Updated September 29, 2026 · ShieldCue Editorial Team
Apple Inc. vs Proton Mail
Where Apple Inc. and Proton Mail differ
| Compare | Apple Inc. ReviewSee alternativesSee alternatives |  Proton Mail |
|---|---|---|
| Price from | $0.99Lower | $4.99 |
| Free plan limits | Aliases via Sign in with Apple are free with an Apple Account; changing the Forward To address requires iCloud+ | Unlimited logins, notes, credit cards and devices; 10 hide-my-email aliases; passkeys on all devices; no vault or item sharing |
| Platforms | iOS, IPadOS, MacOS, VisionOS, TvOS, WatchOS, Web | Windows, MacOS, Linux, Android, iOS, Web app, Command line interface, Chrome, Safari, Firefox, Edge, Brave |
| 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 permanent IP logs by default; temporary IP logs kept to combat abuse and fraud; authentication logging off by default; Proton states it has no technical means to access encrypted passwords or notes |
| Jurisdiction | US | CH |
| Open source | Not confirmed | Yes |
Same on both: Free plan (Yes).
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Key differences
- Apple Inc. scores higher overall: 9.7 vs 9.0.
- Price from is lower at Apple Inc.: $0.99 vs $4.99.
- Platforms: only Apple Inc. offers IPadOS, VisionOS, TvOS.
- Platforms: only Proton Mail offers Windows, Linux, Android.
- Support channels: only Apple Inc. offers Phone, Chat.
- Support channels: only Proton Mail offers Email.
- Founded is lower at Apple Inc.: 1976 vs 2014.
Our verdict on each
Apple Inc.
Apple folds relay aliases, 5 gigabytes of free iCloud+ storage and passkeys into the platforms most people already own. It suits Apple only households wanting private storage in a single account, while readers who need storage they alone can read or end-to-end encrypted mail should look elsewhere.
Proton Mail
Proton Mail suits readers who want a password manager that is open source, free to start and end-to-end encrypted on every field, metadata included. Support runs on email, help centre and community, and the budget plan starts at $4.99, while the group median monthly price is €6.47.
Score breakdown
| Area | Apple Inc. | Proton Mail |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | 9.5HigherEntry starts at $0.99 and monthly runs $0.99, under the €7.89 site median, with storage at $119.88 per terabyte per year. | 9.1 |
| Offer | 9.6Higher | 9.1 |
| Privacy | 10.0Higher | 8.9 |
What we checked
Apple Inc.
- apple.com: 4 facts, checked September 26, 2026
- support.apple.com: 4 facts, checked September 26, 2026
- en.wikipedia.org: 3 facts, checked September 26, 2026
Proton Mail
- proton.me: 11 facts, checked September 26, 2026
- privacyjournal.net: 1 fact, checked September 26, 2026
How they place
| Ranking | Apple Inc. | Proton Mail |
|---|---|---|
| Privacy tools | 60 of 280 | 11 of 280 |
| Secure email and messaging | 12 of 60 | 2 of 60 |
Every fact side by side
| Fact | Apple Inc. | Proton Mail |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing model | Free, Budget | Free, Budget |
| Legal entity | Apple Inc. | Proton AG |
| Headquarters | United States | Switzerland |
| Founded | 1976Lower | 2014 |
| Support channels | Phone, Chat, Help centre, Community | Email, Help centre, Community |
Password managers
| Fact | Apple Inc. | Proton Mail |
|---|---|---|
| Passkeys | Yes | Not confirmed |
| Encryption | Encryption and Data Protection | Not confirmed |
| Features | Screen time, Web filter | Not confirmed |
| Zero-knowledge encryption | No | Not confirmed |
VPN
| Fact | Apple Inc. | Proton Mail |
|---|---|---|
| Monthly price | $0.99 | Not confirmed |
| Features | No logs, Travel | Not confirmed |
| Owner | Apple Inc. | Not confirmed |
Secure email
| Fact | Apple Inc. | Proton Mail |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | All fields end-to-end encrypted: passwords, usernames, web addresses, credit cards, note contents and metadata; 256-bit AES-GCM vaults; only the user can decrypt, Proton cannot |
| Custom domains | No | YesHas it |
Encrypted storage
| Fact | Apple Inc. | Proton Mail |
|---|---|---|
| Free storage | 5 | Not confirmed |
| Price per TB per year | $119.88 | Not confirmed |
Parental controls
| Fact | Apple Inc. | Proton Mail |
|---|---|---|
| Yearly price | $0 | Not confirmed |
Where each stands against the rest
| Fact | Apple Inc. | Proton Mail | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price from | $0.99lowest quarter | $4.99below the median | $8 |
Median across 82 listed providers.
