Reasons to switch to Proton Mail (and how to do it right)

Switching from Gmail to Proton Mail isn't a radical move or an act of paranoia: it's a practical decision to gain control over your data and your personal brand. The key question is not whether you have something to hide, but whether you want to stop being the product. in an ecosystem where your habits are exploited for advertising and profiling.

Beyond the theory, it's noticeable in very concrete ways on a day-to-day basis: less noise, more focus, and tools that are consistent with the same privacy criteria. If you value the peace of mind that your email won't be a showcase for advertisers and you want to centralize your operations in a suite with serious encryption, Proton is an alternative worth considering.

Real Reasons to Quit Gmail: What's Really Noticeable

Some people think that switching to a provider that “uses less data” only brings moral satisfaction. Those who have taken the step report tangible benefits: less tracking, less feeling of exposure, and, above all, secure emails by default for sensitive conversations.

Meaningful privacy isn't about hiding, it's about not turning every interaction into a commercial signal. Gmail works great, but its model relies on data and ads.If that bothers you, Proton is in a different league: it doesn't monetize your inbox, it doesn't log IPs under normal conditions, and it allows registration with minimal data.

There are also operational improvements. Many users never connected with the aesthetics or workflows. Google: labels, menu mazes, constantly changing functions. At Proton, the interface is clean, the learning curve is short, and everything is designed to eliminate friction.If you like working in tidy and discreet environments, this is a great asset.

For personal branding and projects, there is an important plus: your own domain. Setting up addresses with your domain conveys professionalism and trust., and Proton makes it easy to manage multiple domains and aliases (including catch-all) so nothing gets lost even if the recipient misspells something.

Privacy and security: what the real difference is

The big leap is in encryption. Gmail secures transport with TLS and encryption at rest, but does not offer end-to-end encryption by default.This means the provider can access the content when needed, and your risk model may not tolerate that.

Proton Mail, on the other hand, prioritizes end-to-end encryption (E2EE) for emails between Proton users and with PGP, and allows password-protected messages to be sent to external recipients. This means that only legitimate sender and receiver can read the message, not even ProtonIts “zero access” architecture limits exposure.

Regarding jurisdictions: Proton operates in Switzerland, which has a long history of safeguarding data protection. It should be noted that “Swiss privacy” is not magically superior to EU regulations in all cases., but it does provide a different legal framework than that of US-based suppliers, where the “Five Eyes” cooperation governs.

The debate doesn't end there. There are even more radical privacy players, such as Tuta Mail, which It also encrypts sensitive metadata such as the subject and boasts post-quantum measurements. To resist the risk of "harvest now, decrypt later." If maximum protection is your top priority, this is a point to consider against Proton and, of course, Gmail.

Other important nuances of the Proton ecosystem: It does not generally record IPs, allows registration without personal data, and supports anonymous payments for paid plans. (for example, with cryptocurrencies, ). Of course, if you try to register via Tor, they may ask for extra verification (donation or number), which limits “absolute” anonymity.

Functionality and daily operations: are you losing comfort?

This is where many people return to Gmail “out of habit.” Gmail is incredibly flexible, has 15 GB free, a brilliant search engine, and integrates like a glove with Drive, Docs, Calendar, and much more.For collaborative work and scalability, it's still a beast.

What does Proton offer on a daily basis? A cohesive, privacy-focused suite: Mail, Calendar, Drive (with plans up to 500 GB), Pass (password manager), VPN and even a wallet for cryptoIf you're interested in reducing suppliers and aligning values, it's very convenient to have everything under one umbrella.

The experience has improved significantly: New category view on mobile, subscription management, advanced search, authentication prompts, and an attachment view where you can view and bring files to Drive with one click.Additionally, the calendar is being revamped with shared editing, tasks, and offline access to bring the experience closer to what you already do on Google.

In terms of organization, Proton combines folders and labels, something that many appreciate when coming from “traditional” suppliers. The spam filtering is robust And the warning for unauthenticated emails adds another layer of security. For fans of "all clean and distraction-free," it's a good fit.

Now, you need to know the limitations. On the free plan, There is a limit of 150 daily shipments and 500 MB of storage (expandable to 1 GB).For personal use, it's sufficient, but in demanding environments, you'll find yourself on paid plans. And yes, some users notice that sending is somewhat slower than Gmail or Outlook.

IMAP and external clients? It's possible, but with nuances: you need a payment plan and Proton Bridge for Outlook/Thunderbird/Apple Mail. The bridge decrypts locally for the client to work, meaning that at that point it is no longer end-to-end E2EE within the client. Linux, some report that it can cause problems, although it has improved.

