Proton Mail for Business vs AOL Mail
Proton Mail for Business wins on privacy, AOL Mail wins on price and Proton Mail for Business wins on features. Every fact below was checked on or before 22 October 2026.
Proton Mail for Business or AOL Mail: which should you choose?
- Proton Mail for Business suits you best if you want encryption that means even the provider can't read your mail; your mail kept in Switzerland; and a company that isn't funded by advertising.
- Choose AOL Mail if you want email without paying for it; a free plan to start on; and the choice of any mail app over IMAP.
| Feature | Proton Mail for Business | AOL Mail |
|---|---|---|
| Overall | 4.0 | 2.0 |
| Privacy | 4.5 | 0.0 |
| Price | 2.5 | 5.0 |
| Features | 4.5 | 3.5 |
| Cheapest plan | Mail Essentials $6.99 per user a month | Free Free |
| Free plan | No | Yes |
| Storage | 15 GB | Not confirmed |
| Your own domain | ✓ 3 | No |
| End-to-end encryption | ✓ Built in | No |
| Company based in | Switzerland | United States |
| Your data is kept in | Switzerland | United States |
| Founded | 2014 | 1993 |
| Free trial | 30-day refund | Free |
| Funded by advertising | No | Yes, or its parent company is |
| Works in any mail app | With Proton Bridge on paid plans | ✓ IMAP and SMTP |
| Calendar and contacts | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes |
| Aliases | Yes | Yes |
| Open-source apps | ✓ Yes | No |
| Sign up without ID | No | No |
| White label | No | No |
| Reader offer | None | None |
| Last checked | 22 October 2026 | 22 October 2026 |
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Where they differ
- Proton Mail for Business's cheapest plan is Mail Essentials ($6.99 per user a month); AOL Mail's is Free (Free).
- Proton Mail for Business has no free plan; AOL Mail has a free plan ().
- Space: Proton Mail for Business gives 15 GB of storage, AOL Mail storage not confirmed.
- Proton Mail for Business keeps your mail in Switzerland, while AOL Mail keeps it in the United States.
- The companies sit under different laws: Proton Mail for Business in Switzerland, AOL Mail in United States.
- On encryption, Proton Mail for Business encrypts mail end to end, whereas AOL Mail doesn't encrypt mail end to end.
- You can use your own domain with Proton Mail for Business, but not with AOL Mail.
- Mail apps: Proton Mail for Business works in other mail apps through Proton Bridge on paid plans; AOL Mail works in any mail app over IMAP.
- AOL Mail (or its parent company) makes money from advertising; Proton Mail for Business doesn't.
Questions people ask
Is Proton Mail for Business more private than AOL Mail?
Proton Mail for Business scores 4.5 out of 5 for privacy and AOL Mail 0. Proton Mail for Business gives you encryption that means even the provider can't read your mail, your mail kept in Switzerland and a company that isn't funded by advertising.
Is Proton Mail for Business cheaper than AOL Mail?
AOL Mail costs nothing to start (Free). Proton Mail for Business's cheapest plan, Mail Essentials, is $6.99 per user a month.
Can I use my own domain with Proton Mail for Business or AOL Mail?
Only Proton Mail for Business does (3 domains on its cheapest plan that allows one). With AOL Mail your address stays on its own domain.
Where is my email stored with Proton Mail for Business and AOL Mail?
Proton Mail for Business keeps it in Switzerland. AOL Mail keeps it in the United States.
Can I use Proton Mail for Business and AOL Mail in Apple Mail or Outlook?
Proton Mail for Business works in other mail apps through Proton Bridge on paid plans. AOL Mail works in any mail app over IMAP.
Prices and the latest news
No price changes for either since 22 October 2026. I check regularly and add any change here with its date.
The latest headlines: Proton Mail for Business news · AOL Mail news.
Alternatives to Proton Mail for Business and AOL Mail
Proton Mail for Business vs mailbox.org · AOL Mail vs mailbox.org · Proton Mail for Business vs Posteo · AOL Mail vs Posteo · Proton Mail for Business vs Proton Mail · AOL Mail vs Proton Mail
Switching between them
Moving between any two providers works the same way. Pick your two providers for the steps.