Yes, Proton Mail is free. Proton Free gives you 1 encrypted email address, up to 1 GB of mail storage and a send limit of 150 messages a day, plus free versions of Proton Calendar, Drive, VPN and Pass on the same account.
Proton Mail is an encrypted email service run by Proton, the company behind Proton VPN and Proton Drive. Proton says it's funded by its upgraded plans rather than by advertising, which is why its free inbox carries no advertising. Proton is upfront about its free plan. It says its services will always be available for free for those who need them, and that the free plan has lower storage limits than its upgraded plans and fewer advanced features, but the same security.
What Proton Mail Free includes
Proton's plans article lists these for Proton Mail Free:
- 1 email address.
- Up to 1 GB of dedicated mail storage. You start with 500 MB and boost it to 1 GB by completing Proton's get started actions for Mail.
- Easy Switch, Proton's import assistant for moving mail across from another provider.
- A send limit of 150 messages a day.
Proton Free vs Mail Plus at a glance
| Feature | Proton Free | Mail Plus |
|---|---|---|
| Encrypted email addresses | 1 | 10 |
| Storage | Up to 1 GB for mail | 15 GB |
| Custom email domains | No | 1 |
| Hide-my-email aliases | 10, through Proton Pass | 10 |
Proton's Mail page also lists a bigger plan with 500 GB of storage, 15 extra addresses, 3 custom domains and unlimited aliases, for people who want everything Proton makes under one account.
The catch: storage starts at 500 MB
The headline figure is 1 GB, but you don't start there. Proton says Proton Free begins with 500 MB of mail storage and you boost it to 1 GB by completing its Mail-specific get started actions. Drive works the same way, starting at 2 GB and growing to 5 GB once you complete the Drive get started actions.
So the first thing to do with a new free account is work through those actions, or you'll be living with half the storage. After that, 1 GB is plenty for text email but fills quickly if people send you large attachments. Saving big files to Drive rather than leaving them in your inbox helps.
The other limit to plan around is the 150 messages a day send cap. That's fine for personal and everyday business email, but not for sending a newsletter. Use a dedicated email marketing tool for that.
What else comes with a free Proton account
One free account covers more than email. Proton's plans article lists these free extras:
- Proton Calendar: 3 personal calendars.
- Proton Drive: up to 5 GB of storage and Proton Docs.
- Proton VPN: 1 VPN connection, with 10 countries chosen automatically for you.
- Proton Pass: 2 vaults and 10 hide-my-email aliases.
- Proton Meet: up to 5 new meeting links a day, up to 50 participants, a 60-minute call limit and 1 active meeting at a time.
- Lumo, Proton's AI assistant, with limited use and 1 project.
The hide-my-email aliases are a handy extra for a business owner. You can sign up for newsletters and free trials with an alias, so your real address doesn't end up on lists you didn't choose.
How to set up Proton Mail for free
- Go to proton.me and choose to continue with Proton Free.
- Pick your free Proton address and set a strong password.
- Complete the get started actions for Mail to lift your storage from 500 MB to 1 GB.
- Use Easy Switch to import contacts and mail from your old provider if you're moving across.
- Turn on two-factor authentication in your security settings.
Free Proton for business email?
Free Proton works well as a private inbox for a sole trader, but it has one big gap for business use: no custom domain. Your address ends in Proton's domain rather than your business name. Custom domains start on Mail Plus. If a branded address matters to you, my guide to Gmail alternatives compares providers that offer it, and for keeping logins safe alongside your inbox, see my pick of open source password managers.
Who Proton Mail Free suits
Proton Free suits anyone who wants an encrypted personal inbox without ads, plus a free VPN, calendar, file storage and password vaults on one account.
It's a weaker fit for businesses that need a branded address, lots of storage, or more than 150 sends a day.
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Free Proton Meet and Lumo
Two newer extras come with the same free account. Proton Meet lets you create up to 5 new meeting links a day, with up to 50 participants, a 60-minute call limit and 1 active meeting at a time. That's enough for a quick client call without a separate video tool.
Lumo, Proton's AI assistant, is included with limited use of its top model, limited messages and chat history, and 1 project. It's worth a try if you want an AI assistant from a company that puts privacy first, but the limits mean it won't replace a full AI tool for heavy use.
My verdict: Proton Mail is free and private, and the free account is more generous than it looks once you add Drive, Pass and the VPN. Do the get started actions on day one so you get the full 1 GB.
Frequently asked questions
Is Proton Mail free forever?
Proton says its services will always be available for free. Proton Free includes 1 email address, up to 1 GB of mail storage and 150 messages a day.
How much storage does Proton Mail Free have?
Proton Mail Free starts with 500 MB of mail storage, which rises to 1 GB once you complete Proton's Mail get started actions.
Can I use a custom domain with free Proton Mail?
No. Proton lists custom email domains on its upgraded plans, starting with 1 domain on Mail Plus.
How many emails can I send a day on Proton Free?
Proton's plans article lists a send limit of 150 messages a day on Proton Mail Free.
Is Proton Mail Free as secure as the upgraded plans?
Yes. Proton says its free plan has lower storage limits and fewer advanced features, but is just as secure.
Does Proton Free include a VPN?
Yes. Proton's plans article lists Proton VPN Free with 1 VPN connection and 10 countries chosen automatically for you.
How long can a free Proton Meet call last?
Proton lists a 60-minute call limit on Proton Meet Free, with up to 50 participants per meeting.
