ProtonMail vs Tutanota: Which Encrypted Email Is Better?

Quick Verdict

Both ProtonMail and Tutanota offer excellent encrypted email. Choose ProtonMail if you want the most complete privacy ecosystem with additional services like VPN and cloud storage. Choose Tutanota if you want the most affordable option with unique features like encrypted subject lines.

Overview

ProtonMail

Founded by CERN scientists in Switzerland, ProtonMail is the largest encrypted email provider with over 100 million users. It’s part of the Proton ecosystem that includes VPN, cloud storage, calendar, and password manager.

Tutanota

A German encrypted email service founded in 2011, Tutanota takes a minimalist approach with a focus on maximum encryption. It’s known for encrypting subject lines—something most competitors don’t do.

Privacy Comparison

Both services offer excellent privacy:

ProtonMail:

• Based in Switzerland (strong privacy laws)
• Zero-access encryption
• Open source and audited
• No IP logging policy
• Anonymous account creation available

Tutanota:

• Based in Germany (GDPR protection)
• Zero-access encryption
• Encrypts subject lines (unique)
• Open source and audited
• No IP logging policy

Winner: Tie - Both offer comparable privacy, though Switzerland’s jurisdiction edge is balanced by Tutanota’s subject line encryption.

Features Comparison

ProtonMail Advantages:

• IMAP support via Bridge app
• Larger ecosystem (VPN, Drive, Calendar, Pass)
• Better mobile apps
• Easy Switch tool for importing
• More established infrastructure

Tutanota Advantages:

• Encrypted subject lines
• Built-in encrypted calendar (free)
• More affordable pricing
• Carbon neutral operations
• Simpler interface

Pricing Comparison

ProtonMail:

• Free: 1 GB, 150 messages/day
• Mail Plus: $3.99/month (15 GB)
• Proton Unlimited: $9.99/month (500 GB + all services)

Tutanota:

• Free: 1 GB, limited search
• Revolutionary: $1.20/month (10 GB)
• Legend: $4.80/month (30 GB)

Winner: Tutanota - Significantly more affordable, especially for basic needs.

Ease of Migration

From Gmail to ProtonMail: Easy Switch tool imports emails, contacts, and calendar automatically. Takes about 30 minutes.

From Gmail to Tutanota: No automatic import for emails (encryption prevents this). You’ll need to manually forward important emails or keep Gmail accessible.

Winner: ProtonMail - Much easier migration with automatic import tools.

Our Recommendation

Choose ProtonMail if:

• You want a complete privacy ecosystem
• You need to use desktop email clients (Outlook, Thunderbird)
• Easy migration from Gmail is important
• You prefer Swiss jurisdiction

Choose Tutanota if:

• Budget is your primary concern
• You want encrypted subject lines
• You only need email and calendar
• You’re fine with web and app-only access

Final Verdict

ProtonMail wins for most users due to its larger ecosystem, easier migration, and IMAP support. However, Tutanota offers better value and unique privacy features at a lower price point. Both are excellent choices for escaping Gmail.