Proton Mail vs Mailbox.org
Both are free/open-source alternatives to Gmail. Here's how they stack up — verified facts, no spin.
Proton Mail
TOP PICKEnd-to-end encrypted, open-source, Swiss — the privacy default.
Proton Mail is the most mature encrypted email provider, with over 100 million users and open-source apps on every platform. Mail is end-to-end and zero-access encrypted, it's based in Switzerland under strong privacy law, and it supports OpenPGP so mail with other PGP users is automatically end-to-end encrypted. It has grown into a genuine Gmail replacement with Calendar, Drive, Pass, and VPN in one account, plus a functional free tier.
Mailbox.org
German privacy-focused mail with a full office suite — standards-based.
Mailbox.org is a German, privacy-respecting email host for people who want a professional, standards-based inbox (IMAP/SMTP, custom domains) with an integrated office suite and calendar, powered by 100% renewable energy. It offers PGP encryption and an encrypted-mailbox option, but it's a commercial, closed service rather than open-source — the honest “privacy-friendly and full-featured, without encryption-first constraints” pick.
Side by side
| Proton Mail | Mailbox.org | |
|---|---|---|
| Sovereignty Score | 84 | 50 |
| Open source | Yes | No |
| Self-hostable | No | No |
| Local-first | No | No |
| License | GPL-3.0 (apps) | Proprietary |
| Pricing | Free (1GB); paid Mail Plus ~$4/mo; bundled Proton Unlimited adds Drive, VPN, and Pass | From about €1/month (Light) up to office and business tiers; custom domains supported |
Proton Mail is Macrostack's recommended Gmail alternative, so it's our pick here.
Proton Mail
Strengths
- +End-to-end, zero-access encryption with OpenPGP support
- +Open-source apps, independently audited, Swiss jurisdiction
- +Free tier; custom domains on paid plans
- +Part of a full privacy suite (Calendar, Drive, VPN, Pass)
Trade-offs
- −Encryption to non-Proton, non-PGP contacts needs password-protected mode
- −A hosted service you don't self-host
- −Free-tier storage is modest (1GB)
Mailbox.org
Strengths
- +Cheap, standards-based (IMAP/SMTP), custom domains
- +German/EU privacy law; PGP support and an encrypted-mailbox option
- +Integrated calendar, contacts, and office suite
Trade-offs
- −Closed-source, commercial service
- −Not end-to-end by default (PGP is opt-in)
- −Interface is more utilitarian than polished
Facts verified 2026-07-14. Licenses and pricing change — spotted something out of date? That's a correction we want.