Disroot Email vs Proton Mail

Disroot Email provides free email accounts through webmail and desktop or mobile email clients. Its Roundcube webmail includes threaded messages, filters, folders, attachment previews, and MIME and HTML support. Mail clients can connect using IMAP over SSL, SMTP with STARTTLS, SMTPS with TLS, or POP over SSL; suggested options include Thunderbird, Evolution, KMail, ClawsMail, Mailpile, K-9 Mail, FairEmail, and iOS Mail. Connections to the mail server use SSL, while outgoing messages use TLS if the recipient’s server supports it. Messages remain unencrypted on Disroot’s servers unless users encrypt them themselves. Disroot says its data is stored on its own servers in a Netherlands data center. Email logs may include usernames, IP addresses, and sender and recipient addresses; they are retained for 48 hours and not backed up. The free email plan includes a 1 GB mailbox and 64 MB attachments. Plus addressing routes sub-addresses to the original mailbox. Users can link a custom domain for sending and receiving mail through a lifetime feature tied to a donation amount they choose. The service supports Android, iOS, Linux, macOS, web, Windows, and extensions.

Proton Mail is an encrypted email service available on the web, Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, and Android. Its free plan lists 1 GB of storage and one email address, although its FAQ says storage starts at 500 MB; the free tier is described as having the same security level as paid plans. The service uses end-to-end and zero-access encryption, with open-source apps and independent audits. It blocks email trackers and includes phishing and spam protection, password-protected messages, and link confirmation. Users can schedule, undo, or snooze emails and organize messages with folders, labels, and categories. Easy Switch imports email, calendars, and contacts from other providers. Paid plans support external email clients through IMAP and SMTP using Proton Mail Bridge. Mail Plus lists 15 GB of storage, 10 extra email addresses, and one custom domain. Paid subscriptions include a 30-day money-back guarantee, and the desktop app has a 14-day free trial. Paid plans display monthly billing; the listed starting price is 3.99 /user/mo.