Updated October 14, 2026 · ShieldCue Editorial Team
Proton Pass vs Runbox
What sets them apart
| Compare |  Proton Pass | Runbox ReviewSee alternativesSee alternatives |
|---|---|---|
| Price from | $4.99 | €1.66 |
| Free plan | YesHas it | No |
| Free plan limits | Unlimited logins, notes, credit cards and devices; 10 hide-my-email aliases; passkeys on all devices; no vault or item sharing | Free trial only (30 days): 1 GB email storage, 100 MB file storage, 20 recipients per day; no permanent free plan |
| Platforms | Windows, MacOS, Linux, Android, iOS, Web app, Chrome extension, Safari extension, Firefox extension, Edge extension, Brave extension, Command line interface | Web, iOS, Android, Windows, Macos, Linux |
| Logging policy | 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 | Server logs for system administration only; email delivery logs kept 10 days, web interface usage logs 1 month; no third-party tracking, no web beacons |
| Jurisdiction | CH | NO |
Same on both: Open source (Yes).
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Key differences
- Runbox scores higher overall: 9.4 vs 9.0.
- Free plan: only Proton Pass.
- Platforms: only Proton Pass offers Web app, Chrome extension, Safari extension.
- Platforms: only Runbox offers Web.
- Support channels: only Runbox offers Email.
- Founded is lower at Runbox: 2000 vs 2014.
- Pricing model: only Proton Pass offers Free.
- Pricing model: only Runbox offers Budget.
Our verdict on each
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.
Runbox
Runbox suits readers who want a full inbox with a custom domain, open source code and apps across every major platform, and who can accept that mail is encrypted in transit rather than end to end by default. The budget plan starts at €1.66, and there is no permanent free tier.
Score breakdown
| Area | Proton Pass | Runbox |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | 9.0 | 9.7HigherBudget plan entry of €1.66 against a median of €6.84 and a long term median of €3.97. |
| Offer | 9.1 | 9.1 |
| Privacy | 9.0 | 9.3Higher |
Pick Proton Pass if, pick Runbox if
Pick Proton Pass if free plan matter most.
Pick Runbox if cost and privacy matter most.
How they place
| Ranking | Proton Pass | Runbox |
|---|---|---|
| Privacy tools | 12 of 280 | 68 of 280 |
| Secure email and messaging | 3 of 60 | 15 of 60 |
Every fact side by side
| Fact | Proton Pass | Runbox |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing model | Free | Budget |
| Legal entity | Proton AG | Runbox Solutions AS |
| Headquarters | Switzerland | Norway |
| Founded | 2014 | 2000Lower |
| Support channels | Help centre, Community | Email, Help centre, CommunityCovers more |
Secure email
| Fact | Proton Pass | Runbox |
|---|---|---|
| End-to-end encryption | 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 | No default end-to-end encryption; email is encrypted in transit only, and true E2EE is opt-in per message via S/MIME or PGP between sender and recipient |
| Custom domains | Yes | Yes |
Pros and cons
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.
Runbox
Pros
- Custom domains are supported, so the mailbox can run on an address on a domain the reader owns.
- The web interface is open source, so the client side can be read rather than taken on trust.
- Apps cover web, ios and android, so one mailbox works in a browser and on phones and desktops.
Cons
- End-to-end encryption is a per message setting: email is encrypted in transit, and true end-to-end encryption is opt-in per message via S/MIME or PGP between sender and recipient, so key handling falls to the reader on the budget plan at €1.66.
- Free plan: no, so the cheapest way in is a time-limited trial with a fixed allowance of mail and file storage and a cap on recipients per day, rather than a mailbox that stays free.
- Support runs on email, help centre and community only, so there is no live chat or phone line for anything urgent.
Who each suits
Proton Pass
Who it suits
- People who want a password manager with listed apps across desktop and mobile platforms and passkey support.
Runbox
Who it suits
- Readers who want a full mailbox on a domain they own, with apps on web, ios and android and support on email, help centre and community.
- People who treat transport encryption as enough and will set up S/MIME or PGP for the conversations that need more.
- Long-standing account holders who value that the web interface is open source and that logs are kept for system administration only.
Who should look elsewhere
- Anyone who needs end-to-end encryption switched on by default, since here it is opt-in per message through S/MIME or PGP between sender and recipient.
- Price-first readers who can live with something simpler: addy.io lists $1 and Apple Hide My Email lists $0.99, both under the budget plan at €1.66.
- Readers unwilling to start on a trial, since the free plan is no and the budget plan at €1.66 is the entry.
Current offers
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
Runbox
Current offer
Free trial
30-day free trial of all plans: 30 days free, no credit card required
Every new Runbox account starts with a free 30-day trial so you can try the service before committing. No payment details are required to start.
Source, checked September 26, 2026
First period offer
First month free when subscribing during the trial: 1 month free
You can skip the trial and pay for your selected plan right after signing up, and still receive your first month free.
Source, checked September 26, 2026
Bonus
60-day full money back guarantee: 60 days
We also offer a 60-day full refund policy, so if you subscribe and change your mind you can request a full refund within 60 days.
Source, checked September 26, 2026
Questions about each
Proton Pass
Which platforms are listed for Proton Pass apps?+
The provider lists Android, iOS, Windows, macOS and Linux.
Runbox
How much is Runbox at the start of a subscription?+
The budget plan starts at €1.66, and that is the entry figure used when comparing providers. Custom domains are supported on the plan, so the mailbox can run on an address the reader owns. For orientation, the median entry price across the brands compared is €6.84, which places Runbox below the middle of the group.
What happens to the price at renewal?+
The published figure is an entry price of €1.66 for the budget plan, with no separate renewal rate stated alongside it. Across the brands compared, the median long term price is €3.97 and the median first year price is €49.95. Check the plan terms before the first bill rather than assuming the entry figure carries over.
Is there a free Runbox plan?+
Free plan: no. There is no permanent free mailbox, only a trial, and the trial brings a set amount of email storage, a smaller amount of file storage and a cap on recipients per day. A permanent free plan is the more common choice in secure email, at 78% of the brands in the category, so readers wanting free for the long term should weigh alternatives.
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