Aliases and catch-all are a treat, and if you want to isolate your primary email when registering on websites, you can use options like Firefox Relay (up to 5 free aliases) to protect your real addressWith Proton's approach, your inbox typically improves quality and malicious spam decreases.

Migration without drama: from "I'm too lazy" to "that's it"

Resistance to change is normal, but the process today is fairly straightforward. With Easy Switch you can import emails, contacts and calendars from Gmail in just a few clicks.If you're worried about losing something, just leave forwarding enabled in Gmail for a while and that's it.

To move one-off emails from rare providers or old POP/IMAP accounts, Bridge serves as a "wheelbarrow" to transport historicalIt's an afternoon's work, not a week's. Many admit it was "more scary than anything."

If you want to try without getting married, the most pragmatic way is Subscribe to Proton Unlimited for the first month for €1You have 30 days to test everything: domains, aliases, Drive, Calendar, VPN… If it doesn't suit you, you can go back with the experience you've gained.

What if you want end-to-end encryption wherever you are? Although Proton already makes it easy within its ecosystem, Use GPG/OpenPGP with clients like Thunderbird It is a very powerful additional layer

At the cost and family level, there are combinations for different cases: Mail Plus from ~€3,99/month if you only want email, or Proton Unlimited (~€9,99/month) with 500 GBFor custom domains, one user is cheaper than Gmail; with multiple users, do the math: Gmail Workspace starts at ~€5,75/user/month, while Proton has Business and Proton Family plans (up to 6 users for ~€23,99/month).

Pros and cons compared (Proton, Gmail and what Tuta says)

To make a clear decision, it's important to pinpoint the most relevant aspects of each topic, along with the nuances that are often not visible to the naked eye. These are the practical keys that usually tip the balance.:

Proton's clear advantages

• True E2EE encryption: Zero access to content; PGP option; password-protected emails for outsiders.
• Privacy by design: : no data registration, no IP registration by default, anonymous payments on paid plans.
• Coherent suite: Mail, Drive, Calendar, VPN, Pass and Wallet in a single ecosystem.
• Self-control and catch-all: Professional image and total control over aliases and projects.

What you should keep in mind at Proton

• Limits on the free plan: 150 shipments/day and limited storage; suitable for basic use.
• Limited integrations: Outside the ecosystem, you depend on the Bridge for IMAP/SMTP.
• Bridge and security: When using Bridge, mail is decrypted locally; it is no longer end-to-end E2EE on the client.
• IA under the magnifying glass: The Proton Scribe (AI) feature has raised eyebrows in the pro-privacy community.

Gmail Strengths

• Usability and integration: Workspace, top search, dynamic email and automations.
• Generous free: 15 GB, excellent spam filters and mature ecosystem.
• Scalability: 2.000 shipments/day per standard account and 24/7 support on paid plans.

Gmail Weaknesses

• Privacy : No E2EE by default; data collection for ads and personalization.
• Business model: advertising profiles and ads in the free interface.
• Business cost: Upload quickly per user when you need all of Workspace.

Where Tuta fits into the picture

• Beyond E2EE: metadata encryption (subject) and betting on post-quantum measures.
• Native desktop clients: : bridge-less approach with zero dependencies on Google (e.g., push).
• Simple pricing: competitive alternative if your top priority is maximum privacy.

Costs, domains and family: who comes out better

If you only need a mailbox with your own domain, Proton may be cheaper than Gmail. With multiple users, it depends on the size of your team and whether you need the full Google suite. In families, Proton Family compensates up to 6 users; with 3-4, compare against Basic Workspace.

Support and performance

In support, Google offers 24/7 support on its paid plans., something that alternatives usually cover with forms/tickets. In terms of sending, Gmail is slightly faster on average; Proton prioritizes safety and may appear more “slow” in certain scenarios, without it being a real problem in normal use.

And what about the daily life of those who have already changed?

Beyond the theory, what is repeated is the feeling of order and disconnection from noise. Less ads, less temptation, less frictionIn some inboxes, email quality improves and spam decreases. And for those managing multiple projects, centralizing under Proton (or Google, if you choose to stay) reduces vendors and headaches.

A practical nuance: if your job requires you to coexist with Gmail/Workspace, You can separate the professional (Google) from the personal or “sensitive” (Proton)This hybrid strategy is common and brings out the best of both worlds without any abrupt compromises.

It's all about aligning principles and needs. If you value privacy and want tools with that philosophy, Proton shines.If you rely on advanced integrations and massive collaborative productivity, Gmail is still a breeze. You win when you choose based on real-world data and testing.