Fastmail vs ProtonMail: Pricing and Ratings Compared (2026)
Entry prices and free plans as read on each vendor's pricing page, and user ratings as published on review sites, for Fastmail and ProtonMail side by side. This page compares data; it is not a hands-on review.
On the data: On the data below, Fastmail leads on higher user rating and lower entry price; ProtonMail leads on a free plan. We do not name an overall winner for this pair.
Short on time? Here's the quick answer
Based on published vendor pricing and features and on public review data, here's who should pick what:
Fastmail
Fast, private, and reliable email and calendar hosting for individuals and businesses.
Best for you if:
- • You want privacy focused email
ProtonMail
Secure email that protects your privacy with end-to-end encryption and zero-access encryption.
Best for you if:
- • You want a free tier before you commit
| At a Glance | Fastmail | ProtonMail |
|---|---|---|
Starts at | From $3/user/mo, billed monthly Standard plan | Free plan, paid from $6.99/user/mo, billed monthly Mail Essentials plan |
Category | Email Productivity | Communication Email |
Rating | 4.5/5 G2 4.2 · Capterra 4.9 28 reviews | 3.3/5 Trustpilot 2.2 · G2 4.6 1,495 reviews |
Free plan | No | Yes |
Watch out for | n/a | Storage upgrades not explicitly priced |
Choose Fastmail or ProtonMail?
Choose Fastmail if
- You want privacy focused email
- You want good features
- Budget matters ($3/user/mo, billed monthly vs $6.99/user/mo, billed monthly)
- You work in email, not communication
Choose ProtonMail if
- You want a free tier before you commit
- You want best privacy email
- You want end-to-end encryption
- You work in communication, not email
In-Depth Analysis
Fastmail
Fast, private, and reliable email and calendar hosting for individuals and businesses.
Fastmail's pricing is fair, especially for the 'Standard' tier at $5/user/month offering 100GB storage.
Strengths
- Pro: Privacy focused email
- Pro: Good features
- Pro: Custom domains
- Pro: Calendar included
- Pro: No ads
Weaknesses
- Con: Expensive vs Gmail
- Con: Limited integrations
- Con: Smaller ecosystem
- Con: Storage limited
- Con: No free tier
Key features
ProtonMail
Secure email that protects your privacy with end-to-end encryption and zero-access encryption.
ProtonMail's pricing is fair, offering a generous free tier and competitive paid options.
Watch out
Storage upgrades not explicitly priced
Strengths
- Pro: Best privacy email
- Pro: End-to-end encryption
- Pro: Swiss jurisdiction
- Pro: Good apps
- Pro: No tracking
Weaknesses
- Con: Limited free tier
- Con: No IMAP free
- Con: Search limited
- Con: Less integrations
- Con: Encryption has limits
Key features
Plans and prices: Fastmail vs ProtonMail
| Tool | Plans and prices | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Fastmail |
| fastmail.com/pricing read Oct 19, 2026 |
| ProtonMail |
| now.getproton.me/iydcwevz9lm5-o3hzta read Nov 2, 2026 |
Prices as read on each vendor's own pricing page on the date shown. Plans are listed per tool and are not matched against the other tool's plans: a plan name or price in one column says nothing about the same row in the other. Details on Fastmail pricing and ProtonMail pricing.
Key Takeaways
Fastmail
- Higher user rating: 4.5/5 vs 3.3/5
- Lower entry price: $3/user/mo, billed monthly vs $6.99/user/mo, billed monthly
ProtonMail
- Has a free plan
What the data shows
On the data below, Fastmail leads on higher user rating and lower entry price; ProtonMail leads on a free plan. We do not name an overall winner for this pair.
- Fastmail has the higher user rating (4.5/5 from 28 reviews for Fastmail, 3.3/5 from 1,495 reviews for ProtonMail).
- Fastmail has the lower entry price: $3/user/mo, billed monthly (Standard) against $6.99/user/mo, billed monthly (Mail Essentials) for ProtonMail.
- Only ProtonMail has a free plan.
Criteria: user rating (only above 20 reviews on both sides, gap of 0.2 or more), entry price (only on the same billing basis), free plan. How we rate
Frequently Asked Questions
How do Fastmail and ProtonMail compare in 2026?
On the data below, Fastmail leads on higher user rating and lower entry price; ProtonMail leads on a free plan. We do not name an overall winner for this pair. Fastmail has the higher user rating (4.5/5 from 28 reviews for Fastmail, 3.3/5 from 1,495 reviews for ProtonMail). Fastmail has the lower entry price: $3/user/mo, billed monthly (Standard) against $6.99/user/mo, billed monthly (Mail Essentials) for ProtonMail. Only ProtonMail has a free plan.
What are Fastmail and ProtonMail used for?
Fastmail: Fast, private, and reliable email and calendar hosting for individuals and businesses. ProtonMail: Secure email that protects your privacy with end-to-end encryption and zero-access encryption.
What does Fastmail cost vs ProtonMail?
Fastmail's cheapest paid plan is Standard at $3/user/mo, billed monthly. ProtonMail's cheapest paid plan is Mail Essentials at $6.99/user/mo, billed monthly; it also has a free plan. Prices read on the vendors' pricing pages, latest check Nov 2, 2026.
What's the main difference between Fastmail and ProtonMail?
Fastmail's main strength: privacy focused email. ProtonMail's main strength: best privacy email.