Updated September 28, 2026 · ShieldCue Editorial Team
Proton vs Runbox
Where Proton and Runbox differ
| Compare |  Proton | 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 and password health alerts; no 2FA authenticator, secure sharing, file attachments or dark web monitoring | 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, Command line interface, Chrome, Safari, Firefox, Edge, Brave | 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 |
| Protocols | WireGuard, OpenVPN | Not confirmed |
Same on both: Open source (Yes).
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Key differences
- Runbox scores higher overall: 9.4 vs 9.3.
- Free plan: only Proton.
- Platforms: only Proton offers Web app, Command line interface, Chrome.
- Platforms: only Runbox offers Web.
- Support channels: only Proton offers Chat.
- Founded is lower at Runbox: 2000 vs 2014.
- Pricing model: only Proton offers Free.
- Pricing model: only Runbox offers Budget.
Our verdict on each
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.
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 | Runbox |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | 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. | 9.7HigherBudget plan entry of €1.66 against a median of €6.84 and a long term median of €3.97. |
| Offer | 9.5Higher | 9.1 |
| Privacy | 9.1 | 9.3Higher |
Pick Proton if, pick Runbox if
Pick Proton if offer and free plan matter most.
Pick Runbox if cost matter most.
Where each is licensed and available
| Country | Proton | Runbox |
|---|---|---|
| Headquarters | Switzerland | Norway |
Positions in our rankings
| Ranking | Proton | Runbox |
|---|---|---|
| Privacy tools | 10 of 280 | 68 of 280 |
| Secure email and messaging | 1 of 60 | 15 of 60 |
Every fact side by side
| Fact | Proton | Runbox |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing model | Free | Budget |
| Legal entity | Proton AG | Runbox Solutions AS |
| Headquarters | Switzerland | Norway |
| Founded | 2014 | 2000Lower |
| Support channels | Email, Chat, Help centre, CommunityCovers more | Email, Help centre, Community |
VPN
| Fact | Proton | Runbox |
|---|---|---|
| Devices | 10 | Not confirmed |
| Server countries | 140 | Not confirmed |
| Features | No logs, Streaming, Travel | Not confirmed |
| Audience | Business | Not confirmed |
| Money-back period | 30 days | Not confirmed |
| Features | Kill switch | Not confirmed |
| Streaming services | Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, Disney+, Hulu | Not confirmed |
| Owner | Proton Foundation | Not confirmed |
| Longest plan (months) | 24 months | Not confirmed |
Password managers
| Fact | Proton | Runbox |
|---|---|---|
| Family plan | Pass Family: up to 6 users, includes 6 Pass Plus accounts and an admin panel | Not confirmed |
| Passkeys | Yes | Not confirmed |
| Security audit | Independently audited by third-party experts (Cure53 audit published July 2023), open source under GPLv3, public bug bounty | Not confirmed |
| Encryption | End-to-end encryption; 256-bit AES-GCM encrypted vaults; OpenPGP with ECC (Curve25519) for vault keys | Not confirmed |
| Zero-knowledge encryption | Yes | Not confirmed |
Secure email
| Fact | Proton | 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 |
Encrypted storage
| Fact | Proton | Runbox |
|---|---|---|
| Free storage | 5 | Not confirmed |
| Price per TB per year | $95.88 | Not confirmed |
| Compliance certifications | ISO 27001, SOC 2 Type II | Not confirmed |
Pros and cons
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.
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
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.
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
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
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
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.
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.
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