Comparison

Proton Mail 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

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

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

Proton Mail4 screens
Spark Mail4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is review sentiment: Spark Mail at 61% against Proton Mail's 46%. Proton Mail's advantage is rating (4.8 vs 4.6). On price, ratings volume, update cadence and ads 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 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

Proton Mail holds the better App Store score, 4.8 against 4.6. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 47K and 82K respectively. Written reviews complicate that: 46% of Proton Mail's written reviews are positive against 61% of Spark Mail's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Proton Mail ships an update every 11 days, Spark Mail weekly. Both last shipped on September 24, 2026.

Scorecard2 real differences · 9 level
Proton Mail versus Spark Mail: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterProton MailSpark Mail
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.8 (47K ratings) — better4.6 (82K ratings)
Positive reviews46.2% of reviews61.4% of reviews — better
Number of ratings47K82K — better
Update frequencyEvery 11 daysWeekly — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFree with in-app purchases
Best chart rank#70 — better#126
DevicesiPhone, iPadiPhone, iPad, Apple Watch — better
Requires iOS17.216.4 — better
Further details — not scored
Size272 MB382 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperProton AGReaddle Technologies Limited

Customer experience

Proton Mail

All ratings47,046 ratings
Positive94.4%
Neutral2.2%
Negative3.5%
Written reviews1,621 reviews
Positive46.2%
Neutral13.6%
Negative40.2%

Spark Mail

All ratings82,493 ratings
Positive91.2%
Neutral3.3%
Negative5.5%
Written reviews3,142 reviews
Positive61.4%
Neutral10.4%
Negative28.1%

User reviews

Proton Mail

From 47K 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 82K 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

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

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

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
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 Proton Mail free?
Proton Mail 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, Proton Mail or Spark Mail?
Proton Mail is rated higher. Proton Mail averages 4.8 out of 5 from 47K ratings, while Spark Mail averages 4.6 from 82K ratings.
Do Proton Mail or Spark Mail have ads?
Neither Proton Mail nor Spark Mail shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Proton Mail or Spark Mail?
Proton Mail ships an update every 11 days, and Spark Mail weekly. Most recently, Proton Mail was updated on September 24, 2026 and Spark Mail on September 24, 2026.
Which is more popular, Proton Mail or Spark Mail?
Proton Mail currently peaks at #70 in the App Store charts, and Spark Mail at #126. Chart position reflects recent download velocity rather than total install base.

Other comparisons