A decade has passed since Proton launched its Proton Mail web application. The service offers end-to-end encryption, password protection for messages intended for non-users, VPN access, password manager, secure calendar, cloud storage.
You can use Proton Mail for free or purchase a paid account. The free version has several limitations (like 1 GB of storage, free email, and 150 messages per day). For $10 a month, you get 500 GB of space, 15 email addresses, unlimited messages, and more.
So the main thing this service was missing was a desktop application. Well, my friends, that has finally changed. Proton has released its Mail app for macOS and Windows in beta, as well as a beta for Linux.
The desktop client does not offer the full range of applications found in the web version
The Proton Mail app complements the web and mobile versions of the service, allowing you to access your account wherever you are. The design of the app is clean and identical to the web version, so you will have no problem getting started.
According to the official announcement, “With the new Proton Mail desktop apps, you get a dedicated email experience, allowing you to take advantage of all the productivity innovations of our web app, allowing you to browse your emails and events faster without the potential distractions that appear every time you open your browser. And, of course, your privacy remains protected at all times.”
Proton’s message talks about “applications”, but the desktop client does not offer the full range of applications found in the web version. You will find Mail, Contacts and Calendar, but Drive, VPN and Pass are still missing. The release of the desktop app, however, brings a new Security Center where you can enable Proton Sentinel (an AI-based security solution), create aliases, and enable 2FA.
A paid account is required
Another downside of the Proton Mail desktop app is that you need to have a paid account to enjoy it for longer than the 14-day trial.
If you have a free account, you can try it out, and if you feel the app is worth the cost of the paid Proton subscription, you can continue using it after updating your account from of the free version.
You can download the Proton Mail app from the official download page and read more about the app release on the Proton blog.
Source: “ZDNet.com”