Comparison

Proton Mail vs Yubico Authenticator

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

Proton Mail

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
Read full description

Keep your conversations private. Proton Mail is encrypted email from Switzerland. Used by millions worldwide, our all-new email app protects your communications and has everything you need to easily manage your inbox. The Wall Street Journal says: “Proton Mail offers encrypted email, which makes it virtually impossible for anyone to read it except the sender and the recipient.” With the all-new Proton Mail app, you can: • Create a @proton.me or @protonmail.com email address • Send and receive encrypted emails and attachments with ease • Switch between multiple Proton Mail accounts • Easily manage your email with conversations • Keep your inbox tidy and clean with folders, labels and simple swipe-gestures • Receive new email notifications • Send Password-protected Emails to anyone • Keep important emails in focus with automatic, private categories • Enjoy your inbox in dark mode Why use Proton Mail? • Easy to use — Our all-new app has been redesigned to make it easier to read, organize, and write your emails. • Your inbox is yours — We don’t spy on your communications to show you targeted ads. Your inbox, your rules. • Rigorous encryption — Your entire inbox is secured, on all your devices. No one can read your emails but you. Proton is privacy, guaranteed by end-to-end and zero-access encryption. • Unmatched protection — We offer strong phishing, spam, and spying/tracking protection for all your communications. Industry Leading Security Features Messages are stored on Proton Mail servers using end-to-end encryption at all times and are transmitted securely between Proton servers and user devices. This largely eliminates the risk of message interception. Zero Access to Your Email Content Proton Mail's zero access architecture means that your data is encrypted in a way that makes it inaccessible to us. Data is encrypted on the client side using an encryption key that Proton does not have access to. This means we don't have the technical ability to decrypt your messages. Open-Source Cryptography Proton Mail's open-source software has been thoroughly vetted by security experts from around the world to ensure the highest levels of protection. Proton Mail only uses secure implementations of AES, RSA, along with OpenPGP, while all of the cryptographic libraries used are open source. By using open-source libraries, Proton Mail can guarantee that the encryption algorithms used do not have clandestinely built-in back doors. Proton Mail in the press: “Proton Mail is a Gmail-like email system which uses end-to-end encryption, making it impossible for outside parties to monitor.” Forbes “A new email service being developed by a group who met at MIT and CERN promises to bring secure, encrypted email to the masses and keep sensitive information away from prying eyes.” Huffington Post Follow Proton on social media for all the latest news and offers: Facebook: /proton Twitter: @protonprivacy Reddit: /protonmail Instagram: /protonprivacy Our open-source code base: https://github.com/ProtonMail EULA: http://www.apple.com/legal/itunes/appstore/dev/stdeula

About

Yubico Authenticator

Secure your online accounts with hardware-backed two-factor authentication. Store unique credentials on a physical security key, eliminating the need to store sensitive data on your mobile device. Generate verification codes without an internet connection for enhanced account protection.

Highlights
  • Hardware-backed security key storage
  • Touch or NFC authentication
  • USB-C support
  • Biometric unlock (FaceID/TouchID)
  • QR code setup
  • User presence verification
  • Smart Card support
Read full description

Store your unique credentials on a hardware-backed security key and take it wherever you go from mobile to desktop. No more storing sensitive secrets on your mobile phone, leaving your account vulnerable to takeovers. With the Yubico Authenticator you can raise the bar for security. * The Yubico Authenticator will work with any USB, Lightning, or NFC-enabled YubiKeys. * As iPads do not have NFC, they will only work through a Lightning or USB connection. The Yubico Authenticator generates a code used to verify your identity as you are logging into various services. No connectivity needed! Features include: Touch or NFC Authentication - Touch the YubiKey sensor or simply tap a YubiKey with NFC to a mobile phone that is NFC-enabled to store your credential on the YubiKey USB-C support - Connect the YubiKey 5Ci or any USB-C type YubiKey. When prompted, depending on the key, touch the contacts on the sides of the key or the golden ring on the top Biometric support - Experience greater convenience by unlocking your YubiKey with FaceID or TouchID Easy Setup - QR codes available from the services you wish to protect with strong authentication User Presence - New codes generated with just a touch or NFC tap of the YubiKey Compatible - Secure all the services currently compatible with other Authenticator apps Secure - Hardware-backed strong two-factor authentication with secret stored on the YubiKey, not on the mobile device Versatile - Support for multiple work and personal accounts Portable - Get the same set of codes across our other Yubico Authenticator apps for desktops as well as for all leading mobile platforms Flexible - Support for time-based and counter-based code generation Smart Card - Support for Apple's CryptoTokenKit Extension making it possible to use certificates stored on your YubiKey to authenticate with other apps and sites Experience security the modern way with the Yubico Authenticator. Visit yubico.com to learn more.

