Proton Mail vs Fastmail
On privacy it's Proton Mail. On price it's Proton Mail. On features it's Fastmail. Here's everything side by side, last checked 23 October 2026.
Proton Mail or Fastmail: which should you choose?
- Go for Proton Mail if you'd like encryption that means even the provider can't read your mail; the lower price ($3.99 a month, yearly ($4.99 monthly)); and a free plan to start on.
- Fastmail is the better pick if you want more space for your mail: 50 GB; freedom to use the mail app you already like; and features the other lacks, like POP3 as well as CalDAV and CardDAV sync.
| Feature | Proton Mail | Fastmail |
|---|---|---|
| Overall | 4.5 | 3.0 |
| Privacy | 5.0 | 2.0 |
| Price | 4.0 | 3.5 |
| Features | 4.5 | 5.0 |
| Cheapest plan | Mail Plus $3.99 a month, yearly ($4.99 monthly) | Individual $5 a month, yearly |
| Free plan | Yes, 1 GB, no own domain | No |
| Storage | 15 GB | 50 GB |
| Your own domain | ✓ 1 | ✓ Yes |
| End-to-end encryption | ✓ Built in | No |
| Company based in | Switzerland | Australia |
| Your data is kept in | Switzerland | EU (Amsterdam) for UK customers, with a US replica and US backups |
| Founded | 2014 | 1999 |
| Free trial | Free plan; 30-day refund on paid plans | 30 days free |
| Funded by advertising | No | No |
| Works in any mail app | With Proton Bridge on paid plans | ✓ IMAP and SMTP |
| Calendar and contacts | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes |
| Aliases | 10 addresses | Masked email and aliases |
| Open-source apps | ✓ Yes | No |
| Sign up without ID | ✓ Yes | No |
| White label | No | No |
| Reader offer | Offer Proton's current deals | Offer 10% off your first year, plus a free trial of up to 30 days |
| Last checked | 23 October 2026 | 22 October 2026 |
Want to add another? Open this in the compare tool.
How Proton Mail and Fastmail differ
- Cheapest plans: Proton Mail Mail Plus, $3.99 a month, yearly ($4.99 monthly). Fastmail Individual, $5 a month, yearly.
- Proton Mail has a free plan (1 GB, no own domain); Fastmail has no free plan.
- Space: Proton Mail gives 15 GB of storage, Fastmail 50 GB of storage.
- Data location: Switzerland for Proton Mail, EU (Amsterdam) for UK customers, with a US replica and US backups for Fastmail.
- The companies sit under different laws: Proton Mail in Switzerland, Fastmail in Australia.
- On encryption, Proton Mail encrypts mail end to end, whereas Fastmail doesn't encrypt mail end to end.
- Mail apps: Proton Mail works in other mail apps through Proton Bridge on paid plans; Fastmail works in any mail app over IMAP.
- Aliases: Proton Mail offers 10 addresses, Fastmail masked email and aliases.
Questions people ask
Is Proton Mail more private than Fastmail?
Proton Mail scores 5 out of 5 for privacy and Fastmail 2. Proton Mail gives you encryption that means even the provider can't read your mail, open-source apps anyone can check and to sign up without proving who you are.
Is Proton Mail cheaper than Fastmail?
Proton Mail is cheaper. Its Mail Plus plan is $3.99 a month, yearly ($4.99 monthly), against $5 a month, yearly for Fastmail's Individual. Proton Mail also has a free plan. Check the renewal price before you pay, as some first-year prices go up.
Can I use my own domain with Proton Mail or Fastmail?
Yes, both do. Proton Mail: 1 domain on its cheapest plan that allows one. Fastmail: Yes.
Where is my email stored with Proton Mail and Fastmail?
Proton Mail keeps it in Switzerland. Fastmail keeps it in the EU (Amsterdam) for UK customers, with a US replica and US backups.
Can I use Proton Mail and Fastmail in Apple Mail or Outlook?
Proton Mail works in other mail apps through Proton Bridge on paid plans. Fastmail works in any mail app over IMAP.
Prices and the latest news
I haven't seen either change its price since I started checking on 22 October 2026.
The latest headlines: Proton Mail news · Fastmail news.
Alternatives to Proton Mail and Fastmail
Proton Mail vs mailbox.org · Fastmail vs mailbox.org · Proton Mail vs Posteo · Fastmail vs Posteo · Proton Mail vs Tuta · Fastmail vs Tuta
Switching between them
Decided? These guides take you through moving your mail, contacts and address: Proton Mail to Fastmail · Fastmail to Proton Mail.