# Proton Mail vs Mail App for Gmail

The clearest difference is monetization model: Proton Mail at free with in-app purchases against Mail App for Gmail's subscription. Proton Mail also leads on update cadence (every 11 days vs every 5 weeks) and rating (4.8 vs 4.6). On price, review sentiment, ads and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Proton Mail sells 6 in-app purchases, starting at $5.99 per month and Mail App for Gmail sells 4 in-app purchases, starting at $2.99 per 7 days. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

Proton Mail holds the better App Store score, 4.8 against 4.6. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Proton Mail has 47K ratings behind it against 9.3K, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 46% of Proton Mail's written reviews are positive against 39% of Mail App for Gmail's.

Proton Mail ships an update every 11 days, Mail App for Gmail every 5 weeks. The most recent releases landed on September 25, 2026 and September 24, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Proton Mail | Mail App for Gmail |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.8 (47K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/proton-mail-encrypted-email/id979659905/reviews)** | [4.6 (9.3K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/mail-app-for-gmail/id1462419097/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **47K** | 9.3K |
| Positive reviews | **46.2% of reviews** | 38.8% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Every 11 days** | Every 5 weeks |
| Monetization | **Free with in-app purchases** | Subscription |
| Best chart rank | **#68** | #175 |
| Size | 272 MB | 41 MB |
| Requires iOS | **17.2** | 17.6 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | **iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Proton AG](https://appshunter.io/developer/979659484) | [Bloop LTD](https://appshunter.io/developer/1460809170) |

## What reviewers say

### Proton Mail

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/proton-mail-encrypted-email/id979659905)

**Currently charting:** #68 Top Free · Productivity, #85 Top Grossing · Productivity (US App Store)

This encrypted email service from Switzerland prioritizes user privacy with end-to-end encryption. It offers robust security features to protect your communications from phishing, spam, and tracking, allowing you to manage your inbox with ease.

**Highlights:** End-to-end encryption, Password-protected emails, Multiple account support, Inbox organization (folders, labels), Dark mode, Phishing and spam protection

**In-app purchases (6)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Mail Plus 1 month | $5.99 | per month |
| Unlimited 1 month | $14.99 | per month |
| Mail Plus 12 months | $47.90 | per year |
| Unlimited 1 year | $119.00 | per year |
| Mail Plus (1 year) | $59.99 | one-time |
| Proton Unlimited | $149.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Smooth performance
- 🔒 Excellent security and privacy
- 👍 Clean and intuitive interface
- 💡 Expanding ecosystem of Proton services

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Occasional crashes and bugs
- ⏱️ Slow email loading times
- 📝 Lacking advanced email management features
- 💰 Expensive paid plans

**Reported bugs**

- Login issues and lost email data
- Unreliable push notifications
- Inconsistent user experience between app and web

**Requested features**

- Conversation threading and email previews
- Customizable notification sounds
- Offline email access
- Improved syncing across devices


### Mail App for Gmail

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/mail-app-for-gmail/id1462419097)

**Currently charting:** #175 Top Grossing · Productivity (US App Store)

This app offers a streamlined experience for managing your Gmail inbox, focusing on quick triage and instant message sending/receiving. It boasts a fast, reliable performance, especially on VPNs, and a beautiful, animated interface.

**Highlights:** Fast email management tools, Multiple actions for inbox tasks, Reliable VPN performance, Instant sync via HTTPS, Beautiful custom animation engine, Real-time inbox monitoring

**Features:** Apple Wallet, Apple Watch app, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (4)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Premium | $2.99 | per 7 days |
| Weekly Pro | $3.99 | per 7 days |
| Monthly | $9.99 | per month |
| Yearly | $79.99 | per year |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Fast and easy to use
- 👍 Clear and intuitive interface
- 💡 Helpful for managing multiple accounts
- 🚀 Efficient email management

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Occasional freezing and crashing issues
- 💰 Expensive subscription model
- 🔒 Concerns about data privacy and security
- 🙄 Annoying pop-ups and ads

**Reported bugs**

- Login issues and account authentication problems
- Syncing and email loading delays
- Inability to send emails in some cases

**Requested features**

- Dark mode option
- Improved notification system
- Better integration with other email services
- Bulk email management tools


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Proton Mail free?

Proton Mail is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Is Mail App for Gmail free?

Mail App for Gmail is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, Proton Mail or Mail App for Gmail?

Proton Mail is rated higher. Proton Mail averages 4.8 out of 5 from 47K ratings, while Mail App for Gmail averages 4.6 from 9.3K ratings.

### Do Proton Mail or Mail App for Gmail have ads?

Neither Proton Mail nor Mail App for Gmail shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Proton Mail or Mail App for Gmail?

Proton Mail ships an update every 11 days, and Mail App for Gmail every 5 weeks. Most recently, Proton Mail was updated on September 25, 2026 and Mail App for Gmail on September 24, 2026.

### Which is more popular, Proton Mail or Mail App for Gmail?

Proton Mail currently peaks at #68 in the App Store charts, and Mail App for Gmail at #175. Chart position reflects recent download velocity rather than total install base.

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*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*