Screenshots

Proton Mail4 screens
Yubico Authenticator4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is rating: Proton Mail at 4.8 against Yubico Authenticator's 3.7. Proton Mail also leads on ratings volume (48K vs 268) and update cadence (every 10 days vs monthly). Yubico Authenticator's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 6). On price, review sentiment, ads and device support there is nothing between them.

Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Both are free to download. Proton Mail sells 6 in-app purchases, starting at $5.99 per month. Yubico Authenticator asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Proton Mail holds the better App Store score, 4.8 against 3.7. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Proton Mail has 48K ratings behind it against 268, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 47% of Proton Mail's written reviews are positive against 44% of Yubico Authenticator's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Proton Mail ships an update every 10 days, Yubico Authenticator monthly. The most recent releases landed on October 17, 2026 and October 16, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard6 real differences · 5 level
Proton Mail versus Yubico Authenticator: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterProton MailYubico Authenticator
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.8 (48K ratings) — better3.7 (268 ratings)
Positive reviews46.5% of reviews — better43.6% of reviews
Number of ratings48K — better268
Update frequencyEvery 10 days — betterMonthly
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFree — better
Best chart rank#65 — better—
DevicesiPhone, iPadiPhone, iPad
Requires iOS17.216.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size272 MB4 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperProton AGYubico

Customer experience

Proton Mail

All ratings48,309 ratings
Positive94.4%
Neutral2.1%
Negative3.5%
Written reviews1,665 reviews
Positive46.5%
Neutral13.6%
Negative39.9%

Yubico Authenticator

All ratings268 ratings
Positive64.9%
Neutral6.7%
Negative28.4%
Written reviews179 reviews
Positive43.6%
Neutral11.2%
Negative45.3%

User reviews

Proton Mail

From 48K App Store ratings

What we love

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

Room to improve

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

Yubico Authenticator

From 268 App Store ratings

What we love

  • 🚀 Works well with Yubikey
  • 🔒 Secure storage of OATH secrets
  • 👍 Simple and easy to use
  • 🚀 NFC support added

Room to improve

  • 🐛 NFC not working on some devices
  • 🐛 Clunky UI for password-protected keys
  • 🐛 Crashes and freezes reported
  • 🐛 Incompatible with some devices (iPad, older iPhones)

Bugs and requests

Proton Mail

Reported bugs

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

Requested features

4 requests
  • Conversation threading and email previews
  • Customizable notification sounds
  • Offline email access
  • Improved syncing across devices

Yubico Authenticator

Reported bugs

4 issues
  • NFC not working reliably
  • Accounts disappearing after updates
  • Calculation of codes not working
  • Keyboard issues when using keys

Requested features

5 requests
  • Allow editing and rearranging of entries
  • Add support for multiple keys per account
  • Improve iPad/tablet support
  • Add dark mode option
  • Improve QR code scanning

In-app purchases

6 purchases

Proton Mail

Subscriptions4
  • Mail Plus 1 month1 Month trial$5.991 Month
  • Unlimited 1 month$14.991 Month
  • Mail Plus 12 months$47.901 Year
Show 1 more
  • Unlimited 1 year$119.001 Year
One-time2
  • Mail Plus (1 year)$59.99
  • Proton Unlimited$149.99
None

Yubico Authenticator

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Proton Mail free?
Proton Mail is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Yubico Authenticator free?
Yubico Authenticator is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, Proton Mail or Yubico Authenticator?
Proton Mail is rated higher. Proton Mail averages 4.8 out of 5 from 48K ratings, while Yubico Authenticator averages 3.7 from 268 ratings.
Do Proton Mail or Yubico Authenticator have ads?
Neither Proton Mail nor Yubico Authenticator shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Proton Mail or Yubico Authenticator?
Proton Mail ships an update every 10 days, and Yubico Authenticator monthly. Most recently, Proton Mail was updated on October 17, 2026 and Yubico Authenticator on October 16, 2026.

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