this post was submitted on 14 Sep 2025
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Proton

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Empowering you to choose a better internet where privacy is the default. Protect yourself online with Proton Mail, Proton VPN, Proton Calendar, Proton Drive. Proton Pass and SimpleLogin.

Proton Mail is the world's largest secure email provider. Swiss, end-to-end encrypted, private, and free.

Proton VPN is the world’s only open-source, publicly audited, unlimited and free VPN. Swiss-based, no-ads, and no-logs.

Proton Calendar is the world's first end-to-end encrypted calendar that allows you to keep your life private.

Proton Drive is a free end-to-end encrypted cloud storage that allows you to securely backup and share your files. It's open source, publicly audited, and Swiss-based.

Proton Pass Proton Pass is a free and open-source password manager which brings a higher level of security with rigorous end-to-end encryption of all data (including usernames, URLs, notes, and more) and email alias support.

SimpleLogin lets you send and receive emails anonymously via easily-generated unique email aliases.

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[–] BingBong@sh.itjust.works 50 points 1 month ago* (last edited 1 month ago) (4 children)

At this point I think I need to recalculate the cost for VPN and secure email. I'm paying for those, potentially value add things like drive are languishing (although I was hopeful with the community rclone adapter) and they are using funds for a lot of stuff that is irrelevant.

There is a use for proton meet but is it really want the broad customer base wants? It feels like their leadership has a vision and customer needs are being bypassed.

[–] artyom@piefed.social 40 points 1 month ago (1 children)

They are stretching into the business sector. This is important for that.

[–] BingBong@sh.itjust.works 13 points 1 month ago

This makes a lot of sense. I wish I had a better feel for when they would shift focus from product introduction to product improvement again though.

[–] Steve@communick.news 21 points 1 month ago* (last edited 1 month ago) (2 children)

I remember when people thought offering VPN was a distraction from improving their email features.
This complaint is getting old.

[–] rumba@lemmy.zip 10 points 1 month ago

If the prices don't go up, you have a point.

[–] MHLoppy@fedia.io 4 points 1 month ago (1 children)

To someone who is/was interested in Proton's email service but not their VPN service this may still be a fair point though imo. I don't think it being a rehashed complaint here automatically invalidates it.

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[–] huppakee@feddit.nl 7 points 1 month ago (1 children)

A possible counter argument could be that other customers don't use the services you do use and in the end it all evens out, but you'd need to look at the data to know if that actually is true. Perhaps if the all-in package has become less interesting for you and you could downgrade your membership to only get premium vpn or mail.

But that aside, i totally agree the vision of the leadership only makes sense if it is based on the needs of customers and I also doubt whether they are Protons main interest.

[–] BingBong@sh.itjust.works 8 points 1 month ago

That is absolutely true and I've been quite happy with the VPN and email offerings. I spend most of my time in tech literate communities where the call for Linux drive support is loudest and I'm not tied to all the other spaces.

For me the question really becomes if I can save by switching providers or switch to a provider whose path better aligns to where I want to go. Drive is something I've had my eye on for a while as a way to make my subscription more valuable, instead all the 'value add' offerings they promote are not worth anything to me.

[–] vatlark@lemmy.world 6 points 1 month ago

Yeah. I would love to use proton drive on projects with other people. But I can't argue for proton drive when it doesn't have basic spreadsheets and presentations.

I also can't leave Google drive until proton has those.

Proton even bought Standard Notes but rather than port those features over they keep standing up other products.

[–] msage@programming.dev 28 points 1 month ago (4 children)
[–] troed@fedia.io 26 points 1 month ago (1 children)

(It's starting to feel like Proton is going to end up being a hosted Nextcloud)

I already have encrypted video conferencing with Matrix, but I just tried Proton Meet (I'm a Visionary customer) and it was indeed a smooth experience starting up a meeting. I will likely use it whenever I need to videoconf with some random.

[–] dis_honestfamiliar@lemmy.sdf.org 2 points 1 month ago (1 children)

What alternatives have you tried that you can recommend? Looking for something like zoom.

[–] scytale@piefed.zip 9 points 1 month ago

Not the person you replied to, but maybe jitsi?

[–] ohshit604@sh.itjust.works 24 points 1 month ago* (last edited 1 month ago) (3 children)

Linux application this time? Still waiting for native support on Proton Drive.

[–] ElectroLisa@piefed.blahaj.zone 9 points 1 month ago (9 children)

Still waiting for ProtonVPN support for Linux distributions other than Ubuntu/"Gnome Debian".

The Flatpak and Arch (I know, unofficial versions) packages appear to be broken for quite some time, and Proton devs have closed a bug report for it as it's not a "supported platform".

