Updated September 29, 2026 · ShieldCue Editorial Team
Fastmail vs Proton Mail
Where Fastmail and Proton Mail differ
| Compare |  Fastmail |  Proton Mail |
|---|---|---|
| Price from | €4 | $4.99 |
| Free plan | No | YesHas it |
| 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 |
| Platforms | Windows, MacOS, Linux, iOS, Android, Web browser | 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 |
| Jurisdiction | AU | CH |
| Open source | No | YesHas it |
| Protocols | JMAP, IMAP, POP, SMTP, CalDAV, CardDAV, WebDAV, OAuth 2.0 | Not confirmed |
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Key differences
- Fastmail scores higher overall: 9.3 vs 9.0.
- Free plan: only Proton Mail.
- Platforms: only Fastmail offers Web browser.
- Platforms: only Proton Mail offers Web app, Command line interface, Chrome.
- 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 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 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 | 9.2HigherThe entry point of €4 sits under the site's median starting price of €6.84, so cost reads as fair rather than cheap. | 9.1 |
| Offer | 9.1 | 9.1 |
| Privacy | 9.6Higher | 8.9 |
Positions in our rankings
| Ranking | Fastmail | Proton Mail |
|---|---|---|
| Privacy tools | 23 of 280 | 11 of 280 |
| Secure email and messaging | 4 of 60 | 2 of 60 |
Sources behind this comparison
Fastmail
- fastmail.com: 12 facts, checked September 26, 2026
Proton Mail
- proton.me: 11 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 (ACN 142 646 580) | Proton AG |
| Headquarters | Australia | Switzerland |
| Founded | 1999Lower | 2014 |
| Support channels | Email, Help centre | Email, Help centre, CommunityCovers more |
Secure email
| Fact | Fastmail | Proton Mail |
|---|---|---|
| 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 |
| Custom domains | Yes | Yes |
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 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
- 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 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
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
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
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 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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