Proton Mail
US alternative: GmailEncrypted email service with free plans, open-source apps, and Swiss jurisdiction.
Open SourceFree optionFully European
Overview
Proton Mail is a privacy-first email service built to minimize data access, avoid ad targeting, and keep communication under strong encryption. It balances free access with paid plans and sits inside Proton’s wider privacy suite.
Why it is listed
Replaces
Gmail
European signal
Reviewed as strongly European-aligned
Privacy and hosting notes
End-to-end encryption, Swiss legal jurisdiction, no ads, and open-source audited apps.
Funding and ownership
Started with a 2014 public crowdfunding campaign; now funded primarily by subscriptions under Proton AG, with governance controlled by the Proton Foundation.