Proton Mail vs Tuta
Two encrypted-email providers with different countries, encryption coverage, and ecosystems. Which to pick depends on whether you want bundle leverage or maximum default encryption.
Proton Mail — Swiss, the larger player, ecosystem includes VPN/Drive/Calendar/Pass. E2EE between Proton users; PGP for outside contacts (manual key exchange). Bridge for desktop IMAP/SMTP integration with Apple Mail or Thunderbird. 1GB free tier, $4-$5/month for custom domain and more storage.
Tuta — German, smaller. Encrypts subject lines and metadata, not just bodies — a default Proton does not match. Custom protocol means PGP interop is manual. 1GB free, $3.60/month entry tier. Quantum-resistant since 2024.
Pick Proton if you want the bundle (Mail + VPN + Drive at the same price as standalone Mail), or if you send heavily to Gmail/Outlook contacts and want a polished UX.
Pick Tuta if your threat model includes the metadata. Subject lines often leak as much as the body — "Tax docs Q3" or "Doctor follow-up" is data even without the content. Tuta's default encryption coverage is genuinely stronger.
Either is a defensible choice. Both have audits, both have user-aligned business models, both work cross-platform.