Updated October 14, 2026 · ShieldCue Editorial Team
Apple Inc. vs Proton Pass
Where Apple Inc. and Proton Pass differ
| Compare | Apple Inc. ReviewSee alternativesSee alternatives |  Proton Pass |
|---|---|---|
| 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, Chrome extension, Safari extension, Firefox extension, Edge extension, Brave extension, Command line interface |
| 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 Pass offers Windows, Linux, Android.
- Support channels: only Apple Inc. offers Phone, Chat.
- Founded is lower at Apple Inc.: 1976 vs 2014.
- Pricing model: only Apple Inc. offers Budget.
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 Pass
Proton Pass’s listed free-plan features include unlimited logins, notes and credit cards, unlimited devices, 10 hide-my-email aliases, and passkey support. The provider also lists apps for Android, iOS, Windows, macOS and Linux, and says all fields, including usernames and web addresses, are encrypted. These are provider descriptions, not an independent security assessment.
Score breakdown
| Area | Apple Inc. | Proton Pass |
|---|---|---|
| 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. | 9.0 |
| Offer | 9.6Higher | 9.1 |
| Privacy | 10.0Higher | 9.0 |
Cost in a real example
A year on the entry plan
Apple Inc.
$11.88
12 × $0.99
Proton Pass
$59.88
12 × $4.99
Apple Inc. costs $48 less.
Worked out from the stated prices and rates; your own total depends on how you use it. Facts checked September 26, 2026.
Availability and regulation
| Country | Apple Inc. | Proton Pass |
|---|---|---|
| Headquarters | United States | Switzerland |
Positions in our rankings
| Ranking | Apple Inc. | Proton Pass |
|---|---|---|
| Password managers | 35 of 69 | 9 of 69 |
| Privacy tools | 60 of 280 | 12 of 280 |
| Secure email and messaging | 12 of 60 | 3 of 60 |
Sources behind this comparison
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 Pass
- proton.me: 11 facts, checked September 26, 2026
- privacyjournal.net: 1 fact, checked September 26, 2026
Every fact side by side
| Fact | Apple Inc. | Proton Pass |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing model | Free, BudgetCovers more | Free |
| Legal entity | Apple Inc. | Proton AG |
| Headquarters | United States | Switzerland |
| Founded | 1976Lower | 2014 |
| Support channels | Phone, Chat, Help centre, CommunityCovers more | Help centre, Community |
Password managers
| Fact | Apple Inc. | Proton Pass |
|---|---|---|
| Family plan | Not confirmed | Pass Family: up to 6 users, includes 6 Pass Plus accounts and an admin panel |
| Passkeys | Yes | Yes |
| Security audit | Not confirmed | Independently audited by third-party experts (Cure53 audit published July 2023), open source under GPLv3, public bug bounty |
| Encryption | Encryption and Data Protection | End-to-end encryption; 256-bit AES-GCM encrypted vaults; OpenPGP with ECC (Curve25519) for vault keys |
| Features | Screen time, Web filter | TOTP |
| Zero-knowledge encryption | No | Not confirmed |
VPN
| Fact | Apple Inc. | Proton Pass |
|---|---|---|
| Monthly price | $0.99 | Not confirmed |
| Features | No logs, Travel | Not confirmed |
| Owner | Apple Inc. | Not confirmed |
Secure email
| Fact | Apple Inc. | Proton Pass |
|---|---|---|
| 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 Pass |
|---|---|---|
| Free storage | 5 | Not confirmed |
| Price per TB per year | $119.88 | Not confirmed |
Parental controls
| Fact | Apple Inc. | Proton Pass |
|---|---|---|
| Yearly price | $0 | Not confirmed |
Where each stands against the rest
| Fact | Apple Inc. | Proton Pass | 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 Pass
Pros
- The listed free-plan features include unlimited logins, notes and credit cards, plus unlimited devices.
- The provider lists 10 hide-my-email aliases and passkey support.
- Apps are listed for Android, iOS, Windows, macOS and Linux.
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 Pass
Who it suits
- People who want a password manager with listed apps across desktop and mobile platforms and passkey support.
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 Pass
Current offer
Discount code
40% off Pass Plus: 40% off
Offer link points to the yearly-billing Pass Plus signup; discount applied at signup
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+.
What does extra storage cost per year?+
A terabyte of extra capacity runs $119.88 per year. That sits above the €82.87 median per terabyte across the brands compared and close to the €126.28 upper quartile, so heavier storage users pay at the dearer end of this market.
Proton Pass
Which platforms are listed for Proton Pass apps?+
The provider lists Android, iOS, Windows, macOS and Linux.
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