Proton Mail vs Yahoo Mail
On privacy it's Proton Mail. On price it's Yahoo Mail. On features it's Proton Mail. Here's everything side by side, last checked 25 October 2026.
Which should you choose?
- Proton Mail suits you best if you want end-to-end encryption built in; your email to stay in Switzerland; and email from a company that doesn't make money from adverts.
- Yahoo Mail is the better pick if you want a mailbox that costs nothing; 20 GB of storage; and the choice of any mail app over IMAP.
| Feature | Proton Mail | Yahoo Mail |
|---|---|---|
| Overall | 4.5 | 2.5 |
| Privacy | 5.0 | 0.0 |
| Price | 4.0 | 5.0 |
| Features | 4.5 | 4.0 |
| Cheapest plan | Mail Plus $3.99 a month, yearly ($4.99 monthly) | Free (Mail Plus ad-free, 200 GB) Free; Plus £4.99 a month (2020 price) |
| Free plan | Yes, 1 GB, no own domain | Yes, 20 GB |
| Storage | 15 GB | 20 GB |
| Your own domain | ✓ 1 | No |
| End-to-end encryption | ✓ Built in | No |
| Company based in | Switzerland | United States |
| Your data is kept in | Switzerland | United States and worldwide |
| Founded | 2014 | 1997 |
| Free trial | Free plan; 30-day refund on paid plans | 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 | 10 addresses | Yes |
| Open-source apps | ✓ Yes | No |
| Sign up without ID | ✓ Yes | No |
| White label | No | No |
| Reader offer | Offer Proton's current deals | None |
| Last checked | 23 October 2026 | 25 October 2026 |
Want to add another? Open this in the compare tool.
Where they differ
- Cheapest plans: Proton Mail Mail Plus, $3.99 a month, yearly ($4.99 monthly). Yahoo Mail Free (Mail Plus ad-free, 200 GB), Free; Plus £4.99 a month (2020 price).
- For free, Proton Mail gives you a free plan (1 GB, no own domain), and Yahoo Mail a free plan (20 GB).
- Proton Mail comes with 15 GB of storage and Yahoo Mail with 20 GB of storage.
- Data location: Switzerland for Proton Mail, United States and worldwide for Yahoo Mail.
- Proton Mail is based in Switzerland and Yahoo Mail in the United States, so different privacy laws apply.
- Proton Mail encrypts mail end to end; Yahoo Mail doesn't encrypt mail end to end.
- Proton Mail lets you bring your own domain name; Yahoo Mail doesn't.
- Proton Mail works in other mail apps through Proton Bridge on paid plans, and Yahoo Mail works in any mail app over IMAP.
- Only Yahoo Mail is part of an advertising business.
- For extra addresses, Proton Mail has 10 addresses and Yahoo Mail has yes.
Common questions
Which is more private, Proton Mail or Yahoo Mail?
Proton Mail scores 5 out of 5 for privacy and Yahoo Mail 0. Proton Mail gives you end-to-end encryption built in, your email to stay in Switzerland and email from a company that doesn't make money from adverts.
Which is cheaper, Proton Mail or Yahoo Mail?
Yahoo Mail costs nothing to start (Free; Plus £4.99 a month (2020 price)). Proton Mail's cheapest plan, Mail Plus, is $3.99 a month, yearly ($4.99 monthly). Proton Mail has a free plan too: 1 GB, no own domain.
Do Proton Mail and Yahoo Mail work with my own domain?
Only Proton Mail does (1 domain on its cheapest plan that allows one). With Yahoo Mail your address stays on its own domain.
Where do Proton Mail and Yahoo Mail keep my email?
Proton Mail keeps it in Switzerland. Yahoo Mail keeps it in the United States and worldwide.
Do Proton Mail and Yahoo Mail work in other mail apps?
Proton Mail works in other mail apps through Proton Bridge on paid plans. Yahoo Mail 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 23 October 2026.
The latest headlines: Proton Mail news · Yahoo Mail news.
Alternatives to Proton Mail and Yahoo Mail
Proton Mail vs mailbox.org · Yahoo Mail vs mailbox.org · Proton Mail vs Posteo · Yahoo Mail vs Posteo · Proton Mail vs Tuta · Yahoo Mail vs Tuta
Switching between them
Moving to Proton Mail · Moving from Proton Mail. Or see all my switching guides.