Limited recent checks passed
Secure email that protects your privacy.
Proton Mail is an email service that accepts Bitcoin, Fiat, and Cash. It has no mention of KYC policies and has a score of 8/10. There are 3 user ratings averaging 4.7/5.
Scores
- No KYC mention
- No mention of current or future KYC requirements.
Registration does not require personal information, and anonymous Bitcoin or cash payments are accepted. You may be asked to provide a phone number or email for anti-spam verification, but these are cryptographically hashed and not permanently stored in raw form.
- May suspend your account 0 -4
The service reserves the right to suspend or limit access to your account. For example, if you have overdue payments or you violated the service's ToS.
The service reserves the right to suspend or limit access to your account. For example, if you have overdue payments or you violated the service's ToS.
0 Privacy-4 Trust - Third-Party payment processor -2 +1
Payments are handled through a third-party processor, such as Coinbase, CoinPayments, NOWPayments...
Payments are handled through a third-party processor, such as Coinbase, CoinPayments, NOWPayments...
-2 Privacy+1 Trust - Account required -1 0
Users require creating an account with the service in order to access and use its features.
Users require creating an account with the service in order to access and use its features.
-1 Privacy0 Trust - No KYC mention +15 0
No mention of current or future KYC requirements.
- Identity-Free registration +10 0
Users can create accounts without giving personal information (such as full name, address or phone number). Note that some services might initially allow this, but they may subsequently request personal information (i.e. Automated flagging systems, Shotgun KYC...).
Users can create accounts without giving personal information (such as full name, address or phone number). Note that some services might initially allow this, but they may subsequently request personal information (i.e. Automated flagging systems, Shotgun KYC...).
+10 Privacy0 Trust - Personal info is not verified +9 0
These services do not conduct checks on personal information, meaning that you could use temporary emails, disposable phone numbers, or fake name / addresses.
These services do not conduct checks on personal information, meaning that you could use temporary emails, disposable phone numbers, or fake name / addresses.
+9 Privacy0 Trust - Has Onion or I2P URLs +5 0
Onion (Tor) and I2P URLs enhance privacy and anonymity.
- Audited 0 +5
The service has been audited by an independent 3rd party.
- Mature service 0 +5
This service has been operational for 10 years. While this indicates stability, it is not a future-proof guarantee.
This service has been operational for 10 years. While this indicates stability, it is not a future-proof guarantee.
0 Privacy+5 Trust - Approved 0 +5
Passed limited recent checks and met our approval threshold. Read more about the listing statuses.
Passed limited recent checks and met our approval threshold. Read more about the listing statuses.
0 Privacy+5 Trust - Own infrastructure +1 +2
The service owns and operates its own physical servers. No cloud or datacenter provider sits between the service and its hardware.
The service owns and operates its own physical servers. No cloud or datacenter provider sits between the service and its hardware.
+1 Privacy+2 Trust - Defends against takedown requests 0 +2
The provider publicly documents that they evaluate takedown and abuse complaints (DMCA, hosting complaints, third-party requests) rather than automatically suspending affected accounts. Response varies by service: some investigate before acting, some ignore outright.
The provider publicly documents that they evaluate takedown and abuse complaints (DMCA, hosting complaints, third-party requests) rather than automatically suspending affected accounts. Response varies by service: some investigate before acting, some ignore outright.
0 Privacy+2 Trust - Legally registered 0 +2
Legally registered as Proton AG in Switzerland 🇨🇭.
Legally registered as Proton AG in Switzerland 🇨🇭.
0 Privacy+2 Trust - Partially open source code 0 +2
This service has some open-source code components. However, certain elements remain proprietary.
This service has some open-source code components. However, certain elements remain proprietary.
0 Privacy+2 Trust - JavaScript needed 0 0
The service requires the user to enable JavaScript in order to access and use its features.0 Privacy0 Trust - Mobile app available 0 0
The service has a mobile app available for download.
- Some countries are restricted 0 0
Offered services may not be available in some countries due to logistics, regulations or arbitrary decisions. Please check for any restrictions before use.
Offered services may not be available in some countries due to logistics, regulations or arbitrary decisions. Please check for any restrictions before use.
0 Privacy0 Trust - Base score +50 +50
Overall = 60% Privacy + 40% Trust (Truncated)
Terms of Service Review
Proton Mail provides end-to-end encrypted email operated in Switzerland. Creating an account requires no personal data, though IP logs or phone numbers may be captured to mitigate abuse. Message content is encrypted, but subject lines and routing metadata remain visible to the service.
Email metadata is visible
Due to SMTP protocol limitations, Proton Mail retains access to sender and recipient email addresses, origin IP addresses, attachment names, message subjects, and timestamps.
IP logging
Permanent IP logs are not kept by default, but IP addresses may be logged temporarily to combat fraud, or retained permanently if a user violates the Terms of Service.
Anti-spam verification
Creating an account or performing sensitive operations may require CAPTCHA, email, or SMS verification. Phone numbers and IP addresses are saved temporarily during this process.
Free account deletion
Free accounts that remain strictly inactive for 12 consecutive months may be suspended or deleted along with all associated data.
Class action waiver
Users residing in the United States are subject to a binding arbitration agreement and class action waiver, though they may opt out by sending written notice within 30 days.
No personal data required
Creating a Proton Mail account does not require providing personal information, and anonymous cash or cryptocurrency payments are accepted.
Limited data disclosure
Proton will only surrender data if compelled by binding requests from Swiss authorities, and explicitly states it lacks the technical ability to decrypt user content.
Spam scanning
Unencrypted messages routed to or from external email providers are scanned in memory for spam and viruses before being encrypted and persisted to disk.
Reviewed from proton.me/legal/terms proton.me/legal/privacy
ToS reviews are AI-generated and should be used as a reference only.
Events
View all-
Verification update
Verification status changed from COMMUNITY_CONTRIBUTED to APPROVED
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Attribute added
Attribute "Own infrastructure" was added to Proton Mail
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Attribute removed
Attribute "Soft KYC" was removed from Proton Mail
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Attribute added
Attribute "Soft KYC" was added to Proton Mail
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Attribute added
Attribute "Defends against takedown requests" was added to Proton Mail
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Attribute added
Attribute "Identity-Free registration" was added to Proton Mail
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Attribute added
Attribute "Personal info is not verified" was added to Proton Mail
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Service updated
Service URLs updated from https://proton.me, https://proton.me/mail to https://proton.me/mail. Description was updated
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Attribute change
An attribute was removed (details unavailable)
Evidence and Review History
Passed limited recent checks and met our approval threshold.
- No review checks have been published yet
- Last review May 8
- Approved May 8
- Operating since May 16, 2016
Comments
Fast with good integrations with other Proton Workspace apps. Built-in aliasing is good, but can be substituted with email-forwarders for more control & compartmentalization
it's one of the best mail providers, I've used it for many years and I still use it. Free plan of Proton mail is enough for most users. I personally use free email plan of the platform and it works like charm. It works on clearnet and it's Tor version Onion domain also works like charm.
I've been using Proton Mail's free plan for a while now and it's been great so far. The interface is simple, and the focus on privacy is a big plus.