Pros and cons
Apple Inc.
Pros
- Sign in with Apple issues relay aliases at no cost to Apple Account holders, so the free plan is a real starting point rather than a trial.
- Entry sits at $0.99, below the $19.99 and $14.99 starting prices of the two paid alternatives here.
- A single subscription spans iOS, iPadOS and macOS, so storage and aliases need no extra purchase per device.
Cons
- iCloud+ storage is not sealed so that only the account holder can read it, and what is stored stays within Apple's reach under Encryption and Data Protection.
- End-to-end encryption is not offered for alias mail, since Apple Inc. relays and forwards it, so an alias is not a private channel for sensitive messages.
- Custom domains are not available, so an alias cannot sit on a domain you own.
Proton Mail
Pros
- End-to-end encryption covers passwords, usernames, web addresses, credit cards, note contents and metadata, and only the user can decrypt.
- The client is open source, and by its logging policy the company has no technical means to reach encrypted passwords or notes.
- Paid entry is light: the budget plan starts at $4.99, and custom domains are supported.
Cons
- Support runs on email, help centre and community, with no phone line and no live chat in that list.
- The free plan limits leave out vault and item sharing, so a free account suits one person rather than a household.
- By its logging policy, temporary IP logs are kept to combat abuse and fraud, and authentication logging is off by default.
Who each suits
Apple Inc.
Who it suits
- Apple households that already pay for iCloud+ and want more capacity plus relay aliases from the same account.
- Readers who want one subscription across iOS, iPadOS and macOS instead of separate tools per device family.
- People willing to trade storage their provider can still read for low entry pricing and broad platform reach.
Who should look elsewhere
- Readers who need end-to-end encrypted mail or storage only the account holder can read, since neither is part of what the plan includes.
- Buyers shopping for a free standalone security toolkit, since Token2 hands over an in-browser authenticator toolset and a QR decoder without creating an account.
- Shoppers who want a priced privacy product outside the Apple ecosystem, where EasyOptOuts at $19.99 and Vipre Security at $14.99 are the paid comparisons here.
Proton Mail
Who it suits
- Readers who want open source, end-to-end encrypted storage with a free plan to start on.
- Single users on a budget: paid entry starts at $4.99 on the budget plan.
- Readers who want a named operator: Proton AG, founded in 2014 and under CH jurisdiction.
Who should look elsewhere
- Apple Hide My Email, which arrives inside iCloud+ rather than as a standalone vault and whose free plan limits leave it out of the entry iCloud plan.
- Apple Inc. for anyone shopping only inside the Apple ecosystem, since the free plan limits exclude Hide My Email from the entry iCloud plan.
- addy.io, whose free plan limits cap recipients, alias domains and monthly bandwidth, so it suits lighter alias use.
Current offers
Apple Inc.
Current offer
Free trial
Get 3 months of Apple One free with any new iPhone, iPad, or Mac: 3 months free
New and qualified returning subscribers only. $21.95 or $27.95 or $39.95 per month after trial based on plan selected. Only one offer per Apple Account and per family. Not available if a previous three-months-free offer was accepted. Offer good for three months after eligible device activation. Plan automatically renews until cancelled.
Source, checked September 26, 2026
Proton Mail
Current offer
Free trial
30-day money-back guarantee on Pass Plus and Proton Unlimited: 30 days
Applies to premium Pass Plus and Proton Unlimited plans; cancel and request refund within 30 days
Source, checked September 26, 2026
Discount code
Pass Plus discount on yearly plans: 40% off
Pass Plus annual billing
Source, checked September 26, 2026
Questions about each
Apple Inc.
What does iCloud+ cost to start?+
iCloud+ starts at $0.99, and the monthly rate is the same figure, $0.99. Storage is the only part that carries a charge; Sign in with Apple aliases stay at no cost to Apple Account holders. For context, the median entry price across the brands compared here is €6.84.
Is there a free plan and what does it cover?+
A free plan is part of the service. Sign in with Apple issues relay aliases at no cost to anyone holding an Apple Account, and free storage stands at 5 gigabytes with a yearly price of $0. The limit: repointing an alias at a different inbox needs iCloud+.
Proton Mail
How much does Proton Mail cost?+
There is a free plan, and the budget plan starts at $4.99. For context, the median monthly price across secure email brands in this group is €6.47, and the median long-term rate is €4.67. Entry pricing sits below that group median.
Can Proton Mail read my passwords?+
No. End-to-end encryption covers passwords, usernames, web addresses, credit cards, note contents and metadata inside AES-GCM vaults, so only the user can decrypt. By its logging policy, Proton states it has no technical means to reach encrypted passwords or notes, and the client is open source under CH law.
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