Comparison

Encrypted Email vs Spark Mail

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

Head to head
About

Encrypted Email

This secure email service offers end-to-end encryption and a private inbox, free from ads and AI training. It protects against spam, phishing, and trackers, with features for organizing emails and offline access. Based in Switzerland, it adheres to strict privacy laws.

Highlights
  • End-to-end encryption
  • No ads, AI training, or inbox scanning
  • Spam, phishing, and tracker protection
  • Offline email access
  • Password-protected emails
  • Hide-my-email aliases
Read full description

Proton Mail is the encrypted email app trusted by over 100 million people. Get a secure, private email address protected by end-to-end encryption, with no ads, no AI training and no inbox scanning. Based in Switzerland and protected by some of the world's strictest privacy laws. Your inbox, your rules. Why choose Proton Mail for secure email • Free encrypted email: create a free @proton.me or @protonmail.com email address • Password-protected emails: send encrypted emails to anyone, even people who don't use Proton • Spam, phishing and tracker protection: with built-in spam filters, phishing alerts and email tracker blocking • Organize your inbox: with folders, labels and simple swipe gestures • Offline mode: read, write and organize emails offline, and everything syncs when you're back online • Private categories: keep important emails in focus with automatic, private categories • Multiple accounts: switch between multiple Proton Mail accounts in one secure email app • Get up to 1 GB of free email storage, or up to 15 GB with Mail Plus Secure email with encryption Everything in your inbox is stored with zero-access and end-to-end encryption, emails between Proton users can only be read by you and your recipient. Proton Mail can't read or scan your messages. Our open-source apps use OpenPGP encryption and are independently audited. A private alternative to temp mail Need a temp mail address for a sign-up? Create up to 10 free hide-my-email aliases on the web. They forward to your inbox, keep your real email address private, and can be disabled or deleted at any time. Switch to secure email Easy Switch moves your email to your new secure inbox with no manual exporting or importing. Connect Gmail to use your Gmail address alongside your Proton email in one secure inbox, or set up auto-forwarding from as many Gmail accounts as you like. The Wall Street Journal: "Proton Mail offers encrypted email, which makes it virtually impossible for anyone to read it except the sender and the recipient." How can Proton Mail be free? We believe everyone deserves private email. Free accounts are funded by our community of paid subscribers. Upgrade for more email storage, more addresses and custom domains. Follow Proton for the latest news and offers: Facebook: /proton X: @protonprivacy Reddit: /protonmail Instagram: /protonprivacy Learn more: https://proton.me/mail Our open-source code: https://github.com/ProtonMail

About

Spark Mail

Streamline your email and calendar management with an AI-powered assistant. Organize multiple accounts, declutter your inbox with smart sorting, and use AI to draft replies, summarize threads, and manage your schedule efficiently.

Highlights
  • Unified inbox for multiple email accounts
  • AI-powered email summarization and drafting
  • Smart Inbox for prioritizing emails
  • Calendar management and meeting scheduling
  • Gatekeeper for sender screening
  • Team collaboration on emails
  • Integrations with productivity apps
Features
Read full description

Manage priorities, not emails. Spark brings every account into one inbox and automatically surfaces what matters most — so nothing slips through the cracks. Loved by millions and named "Best of the App Store" by Apple. "It's a combination of polish, simplicity, and depth." — FastCompany "You can create an email experience that works for you." — TechCrunch EVERY ACCOUNT, EVERY EMAIL, IN ONE PLACE Connect Gmail, Outlook, iCloud, Yahoo, AOL, Hotmail, GMX, and any IMAP account in a single unified inbox. STAY ORGANIZED WITH SMART INBOX Important emails from real people rise to the top. Newsletters and notifications stay neatly grouped below, out of your way. GET MORE DONE WITH EMAIL ESSENTIALS Mark emails as done or set them aside for later Mute threads you're no longer following Schedule emails to send later — even if your device is off Find anything fast with Smart Search and Smart Folders PROTECT YOUR INBOX WITH GATEKEEPER Pre-screen new senders and block unwanted contacts instantly. PRIORITIZE WHAT MATTERS Mark important senders so their emails always stay on top. Group emails by sender or domain to keep your inbox clean. WRITE FASTER WITH SPARK +AI Summarize long threads, draft replies, rephrase messages, and adjust tone. Your AI Assistant helps you clear your inbox, translate emails, and keep projects moving. MANAGE YOUR CALENDAR AND MEETINGS Connect your calendars to stay on top of your day in one app. CONNECT YOUR FAVORITE TOOLS Link Spark to Notion, Asana, Things, and 10+ integrations to act on everything in your inbox. COLLABORATE WITH YOUR TEAM Co-author emails and discuss in private comments Assign messages so everyone knows who owns what Share secure links to specific emails Track read receipts to keep work moving SECURE AND PRIVATE Spark encrypts your data, runs on Google Cloud's secure infrastructure, and is fully GDPR compliant. TRY IT FREE Stick with our powerful free plan, or try Spark Plus or Spark Pro free for 7 days. Download Spark and reclaim your day. FAQ Is Spark the best email app for managing multiple accounts? Spark brings Gmail, Outlook, iCloud, Yahoo, and any IMAP account into one unified inbox, so you can manage every email in one place instead of switching between apps. How is Spark different from Apple Mail and Gmail? Spark helps you focus on what matters, not just read email. It automatically prioritizes messages from real people, keeps newsletters out of the way, and can summarize, draft, and follow up so less falls through the cracks. How does Spark help with email overload? Spark surfaces important messages first, lets you snooze emails until you're ready, and helps you reach Inbox Zero without the grind. Higher plans flag what needs attention so nothing gets missed. Does Spark have AI features? Yes. Spark uses AI to write faster, reply clearly, and summarize threads. On Plus, AI helps you make better inbox decisions. On Pro, it acts on your behalf — drafting, organizing, and following up. Is Spark good for team collaboration? Yes. Teams can share drafts, comment privately, assign messages, and manage shared inboxes — no forwarding chains. Collaboration is available on Pro. Can I schedule emails to send later? Yes. Schedule any email to send at the right time, or snooze incoming messages to return when you're ready. Is Spark free? Yes. Spark is free to download and use. Spark Plus is for professionals who want a more focused inbox; Spark Pro is for those who need Spark to handle follow-through so nothing gets missed. Is Spark available on Mac, iPhone, and iPad? Yes. Spark works on iOS, iPadOS and macOS, and stays in sync across all your devices. Spark is made by Readdle. Terms of Service: https://sparkmailapp.com/legal/terms Privacy Policy: https://sparkmailapp.com/legal/privacy-app Help: support@sparkmailapp.com

