other folders.

one of the biggest advantages of gmail is its dynamic mail. This powerful feature allows users to complete certain actions (such as commenting on a Google Doc) within the same email, saving valuable time. dynamic mail supports additional apps and plugins through google workspace, including google sheets and google docs.

Of course, all this convenience and flexibility comes at a cost, and the price is in privacy.

In addition to collecting your personal information, Google keeps a close eye on everything you do when you use its apps. And that’s not limited to email. Whether you’re sending a message in gmail, replying to a comment in google docs, or filling out a google form, google is watching.

However, that doesn’t mean that Google is using your data for some nefarious purpose. in any case, google collects your data mainly to personalize your experience or, in the worst case, to show you ads. In addition, data collection is common among most email providers, including Microsoft Outlook and Yahoo! mail.

Still, it’s not a bad tradeoff for free email that’s easy to use and highly compatible with other applications.

gmail professionals

Much of the popularity of gmail is due to its flexibility and ease of use.

  • easy and intuitive interface. Gmail’s simplified interface makes it easy to send emails. with dynamic mail and other powerful features that make most actions intuitive, even first-time users can find their way around.
  • highly supported. gmail is highly compatible with google workspace, which includes apps like google docs and google forms. As a result, Gmail is a great option for anyone using these services. users can also access gmail smtp server to send and receive email through outlook and other third party email clients.
  • junk free inbox. Gmail inboxes are famously junk-free, thanks in part to Google’s next-generation spam filtering. This is often a relief to users switching from other spam-ridden providers like Yahoo! mail.

gmail cons

Although it is an excellent option for usability, gmail has some drawbacks that may not be as attractive to some users.

  • questionable privacy. whether correct or incorrect, google and gmail collect your data. that includes your personal information, your use of the app, and the content of any email you send. while that’s not a deal breaker for some users, those looking for complete anonymity and privacy should consider protonmail.
  • there are no custom folders. The only downside to gmail’s excellent user interface is the lack of folders. Unlike other email services that offer custom folders to classify emails, Gmail uses a tagging system instead. though many users prefer it, it takes some getting used to.
  • expensive payment tiers. Gmail’s paid plans are a bit more expensive than the competition, with the most basic plan starting at $6 per month. Although it’s still not much, the price is growing rapidly for enterprise-level plans integrated with Google Workspace. Of course, most users are perfectly happy with the free option.

tl;dr: privacy versus flexibility

It goes without saying that gmail and protonmail are two very different email providers. while both have their own pros and cons, their main differences come down to privacy and flexibility.

  • protonmail is more private but less flexible. while protonmail users enjoy complete anonymity and privacy, they can only send a limited number of messages per day.
  • gmail is less private but more flexible. gmail is easy to use and very compatible with other applications, but it is not as private.

Clearly, one is not necessarily “better” than the other. but which one is better for you?

While you may already know this, it’s helpful to consider a few other factors beyond privacy and flexibility. Before making a final decision, check out the next section for some helpful tips on choosing an email provider.

how to choose an email provider

what do you need from an email provider?

ProtonMail inbox

A ProtonMail inbox shown on a laptop

While some people want nothing more than an easy way to send emails, others may have more particular requirements. Whether it’s complete privacy or compatibility with existing tools (or something else entirely), knowing your needs is key to choosing the right provider.

Of course, there are other factors to consider, and no provider has them all.

1. assess your needs

How do you plan to use your email? while gmail is a great option for personal correspondence, for example, it’s probably not as good for sending medical records and other sensitive data.

Content marketing also presents several unique needs. While most email marketing campaigns use specialized email marketing software, they still rely on a strong email provider to send and receive emails. here, the more flexible options like gmail and private email servers are usually better able to support email marketing campaigns and best practices.

In any case, evaluating your needs is the best way to choose an email provider. for example, some users may need an email provider capable of enterprise-grade deployments. Although protonmail does have a commercial version, it may not be scalable or usable enough for some organizations.

Instead, an organization might prefer gmail solely for its ease of use and scalability. while it would not be as private or secure as protonmail, the need for a simpler and more flexible provider outweighs those factors.

2. prioritize privacy and security

While email is inherently private, many users are surprised to learn that email providers are not necessarily private in practice.

Often, signing up for an email account means sacrificing a certain amount of personal data. Although this data is usually just your name, phone number, and other contact information, providers like Gmail also analyze the content of your emails.

Security is also a key factor, especially if you use your email for banking or other sensitive tasks. Here, the most secure email providers offer strong encryption features, as well as multi-factor or two-factor authentication (mfa or 2fa) and other forms of access control.

Of course, no matter how you use your email, security and privacy are always important. While you can’t go wrong with gmail, protonmail, or any other major provider, some providers are more secure than others.

3. check compatibility with existing tools

If you regularly use your email in conjunction with tools like word processors and other applications, you may want to find a compatible email provider.

gmail and microsoft outlook are two great examples of this. As we mentioned earlier, Gmail is highly compatible with Google Workspace and provides users with a direct link to Google Docs, Google Sheets, and many other tools. microsoft outlook does the same with office 365.

4. ensure ease of use

While most email services are fairly easy to use, the reasons may vary.

gmail and protonmail are a perfect example of this contrast. while they both offer a “simple” user interface, they are simple for different reasons. where the simplicity of gmail is due to its intuitive design, the simplicity of protonmail is due to the near absence of features. which do you think would be easier to use?

