Updated September 29, 2026 · ShieldCue Editorial Team
Fastmail vs Proton Mail
What sets them apart
| Compare |  Fastmail |  Proton Mail |
|---|---|---|
| Price from | €4 | $4.99 |
| Free plan limits | No free plan; 30-day free trial | Unlimited logins, notes, credit cards and devices; 10 hide-my-email aliases; passkeys on all devices; no vault or item sharing |
| End-to-end encryption | No end-to-end encryption in Fastmail's own apps; PGP or S/MIME only via third-party apps | 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 |
| Jurisdiction | AU | CH |
| Open source | No | YesHas it |
Same on both: Custom domains (Yes).
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Key differences
- Support channels: only Proton Mail offers Community.
- Open source: only Proton Mail.
- Founded is lower at Fastmail: 1999 vs 2014.
Our verdict on each
Fastmail
Fastmail suits readers who want a custom domain and a quick mailbox at a mid-range price, not a privacy-first service with end-to-end encryption in its apps. It ranks 15 on price from among the brands compared here, and its own apps carry no end-to-end encryption.
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 | Fastmail | Proton Mail |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | 9.3Higher | 9.1 |
| Offer | 8.7 | 9.1Higher |
| Privacy | 8.9 | 8.9 |
Availability and regulation
| Country | Fastmail | Proton Mail |
|---|---|---|
| Headquarters | Australia | Switzerland |
Where they rank in our lists
| Ranking | Fastmail | Proton Mail |
|---|---|---|
| Privacy tools | 37 of 280 | 11 of 280 |
| Secure email and messaging | 6 of 60 | 2 of 60 |
Sources behind this comparison
Fastmail
- fastmail.com: 10 facts, checked September 26, 2026
Proton Mail
- proton.me: 10 facts, checked September 26, 2026
- privacyjournal.net: 1 fact, checked September 26, 2026
Every fact side by side
| Fact | Fastmail | Proton Mail |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing model | Not confirmed | Free, Budget |
| Legal entity | Fastmail Pty Ltd | Proton AG |
| Headquarters | Australia | Switzerland |
| Founded | 1999Lower | 2014 |
| Support channels | Email, Help centre | Email, Help centre, CommunityCovers more |
Privacy tools
| Fact | Fastmail | Proton Mail |
|---|---|---|
| Free plan | No | YesHas it |
| Platforms | Web, iOS, Android | Windows, MacOS, Linux, Android, iOS, Web app, Command line interface, Chrome, Safari, Firefox, Edge, Brave |
| Logging policy | Logs technical data such as IP addresses and client identifiers for security, troubleshooting and auditing; IP logs retained for up to one year | 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 |
Pros and cons
Fastmail
Pros
- Custom domains: yes, so mail runs on an address you own rather than a provider address.
- Platform coverage of web, ios and android means a single account works in a browser and on both mobile platforms.
- Founded in 1999 and headquartered in Australia, Fastmail Pty Ltd operates under AU terms.
Cons
- Technical data such as IP addresses and client identifiers is logged for security, troubleshooting and auditing, and IP logs are kept for a retention period.
- Phone support is not among its email and help centre.
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
Fastmail
Who it suits
- Readers who want mail on a domain they own, since custom domains are supported.
- People who want a single account on web, ios and android and a price to plan around at entry and again at renewal.
Who should look elsewhere
- Readers who compare entry prices with addy.io at $1 or Apple Hide My Email at $0.99 and want the smaller starting figure.
- Anyone who needs a standing no-cost tier, since the free plan is no and the only introductory offer is a trial.
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
Fastmail
Current offer
Free trial
30-day free trial: 30 days free
Try free for up to 30 days; no refunds for unused subscriptions
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
Fastmail
How much does Fastmail cost to start?+
The entry plan starts at €4. The free plan is no, and the free plan limits read No free plan; 30-day free trial, so the trial is the only no-cost look. Budget for the paid plan at entry and again at renewal.
Is there a free plan or a free trial?+
The free plan is no, and the free plan limits read No free plan; 30-day free trial, which lists the trial as the only no-cost entry. Nothing carries into a standing account at no charge, so readers who compare services on a permanent no-cost tier should set this one aside.
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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