Updated September 28, 2026 · ShieldCue Editorial Team
Fastmail vs Proton
What sets them apart
| Compare |  Fastmail |  Proton |
|---|---|---|
| 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 and password health alerts; no 2FA authenticator, secure sharing, file attachments or dark web monitoring |
| 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
- Proton scores higher overall: 9.3 vs 9.0.
- Support channels: only Proton offers Chat, Community.
- Open source: only Proton.
- 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
Proton bundles a password manager, VPN and encrypted storage in one account, with Pass starting at $4.99 and a free tier. It suits readers who want passwords, private files and a VPN in a single subscription, and who can live with free plan limits that leave out an authenticator, password sharing and file attachments.
Score breakdown
| Area | Fastmail | Proton |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | 9.3Higher | 9.2Entry at $4.99 sits under the site median of €6.84, with storage at $95.88 per TB per year and a free plan. |
| Offer | 8.7 | 9.5Higher |
| Privacy | 8.9 | 9.1Higher |
Positions in our rankings
| Ranking | Fastmail | Proton |
|---|---|---|
| Privacy tools | 37 of 280 | 10 of 280 |
| Secure email and messaging | 6 of 60 | 1 of 60 |
Where each is licensed and available
| Country | Fastmail | Proton |
|---|---|---|
| Headquarters | Australia | Switzerland |
Where these facts come from
Fastmail
- fastmail.com: 10 facts, checked September 26, 2026
Proton
- proton.me: 10 facts, checked September 26, 2026
- privacyjournal.net: 1 fact, checked September 26, 2026
Every fact side by side
| Fact | Fastmail | Proton |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing model | Not confirmed | Free |
| Legal entity | Fastmail Pty Ltd | Proton AG |
| Headquarters | Australia | Switzerland |
| Founded | 1999Lower | 2014 |
| Support channels | Email, Help centre | Email, Chat, Help centre, CommunityCovers more |
Privacy tools
| Fact | Fastmail | Proton |
|---|---|---|
| Free plan | No | YesHas it |
| Platforms | Web, iOS, Android | Windows, MacOS, Linux, Android, iOS, Web app, Command line interface, Chrome, Safari, Firefox, Edge, Brave |
| Protocols | Not confirmed | WireGuard, OpenVPN |
| 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 |
VPN
| Fact | Fastmail | Proton |
|---|---|---|
| Devices | Not confirmed | 10 |
| Server countries | Not confirmed | 140 |
| Features | Not confirmed | No logs, Streaming, Travel |
| Audience | Not confirmed | Business |
| Money-back period | Not confirmed | 30 days |
| Features | Not confirmed | Kill switch |
| Streaming services | Not confirmed | Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, Disney+, Hulu |
| Owner | Not confirmed | Proton Foundation |
| Longest plan (months) | Not confirmed | 24 months |
Password managers
| Fact | Fastmail | Proton |
|---|---|---|
| Family plan | Not confirmed | Pass Family: up to 6 users, includes 6 Pass Plus accounts and an admin panel |
| Passkeys | Not confirmed | Yes |
| Security audit | Not confirmed | Independently audited by third-party experts (Cure53 audit published July 2023), open source under GPLv3, public bug bounty |
| Encryption | Not confirmed | End-to-end encryption; 256-bit AES-GCM encrypted vaults; OpenPGP with ECC (Curve25519) for vault keys |
| Zero-knowledge encryption | Not confirmed | Yes |
Encrypted storage
| Fact | Fastmail | Proton |
|---|---|---|
| Free storage | Not confirmed | 5 |
| Price per TB per year | Not confirmed | $95.88 |
| Compliance certifications | Not confirmed | ISO 27001, SOC 2 Type II |
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
Pros
- A single account covers a password manager, a VPN and end-to-end encrypted storage, with a free plan to start.
- Passkeys, custom domains and a Family plan with an admin panel suit single-user and shared use.
- Vaults use AES-GCM encryption with OpenPGP and ECC keys, and only the account holder can decrypt.
Cons
- Support runs on email, chat and help centre with no phone line.
- Free plan limits leave out the authenticator app, password sharing, attachments and dark web monitoring.
- Extra storage costs $95.88 per TB per year beyond 5 GB free.
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
Who it suits
- Readers who want a password manager, a VPN and private files under a single subscription rather than separate products.
- Households and small teams that need shared accounts, since the Family plan bundles several Pass Plus accounts and an admin panel.
- Buyers who care about open source under a copyleft licence, outside security audits and a public bug bounty.
Who should look elsewhere
- Apple Hide My Email at $0.99 if email aliasing is the whole job, since Proton adds a VPN, storage and a password manager.
- Apple Inc. at $0.99 when aliasing is the priority; Proton's $4.99 entry brings a VPN, storage and password manager in the same account.
- EasyOptOuts at $19.99 for a single higher priced subscription, against Proton's $4.99 entry and a free plan.
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
Current offer
Discount code
40% off Pass Plus: 40% off
Shown on the Proton Pass pricing page alongside a 30-day money-back guarantee; applies to the Pass Plus paid plan
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
How much is Proton Pass at the entry price?+
Proton Pass starts at $4.99, and there is a free plan beside it. The paid tiers widen the set of features, so the entry price only pays off if you want more hide my email aliases, passkeys and password health alerts.
What does the free plan leave out?+
The free plan covers as many logins, notes, cards and devices as you like, but it leaves out the authenticator app, sharing with other people, file attachments and dark web monitoring. Those sit on paid Pass plans, where entry starts at $4.99.
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