Screenshots

Encrypted Email4 screens
Spark Mail4 screens

Verdict

The call

Encrypted Email and Spark Mail both sit at 4.8 stars, but that hides the real split: 61% of Spark Mail's written reviews are positive against 47% of Encrypted Email's. On price, rating, ratings volume and update cadence 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. Encrypted Email sells 4 in-app purchases, starting at $5.99 per month and Spark Mail sells 13 in-app purchases, starting at $7.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.8 for Encrypted Email against 4.6 for Spark Mail. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 50K and 83K respectively. Written reviews are what separate them: 47% of Encrypted Email's written reviews are positive against 61% of Spark Mail's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Encrypted Email ships an update every 10 days, Spark Mail weekly. Both last shipped on November 2, 2026.

Scorecard1 real difference · 10 level
Encrypted Email versus Spark Mail: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterEncrypted EmailSpark Mail
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.8 (50K ratings) — better4.6 (83K ratings)
Positive reviews46.8% of reviews61.1% of reviews — better
Number of ratings50K83K — better
Update frequencyEvery 10 daysWeekly — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFreemiumFree with in-app purchases
Best chart rank#68 — better#99
DevicesiPhone, iPadiPhone, iPad, Apple Watch — better
Requires iOS17.216.4 — better
Further details — not scored
Size288 MB393 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperProton AGReaddle Technologies Limited

Customer experience

Encrypted Email

All ratings49,944 ratings
Positive94.5%
Neutral2.1%
Negative3.4%
Written reviews1,704 reviews
Positive46.8%
Neutral13.7%
Negative39.6%

Spark Mail

All ratings82,743 ratings
Positive91.2%
Neutral3.3%
Negative5.5%
Written reviews3,178 reviews
Positive61.1%
Neutral10.5%
Negative28.4%

User reviews

Encrypted Email

From 50K 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

Spark Mail

From 83K App Store ratings

What we love

  • 🚀 Excellent email management features
  • 👍 Clean and intuitive user interface
  • 📂 Effective email organization and categorization
  • ⏱️ Efficient workflow with snooze, scheduling, and templates
  • 💻 Seamless cross-device experience

Room to improve

  • 🐛 Occasional sync and stability issues
  • 🔒 Concerns over privacy and data usage
  • 💰 Aggressive push for paid subscription
  • 📥 Unreliable notification delivery
  • 🔍 Inconsistent search functionality

Bugs and requests

Encrypted Email

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

Spark Mail

Reported bugs

5 issues
  • Emails disappearing from the inbox
  • Delayed email delivery and sync
  • Crashes and freezes when opening the app
  • Issues with Exchange calendar and account sync
  • Incorrect email grouping and threading

Requested features

5 requests
  • Improved spam filtering and email blocking
  • Option to disable email threading
  • Better calendar integration and management
  • Customizable email signatures and layouts
  • Expanded third-party app integrations

In-app purchases

4 purchases

Encrypted Email

Subscriptions4
  • Mail Plus 1 month$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
13 purchases

Spark Mail

Subscriptions10
  • Spark Premium7 Days trial2 variants$7.991 Month
  • Spark Plus Monthly7 Days trial2 variants$10.001 Month
  • Spark Premium7 Days trial$11.991 Month
Show 7 more
  • Spark Pro Monthly7 Days trial$20.001 Month
  • Get Spark Premium7 Days trial$41.991 Year
  • Spark Premium1 Year trial2 variants$59.991 Year
  • Get Spark Premium7 Days trial$59.991 Year
  • Spark Plus Annual7 Days trial$99.001 Year
  • Get Spark Premium7 Days trial$119.991 Year
  • Spark Pro Annual7 Days trial$199.001 Year
One-time3
  • Regular Powerbank$4.99
  • Big Powerbank$9.99
  • Huge Powerbank$19.99

Questions

Is Encrypted Email free?
Encrypted Email is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Spark Mail free?
Spark Mail is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, Encrypted Email or Spark Mail?
Encrypted Email is rated higher. Encrypted Email averages 4.8 out of 5 from 50K ratings, while Spark Mail averages 4.6 from 83K ratings.
Do Encrypted Email or Spark Mail have ads?
Neither Encrypted Email nor Spark Mail shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Encrypted Email or Spark Mail?
Encrypted Email ships an update every 10 days, and Spark Mail weekly. Most recently, Encrypted Email was updated on November 2, 2026 and Spark Mail on November 2, 2026.
Which is more popular, Encrypted Email or Spark Mail?
Encrypted Email currently peaks at #68 in the App Store charts, and Spark Mail at #99. Chart position reflects recent download velocity rather than total install base.

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