Earlier this month, I renewed my Proton (https://proton.me) account for another 2 years. It's the largest invoice I've paid this year for something I used to get "for free." However, here's why I still feel good about it.
About 4 years ago, I made the switch from Gmail to ProtonMail as my primary email inbox. Admittedly, it took a bit of time to adapt to a new email address, apps, and interface. ProtonMail isn't, and probably never will be, a direct replacement for Gmail. So, I had to adjust to a different way of working and accept the absence of some features and services.
Why did I switch? Well, for several reasons. Firstly, I no longer wanted an email address with a *@gmail.com domain. Secondly, I had concerns about depending on a single company for services, especially given the history of companies discontinuing their services (see https://killedbygoogle.com/). Lastly, privacy was a significant concern.
Sure, I could have signed up for the G Suite to have a custom domain, but that would have addressed just one of my concerns. I was aware that Proton didn't offer everything I needed at the time. The Calendar was in its Alpha stage, and there was no cloud storage product. Nevertheless, I signed up and went all in because I believed in their mission of providing "privacy and freedom first" services.
Going all-in meant subscribing to their (no longer available) Visionary plan, which covers 6 accounts in total. I only use 3 of those accounts, leaving me with 3 spare ones I pay for.
Considering everything I've mentioned so far, why am I still happy about it?
First and foremost, I believe Proton still upholds its mission. They could have taken shortcuts, compromised on security, and expanded rapidly to make more money. Instead, they are ready to defend their customers' privacy in court if needed (ref. https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2023/dec/15/proton-mail-foun…).
Additionally, Proton keeps expanding its service portfolio and provides me with (early) access to all these services as part of the Suite, without additional charges. So, even though I pay substantial invoices every 2 years, I see the value of the service increasing every month. Don't get me wrong – it's still a significant amount, and I may not use all the services, but (a) the price hasn't gone up in 6 years, and (b) the value has more than doubled since I first signed up. The recent launch of their Password Manager ProtonPass was a fantastic addition to the suite, and now I can't imagine living without it.
Every service is also improving at a faster pace than ever. Lately, it feels like so much is happening that I can't keep up with all the progress the team is making. They are also communicating these improvements better to a broader audience. As of now, I don't feel that the overall product quality is compromised for the sake of enhancements, and I hope it stays that way.
At the same time, I feel confident that I can switch vendors if the need ever arises. Maybe Proton doesn't live up to its promises, or I can't afford it anymore, or a better tool emerges on the market. Ironically, the ability to switch vendors and take my data with me is one of the primary reasons I plan to stick with them in the foreseeable future.
With the holiday season here, if I were to make a wish to Proton Santa, here's the list of features I'd love to see implemented next:
- https://protonmail.uservoice.com/forums/932839-proton-drive/suggestions… - to enable syncing my Drive account with this website.
- https://protonmail.uservoice.com/forums/932839-proton-drive/suggestions… - for improved data backup from my laptop.
- https://protonmail.uservoice.com/forums/284483-proton-mail/suggestions/… - for easier navigation between messages on my phone.
- https://protonmail.uservoice.com/forums/284483-proton-mail/suggestions/… - only for Android :)
In conclusion, renewing my Proton subscription for another two years was an easy decision for me. Not only does ProtonMail align with my privacy and freedom values, but the company continues to deliver on its mission. With a growing portfolio of services, frequent improvements, and a commitment to user privacy, Proton has proven to be a reliable and forward-thinking choice. As I eagerly anticipate the features on my Proton Santa wishlist, I'm confident that Proton will continue to exceed my expectations in the years to come.
If you're considering giving Proton a try, you can use this referral link https://pr.tn/ref/TWAD0XXF7DM0 to get started.
