Proton Mail
End-to-end encrypted email and productivity suite — a privacy-first alternative to Gmail.
Overview
Proton Mail is a Geneva, Switzerland-based European company building email, privacy, and security software since 2013. As an EU-headquartered provider, Proton Mail operates under GDPR and is outside the reach of the US CLOUD Act, making it a privacy-friendly alternative to Gmail and Outlook 365 for European teams.
Why European teams pick Proton Mail
Teams in Europe pick Proton Mail when they want a email provider that bills in EUR, supports their local data-protection officer requirements, and keeps customer data under Switzerland law, operating since 2013. Compared with Gmail and Outlook 365, Proton Mail avoids cross-border data transfers under Schrems II and the US CLOUD Act, which is often the deciding factor for European procurement and legal teams.
See more EU email tools or browse other startups from Switzerland.
About
Founded by scientists from CERN, Proton offers end-to-end encrypted email, calendar, cloud storage and VPN. All data is protected by Swiss privacy law.
Details
- Founded
- 2013
- Headquarters
- Geneva, Switzerland
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Frequently asked questions
What is Proton Mail?
Founded by scientists from CERN, Proton offers end-to-end encrypted email, calendar, cloud storage and VPN. All data is protected by Swiss privacy law.
What does Proton Mail do?
Proton Mail is end-to-end encrypted email and productivity suite — a privacy-first alternative to gmail. It is listed under email, privacy, and security on EU Alts because its core functionality serves teams looking for a European email tool with EU data residency, typically as a switch away from Gmail and Outlook 365.
Is Proton Mail a good European email alternative?
Proton Mail is a fit for European businesses evaluating email options where data residency and GDPR alignment matter — typical buyers include EU-based SaaS teams, public-sector projects, regulated industries (healthcare, finance, legal), and any organisation that needs to demonstrate that customer data does not leave the EU. It also overlaps with privacy and security use cases.
Is Proton Mail GDPR compliant?
Proton Mail is headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland and falls under EU jurisdiction, so it processes user data under the GDPR by default. Customer data processing is supervised by Switzerland's data protection authority, the Federal Data Protection and Information Commissioner (FDPIC). Because the company is not US-incorporated, it is not subject to the US CLOUD Act — meaning US authorities cannot compel Proton Mail to disclose customer data the way they can with Gmail and Outlook 365. For European buyers, that often simplifies DPIA paperwork and standard contractual clauses.
How do teams switch from Gmail to Proton Mail?
Most teams move to Proton Mail from Gmail and Outlook 365 because they want EU data residency without giving up the core email workflow. Proton Mail's Switzerland base means a single jurisdiction for both the company and (typically) its hosting infrastructure, so you can drop Schrems II transfer impact assessments for this part of your stack. Plan the migration in stages: export your data from the US incumbent, pilot Proton Mail with a small team, then move the rest once the integration coverage you need is confirmed.
Where is Proton Mail based?
Proton Mail is headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland. The company was founded in 2013. Its main website is https://proton.me.