Business users should also consider other people’s usability requirements. for example, while a provider may offer certain benefits, it may not be worth it if it becomes difficult to recruit staff. here, it’s important to consider how easily the average user will adapt to a new interface and how that might affect productivity, training costs, etc.

5. consider the cost

Although most email providers offer free plans, they rarely meet the requirements of professional and business users. With paid plans the only practical option, cost quickly becomes an important consideration.

As with any software, the cost varies depending on the number of users and the extent of use. For example, where Gmail’s basic plan starts at $6 per user per month, their business plans push this cost up to almost $20. Since business plans are likely to have even higher rates, email can quickly become a major expense for any organization.

6. try the free version

No matter how you plan to use your email, sometimes the best choice is to try all providers. Since most providers offer free plans, comparing different providers is easy and affordable.

While business users may not be able to experience a large-scale deployment without a demo, trying the free version is still a great strategy.

protonmail vs gmail: detailed comparison

Now that you know what to look for (or at least what you want), it’s time to see how Gmail and Protonmail really compare. While you probably already know the main differences, the next section will dive a bit deeper into the individual features.

usability

both gmail and protonmail offer simple interfaces. While protonmail hasn’t always been the easiest to use, a 2021 update brought some big improvements.

  • both providers offer a simple and easy to use interface. As of 2021, protonmail and gmail share a very similar design. although protonmail is still fairly basic by comparison, users will have no problem finding their way around either interface.

The new ProtonMail user interface

ProtonMail user interface
  • Email Sorting: Where ProtonMail uses labels and folders to sort emails, Gmail only uses labels. While that makes things a little simpler, it might be a difficult adjustment for those used to more traditional inboxes.
  • Compatibility: As part of Google Workspace, Gmail is instantly compatible with Google Docs and other productivity tools. While ProtonMail doesn’t have this compatibility, it does allow users to quickly switch between ProtonDrive, ProtonCalendar, and ProtonVPN.
  • Customization: Though both providers offer different themes and layouts, Gmail offers far more. Gmail users can also create their own themes for a completely custom inbox.
  • Devices: Both Gmail and ProtonMail are available on desktops, web browsers, and mobile apps.

privacy and privacy security

while protonmail is arguably more private and secure, gmail still offers many security features.

  • multi-factor authentication (mfa): Both providers provide two-factor and multi-factor authentication for an additional layer of security. here, each login will require verification on a separate device, such as a mobile phone.
  • data collection and logging: it’s no secret that google collects a ton of data, and gmail is no exception. While this data is primarily used to identify trends and personalize experiences, it can be too intrusive for some users. by contrast, protonmail does not collect any data, ip addresses, or logs.
  • encryption: protonmail provides strong end-to-end encryption, so only you and the recipient can read your emails. while gmail also offers basic encryption, it only works when the recipient uses the same type of encryption.
  • email privacy: although none of the providers are interested in reading the juicy details of all your emails, only protonmail can guarantee you total privacy. With their encryption scheme, not even protonmail or its employees can see what you send.

scalability

both gmail and protonmail offer commercial and enterprise level plans. however, the added security of protonmail comes with limitations.

  • number of users: both providers charge per user per month up to 300 users for gmail and up to 50 users for protonmail. however, gmail’s business plans can support unlimited users, albeit at a huge premium.
  • email limits: gmail allows users to send up to 2,000 emails per day . that’s a lot more than protonmail, which only allows 150. although users can pay a premium to increase this up to 1000, it’s still significantly less than gmail.
  • storage limits: Gmail is also generous in its storage limits, allowing users a whopping 15GB of free storage. by contrast, protonmail only offers 500mb, with a maximum capacity of 5gb or 20gb for paid users.

support

While both providers offer basic support, only Gmail provides live support for its paid users.

  • knowledge base: both providers offer a free knowledge base. here, customers can self-diagnose and respond to most problems they may encounter.
  • customer support: both providers also offer various levels of customer support. While support is usually limited to a contact form for most users, Gmail also offers 24/7 live support for paid plans. unfortunately, protonmail does not yet offer live support at the time of writing.

prices & plans

gmail offers free and business-level plans, as well as custom business-level plans. however, the only way to update is to sign up for google workspace, which includes updated versions of google docs and other google apps.

Google Workspace pricing plans

Google Workspace plans and pricing as of April 2022

ProtonMail also offers a free account, albeit with very limited features. While ProtonMail’s entry-level “Plus” plan is cheaper than Gmail’s lowest paid plan, it’s still more limited than Gmail’s free account.

ProtonMail plans and pricing

ProtonMail plans and pricing as of April 2022

ProtonMail and Gmail go head-to-head in this guide 💪Click to Tweet

Summary

gmail and protonmail are great email providers in their own way. While both offer free plans and a similar interface, the trade-offs come down to privacy and flexibility.

  • protonmail offers unparalleled privacy and security, but very limited flexibility.
  • gmail offers great flexibility and large amounts of storage , but with much less privacy and unconventional email classification.

No matter which one you choose, your website will also need a separate hosting package, especially when using a web-based email provider. To learn more about Kinsta’s hosting packages, contact us to speak with our experts and schedule a demo.

See Also:  Will onlyfans send me a 1099 in the mail

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *