Updated September 28, 2026 · ShieldCue Editorial Team
Apple Hide My Email vs Proton AG
Apple Hide My Email vs Proton AG: the differences
| Compare | Apple Hide My Email ReviewSee alternativesSee alternatives |  Proton AG |
|---|---|---|
| Free plan limits | Free 5GB iCloud plan excludes Hide My Email; it is included only with iCloud+ | No data or speed limits, no ads, no time limit, 1 device, servers in 10 countries randomly selected, medium speed. |
| End-to-end encryption | None of the mail is end-to-end encrypted: aliases are relayed and forwarded by Apple, which states it does not read or process message content except spam filtering | The VPN connection from the user's device to Proton's servers; Proton also markets Proton for Business with end-to-end encryption. |
| Jurisdiction | US | CH |
| Price from | $0.99 | Not confirmed |
| Custom domains | No | Not confirmed |
| Open source | Not confirmed | Yes |
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Key differences
- Apple Hide My Email scores higher overall: 9.4 vs 9.3.
- Support channels: only Apple Hide My Email offers Phone.
- Support channels: only Proton AG offers Email, Chat.
- Founded is lower at Apple Hide My Email: 1976 vs 2014.
Our verdict on each
Apple Hide My Email
Apple Hide My Email suits Apple users already inside iCloud+ who want an alias per shop or newsletter and will accept a free tier that excludes the feature. At $0.99 it is the cheapest paid entry in this group, though the relayed aliases carry no end to end encryption.
Proton AG
Proton AG suits readers who want a published no-logs audit, a free tier and a bundled privacy suite rather than a bare tunnel, with the company based in Switzerland. Paid plans reach servers in from 140 countries and cover 10 devices, alongside free storage of 5 GB.
Score breakdown
| Area | Apple Hide My Email | Proton AG |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | 10.0HigherEntry price of $0.99 sits under the category median of €4.38, and free keeps the base tier free. | 9.3 |
| Offer | 8.5 | 9.4HigherTerm choice runs to 24 months with a 30-day refund window, and a free plan anchors entry pricing. |
| Privacy | 10.0Higher | 8.9 |
How they place
| Ranking | Apple Hide My Email | Proton AG |
|---|---|---|
| Privacy tools | 65 of 280 | 24 of 280 |
| Secure email and messaging | 14 of 60 | 5 of 60 |
What we checked
Apple Hide My Email
- apple.com: 4 facts, checked September 26, 2026
- en.wikipedia.org: 3 facts, checked September 26, 2026
- support.apple.com: 3 facts, checked September 26, 2026
Proton AG
- protonvpn.com: 7 facts, checked September 26, 2026
- proton.me: 2 facts, checked September 26, 2026
Every fact side by side
| Fact | Apple Hide My Email | Proton AG |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing model | Free | Free |
| Legal entity | Apple Inc. | Proton AG |
| Headquarters | United States | Switzerland |
| Founded | 1976Lower | 2014 |
| Support channels | Phone, Help centre, Community | Email, Chat, Help centre, Community |
Privacy tools
| Fact | Apple Hide My Email | Proton AG |
|---|---|---|
| Free plan | Yes | Yes |
| Platforms | iOS, IPadOS, MacOS, VisionOS, TvOS, WatchOS, Web | Windows, MacOS, Linux, Chromebook, Android, iOS, Chrome, Firefox, Android TV, Apple TV, Amazon Fire TV |
| Protocols | Not confirmed | WireGuard, OpenVPN |
| Logging policy | Apple does not read or process relayed message content except standard spam filtering; messages deleted from relay servers after delivery, usually within seconds | No activity logs |
| Privacy tool type | Not confirmed | Ad blocker |
Password managers
| Fact | Apple Hide My Email | Proton AG |
|---|---|---|
| Family plan | Not confirmed | Pass Family: up to 6 users, 6 Pass Plus accounts, admin panel |
| Passkeys | Not confirmed | Yes |
| Security audit | Not confirmed | Independently audited by third-party experts; audit reports public |
| Encryption | Not confirmed | Zero-knowledge end-to-end encryption, 256-bit AES-GCM vaults, OpenPGP with ECC Curve25519 for vault keys |
| Features | Not confirmed | Kill switch, Split tunnelling |
| Zero-knowledge encryption | Not confirmed | Yes |
Encrypted storage
| Fact | Apple Hide My Email | Proton AG |
|---|---|---|
| Free storage | Not confirmed | 5 |
| Compliance certifications | Not confirmed | GDPR, HIPAA, ISO 27001 |
Where each stands against the rest
| Fact | Apple Hide My Email | Proton AG | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price from | $0.99lowest quarter | Not confirmed | $4.99 |
Median across 29 listed providers.
Pros and cons
Apple Hide My Email
Pros
- Entry price of $0.99 undercuts addy.io at $1 and Session at $2.99
- A free plan is listed and free marks the base tier as free
- Support covers phone, help centre and community, including phone and community
Cons
- Apple relays and forwards every alias, and states it processes content only for spam filtering, so the protection sits at the address level rather than the message level
- The free plan limits put Hide My Email beyond the free iCloud plan, with the feature reserved for iCloud+ subscribers
- Custom domains are not supported, so every alias sits on a domain Apple controls
Proton AG
Pros
- No-logs claims are audited rather than asserted: Securitum's audit (Securitum, 2026) sits behind a No activity logs policy.
- Free limits come with no caps on data or speed, no ads and no time limit.
- 10 simultaneous devices, above the ranked VPN median of 8.
Cons
- Support runs on email, chat and help centre, and there is no phone line among them.
- The free plan limits put you on a single device at medium speed with randomly selected countries, so constant use points at a paid plan.
- End-to-end encryption is marketed for Proton for Business, while the consumer plan encrypts only the connection from your device to Proton's servers.
Who each suits
Apple Hide My Email
Who it suits
- Apple households already paying for iCloud+ who want an alias per store or newsletter
- Readers who want alias forwarding with no separate account to set up
- People who keep most browsing inside Apple platforms and want a native app
Who should look elsewhere
- Non-Apple households, where addy.io is a separate option at $1 and iOS, iPadOS and macOS centres on Apple devices and the web
- Readers who want a standalone alias subscription rather than a bundle, where Posteo sits at €1
- Teams needing end-to-end encrypted mail, since this relay forwards through Apple and keeps the message body on that path
Proton AG
Who it suits
- Readers who want a VPN, a passkey vault and encrypted storage under a single account instead of separate subscriptions.
- Families sharing storage, since Pass Family covers several users and Pass Plus seats through a single admin panel.
- Teams buying under a business audience (business) who need GDPR, HIPAA and ISO 27001 certifications on file.
Who should look elsewhere
- Anyone needing more devices on a single account: Proton covers 10, while ESET Brasil plans run 3 to 25 devices.
- Readers choosing purely on server spread: AVG lists from 100 countries, a base close to Proton's from 140.
- Readers who want a different audit trail to compare: Session Technology Foundation lists Quarkslab 2021 against Proton's Securitum, 2026.
Current offers
Apple Hide My Email
Current offer
Free trial
3 months of Apple One free: 3 months Apple One free
New and qualified returning subscribers only; offer good for three months after eligible device activation; plan automatically renews until cancelled; not available if previously accepted an Apple One three-months-free offer
Source, checked September 26, 2026
Questions about each
Apple Hide My Email
How much does Apple Hide My Email cost?+
Entry sits at $0.99 through iCloud+, and that subscription is the route to the alias feature. A free plan is listed, but the free plan limits keep Hide My Email outside the free iCloud plan, with the feature reserved for iCloud+ subscribers. Treat it as a paid add-on inside an Apple bundle rather than a standalone subscription.
Is Apple Hide My Email end to end encrypted?+
End-to-end encryption sits outside this product. Apple relays and forwards every alias, and states it processes content only for spam filtering, so the guarantee covers the address you publish rather than the body travelling through the relay. Aliases mask identity; they do not create a private mailbox.
Proton AG
What does Proton VPN cost, and how long are the commitments?+
The longest plan runs 24 months, the service is listed on a free model, and paid plans carry a 30-day money-back window. Across the ranked VPN field, monthly pricing has a median of €7.02 and long-term pricing a median of €3.97, which frames any quote you see.
Is there a free plan, and what are its limits?+
Yes. The free plan has no caps on data or speed, no ads and no time limit. It runs on a single device, reaches servers in a randomly selected group of countries and delivers medium speed, so the paid tier, which covers 10 devices, is the practical step for constant use.
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