# Proton Mail vs Encrypted Email

The clearest difference is rating: Proton Mail at 4.8 against Encrypted Email's 3.8. Proton Mail also leads on update cadence (every 11 days vs every 2 months) and ratings volume (47K vs 76). Encrypted Email's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 6) and iOS requirement (13.4 vs 17.2). On price, review sentiment, ads and monetization model there is nothing between them.

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

Proton Mail holds the better App Store score, 4.8 against 3.8. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Proton Mail has 47K ratings behind it against 76, 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 42% of Encrypted Email's.

Proton Mail ships an update every 11 days, Encrypted Email every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on September 25, 2026 and September 23, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Proton Mail | Encrypted Email |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.8 (47K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/proton-mail-encrypted-email/id979659905/reviews)** | [3.8 (76 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/encrypted-email-mailfence/id1628808776/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **47K** | 76 |
| Positive reviews | **46.2% of reviews** | 41.5% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Every 11 days** | Every 2 months |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Freemium |
| Best chart rank | **#71** | — |
| Size | 272 MB | 34 MB |
| Requires iOS | 17.2 | **13.4** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Proton AG](https://appshunter.io/developer/979659484) | [Contactoffice Group](https://appshunter.io/developer/1563748897) |

## What reviewers say

### Proton Mail

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

**Currently charting:** #71 Top Free · Productivity, #84 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


### Encrypted Email

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/encrypted-email-mailfence/id1628808776)

This app provides a secure and private email service with integrated cloud storage, calendar, and contacts. It offers end-to-end encryption and password-protected emails for enhanced privacy. Ideal for individuals and businesses seeking a secure communication and collaboration platform.

**Highlights:** OpenPGP encrypted emails, Password-protected emails, Integrated cloud storage (Drive), Shared calendars and contacts, Workspaces for collaboration, No tracking or ads

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Apple Wallet

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 🔒 Secure and private email
- 👍 Clean and simple interface
- 🚫 No ads, no spam
- 🇪🇺 European-based service
- ✨ Minimalist design

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Frequent login issues
- 🐛 Emails going to spam
- 🐛 Unreliable notifications
- 🐛 Signup blocks privacy-minded users
- 🐛 Poor customer support for free users

**Reported bugs**

- Unable to reach servers on phone app
- App scrolls text off screen while typing
- Emails going to spam folder
- Login failures on iOS
- App doesn't recognize login/password after update

**Requested features**

- Allow account creation with VPNs/privacy tools
- More specific error messages during signup
- Grace period and human review for signup false positives
- Ability to mark emails as 'not spam'
- Folder creation within the app


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Proton Mail free?

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

### Is Encrypted Email free?

Encrypted Email is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, Proton Mail or Encrypted Email?

Proton Mail is rated higher. Proton Mail averages 4.8 out of 5 from 47K ratings, while Encrypted Email averages 3.8 from 76 ratings.

### Do Proton Mail or Encrypted Email have ads?

Neither Proton Mail nor Encrypted Email shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Proton Mail or Encrypted Email?

Proton Mail ships an update every 11 days, and Encrypted Email every 2 months. Most recently, Proton Mail was updated on September 25, 2026 and Encrypted Email on September 23, 2026.

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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.*