[–] Kernal64@sh.itjust.works 6 points 1 month ago (1 children)

What's broken about them? I just installed the package from the AUR a couple of days ago and it seems to be working fine for me.

[–] ElectroLisa@piefed.blahaj.zone 1 points 1 month ago (2 children)

Not sure if it was an issue with the flatpak version or AUR but it would have only one successful launch. Once you'd restart the app or PC, it would not launch at all, or it would launch, show server list but throw errors when trying to connect to a VPN server.

[–] Kernal64@sh.itjust.works 2 points 1 month ago

So I just tried to replicate this issues two ways:

  1. I disconnected from the VPN, shut down the app, then restarted it and reconnected. I was able to establish a connection and checking my IP and for DNS leaks both showed I had a solid connection.
  2. I rebooted the PC and when I was back on the desktop, I started up the app and it connected almost immediately after hitting the quick connect button. I tested again and it passed.

Maybe they've since corrected the issues you were seeing?

[–] Kernal64@sh.itjust.works 1 points 1 month ago

That's not great! Come to think of it, I don't think I've stopped the application or restarted the PC since I installed it a couple of days ago. I'm gonna test it after work today and see if it behaves similarly and I'll report back what I find.

[–] skaffi@infosec.pub 3 points 1 month ago

There are RPMs as well, but yeah, Proton has terrible Linux support overall.

[–] sun@slrpnk.net 2 points 1 month ago (1 children)

Not to downplay, not having support for Arch, but neither does Mullvad so its not a proton only thing.

[–] ElectroLisa@piefed.blahaj.zone 2 points 1 month ago

MullVad at least worked reliably for me on Arch

[–] niva@discuss.tchncs.de 1 points 1 month ago* (last edited 1 month ago)

It's working fine in my machine.

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[–] RodgeGrabTheCat@sh.itjust.works 18 points 1 month ago (1 children)

Meanwhile Linux users are left lacking features. What is this, 4 brand new services from Proton in as many months. MullvadVPN, Tuta, and Addy are looking more and more attractive every time you skip over Linux.

[–] nagaram@startrek.website 4 points 1 month ago (1 children)

I'm regretting both prepaying for so many years of services and having so many email domains.

I think I'm going to self host a mail server next and see how good it is.

[–] jj4211@lemmy.world 2 points 1 month ago (1 children)

Self hosting email is pain.

Less so about the technical piece, but high chance a peer won't fully accept your mail.

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[–] gaiety@lemmy.blahaj.zone 12 points 1 month ago (1 children)

i for one welcome more options that aren't google meet and zoom

[–] Duke_Nukem_1990@feddit.org 6 points 1 month ago

Or <shudder> Teams

[–] flop_leash_973@lemmy.world 8 points 1 month ago (3 children)

I wish they would add a Sheets/Excel competitor to go with the Docs competitor they have in Proton Drive now. My needs for a spreadsheet application fall squarely into a crack of being so little that its not worth hosting something myself but large enough that it is a good value add for some hosted service I am already using or paying for.

[–] wiezy_lrwi@programming.dev 1 points 1 month ago

I have used cryptpad.fr for this recently, works pretty good.

[–] wiezy_lrwi@programming.dev 1 points 1 month ago

I have used cryptpad.fr for this recently, works pretty good.

[–] Ulrich@feddit.org 6 points 1 month ago (2 children)

How do they have an entire webpage about the product with absolutely zero information about how to use it?

[–] MHLoppy@fedia.io 11 points 1 month ago

Proton Meet is in closed beta testing.

So possibly you can't yet

edit: based on discussion here you can probably access it at https://meet.proton.me/ if you're a Visionary subscriber (maybe they'll have sent you an email about testing it?). For everyone else it just says "coming soon".

[–] Scolding7300@lemmy.world 1 points 1 month ago (1 children)

Wdym? Says if you're on a lifetime or business subscription you just need to contact them

[–] Ulrich@feddit.org 3 points 1 month ago (1 children)

LOL what? Why should I have to contact them? What a weird suggestion...

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[–] NewNewAugustEast@lemmy.zip 2 points 1 month ago* (last edited 1 month ago)

Proton? Nope. Jitsi.

[–] pfr@piefed.social 1 points 1 month ago (1 children)

Lol, proton trying hard to get more customers. Every service they offer can be replaced be free and open source alternatives, or much cheaper and arguably more sovereign services

[–] numeral_paver555@lemmy.ca 9 points 1 month ago (1 children)

Maybe that's the point - they provide all the hosted but privacy friendly services you need

[–] pfr@piefed.social 5 points 1 month ago

Yeah, is great for convenience. I get it that's more important for some people and that's ok. My "lol" was probably uncalled for.

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