Gmail is convenient, free and everywhere. It is also part of an advertising company. If you want an inbox that is not scanned to build a profile of you, Proton Mail is one of the most popular alternatives in Europe.
In short
- Proton Mail encrypts your mailbox so that the provider cannot read your messages.
- Proton’s import tool can bring your Gmail emails, contacts and calendar across.
- Keep Gmail open for a few months and forward new mail while you update your accounts.
What you gain
- Encryption by default. Emails between Proton users are end-to-end encrypted, and your stored mailbox is encrypted too.
- No ad profile. Proton is funded by paid plans, not by advertising.
- Swiss jurisdiction. Proton is based in Switzerland, outside US and EU data-sharing schemes.
What you lose
Search is slower on a fully encrypted mailbox, and some third-party apps that plug into Gmail will not work. The free plan is also more limited in storage and features than Gmail.
How to switch without losing anything
- Create your Proton account and use the built-in import tool to copy your Gmail messages, contacts and calendar.
- Turn on forwarding in Gmail so new emails reach Proton.
- Update your important accounts (bank, utilities, government services) one by one with your new address.
- Keep the Gmail account for a few months before deciding what to do with it.
Leave a Reply