Updated September 28, 2026 · ShieldCue Editorial Team
Fastmail vs Proton AG
Fastmail vs Proton AG: the differences
| Compare |  Fastmail |  Proton AG |
|---|---|---|
| Devices | 6 | 10Higher |
| Jurisdiction | AU | CH |
| Protocols | JMAP, IMAP, POP, SMTP, CalDAV, CardDAV, WebDAV, OAuth 2.0 | WireGuard, OpenVPN |
| Platforms | Windows, MacOS, Linux, iOS, Android, Web browser | Windows, MacOS, Linux, Chromebook, Android, iOS, Chrome, Firefox, Android TV, Apple TV, Amazon Fire TV |
| Owner | Independent company, founder Rob Mueller | Proton AG |
| Longest plan (months) | 36 monthsHigher | 24 months |
| Monthly price | €6 | Not confirmed |
| Long-term plan price | €4.67 | Not confirmed |
| Server countries | Not confirmed | from 140 |
| No-logs audit | Not confirmed | Securitum, 2026 |
| Money-back period | Not confirmed | 30 days |
| Features | Not confirmed | Kill switch, Split tunnelling |
| Streaming services | Not confirmed | Netflix, Hulu, Disney+, Amazon Prime Video |
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Key differences
- Devices is higher at Proton AG: 10 vs 6.
- Protocols: only Fastmail offers JMAP, IMAP, POP.
- Protocols: only Proton AG offers WireGuard, OpenVPN.
- Platforms: only Fastmail offers Web browser.
- Platforms: only Proton AG offers Chromebook, Chrome, Firefox.
- Longest plan (months) is higher at Fastmail: 36 months vs 24 months.
- Support channels: only Proton AG offers Chat, Community.
- Founded is lower at Fastmail: 1999 vs 2014.
Our verdict on each
Fastmail
Fastmail is a paid email service for anyone who wants their own domain, standard protocols and a well supported inbox with no free plan. It suits solo users and small teams that will pay a subscription, with plans starting at €4 and a free trial to try first.
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 | Fastmail | Proton AG |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | 9.2The entry point of €4 sits under the site's median starting price of €6.84, so cost reads as fair rather than cheap. | 9.3Higher |
| Offer | 9.1 | 9.4HigherTerm choice runs to 24 months with a 30-day refund window, and a free plan anchors entry pricing. |
| Privacy | 9.6Higher | 8.9 |
Positions in our rankings
| Ranking | Fastmail | Proton AG |
|---|---|---|
| VPNs | 25 of 232 | 26 of 232 |
| Privacy tools | 23 of 280 | 24 of 280 |
| Secure email and messaging | 4 of 60 | 5 of 60 |
| Free VPNs | 21 of 189 | 22 of 189 |
Pick Fastmail if, pick Proton AG if
Pick Fastmail if privacy and longest plan (months) matter most.
Pick Proton AG if offer and devices matter most.
A third option
ESET Brasil has devices at 1 to 25, against 6 for Fastmail and 10 for Proton AG.
ESET Brasil reviewSources behind this comparison
Fastmail
- fastmail.com: 13 facts, checked September 26, 2026
Proton AG
- protonvpn.com: 16 facts, checked September 26, 2026
- proton.me: 2 facts, checked September 26, 2026
Every fact side by side
| Fact | Fastmail | Proton AG |
|---|---|---|
| Features | Not confirmed | No logs, Streaming |
| Audience | Business | Business |
| Pricing model | Not confirmed | Free |
| Legal entity | Fastmail Pty Ltd (ACN 142 646 580) | Proton AG |
| Headquarters | Australia | Switzerland |
| Founded | 1999Lower | 2014 |
| Support channels | Email, Help centre | Email, Chat, Help centre, CommunityCovers more |
Privacy tools
| Fact | Fastmail | Proton AG |
|---|---|---|
| Price from | €4 | Not confirmed |
| Free plan | No | YesHas it |
| Free plan limits | No free plan; 30-day free trial | No data or speed limits, no ads, no time limit, 1 device, servers in 10 countries randomly selected, medium speed. |
| 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 activity logs |
| Open source | No | YesHas it |
| Privacy tool type | Not confirmed | Ad blocker |
Secure email
| Fact | Fastmail | Proton AG |
|---|---|---|
| End-to-end encryption | No end-to-end encryption in Fastmail's own apps; PGP or S/MIME only via third-party apps | The VPN connection from the user's device to Proton's servers; Proton also markets Proton for Business with end-to-end encryption. |
| Custom domains | Yes | Not confirmed |
Password managers
| Fact | Fastmail | 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 |
| Zero-knowledge encryption | Not confirmed | Yes |
Encrypted storage
| Fact | Fastmail | Proton AG |
|---|---|---|
| Free storage | Not confirmed | 5 |
| Compliance certifications | Not confirmed | GDPR, HIPAA, ISO 27001 |
Where each stands against the rest
| Fact | Fastmail | Proton AG | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Monthly price | €6below the median | Not confirmed | €7.99 |
| Long-term plan price | €4.67above the median | Not confirmed | €3.99 |
| Devices | 6below the median | 10at the median | 10 |
| Server countries | Not confirmed | from 140highest quarter | 62 |
| Money-back period | Not confirmed | 30 daysat the median | 30 days |
| Longest plan (months) | 36 monthshighest quarter | 24 monthsabove the median | 12 months |
Median across 139 listed providers.
Pros and cons
Fastmail
Pros
- Monthly billing costs €6, and the long-term plan costs €4.67 with the longest term offered running 36.
- Standard clients keep working because the service speaks JMAP, IMAP and POP.
- Apps run on Windows, macOS and Linux, so one account covers a browser, desktops and phones.
Cons
- End-to-end encryption is available as PGP or S/MIME, and Fastmail's own apps leave that setup to third-party apps.
- Support runs on email and help centre only, with no chat or phone line listed.
- Technical data such as IP addresses and client identifiers is kept for security, troubleshooting and auditing, and IP logs are held for a period.
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
Fastmail
Who it suits
- Solo users and small teams that want a work inbox on a domain they own.
- People who rely on their own mail software, since the standard protocols are supported.
- Subscribers ready to commit, since the long-term plan is priced below monthly billing.
Who should look elsewhere
- Readers shopping on price alone: Apple Inc. lists $0.99 and Sinew Software Systems lists $1.99, both below Fastmail's €6.
- Anyone counting on device breadth rather than an inbox, where ESET Brasil covers 3 to 25.
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
Fastmail
Current offer
Free trial
Free trial on signup: 30 days
Offered on all plans; no refunds for unused subscriptions
Source, checked September 26, 2026
Discount code
Pay yearly and save: EUR 12 (Individual), EUR 24 (Duo), EUR 36 (Family)
Applied when paying 12 months in advance on Individual, Duo, Family and business plans; all prices tax-inclusive
Source, checked September 26, 2026
Questions about each
Fastmail
What does Fastmail cost month to month?+
Fastmail's monthly plan costs €6, and the long-term plan is priced at €4.67 per month. Entry pricing starts at €4, and the longest commitment offered runs 36, so the term you pick drives most of the cost.
Is there a free plan or a free trial?+
There is no free plan on Fastmail, so every account is paid and a free trial is the only route in without paying first. Paid pricing begins at €4 a month, and the monthly plan itself costs €6.
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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