The trend of privacy providers offering complete software suites continues as Swiss brand Proton – developer of Proton VPN and Proton Mail – announces the launch of an all-in-one package. VPN, Mail, Drive and Calendar will now be available in a single Proton subscription, accompanied by a radical change to its aesthetic and even a new URL, proton.me.
This seems to be much more than just a brand. “By uniting Proton products, both technically and aesthetically, we are making privacy easier and more enjoyable than ever for everyone,” said Varun Capra, chief marketing officer of Proton.
With so many products previously available individually on a wide range of paid and free plans, finding the best deal for what you need has been a challenge.
This merger certainly simplifies Proton’s offerings, and appears to be a step in the right direction in terms of offering a cohesive and accessible suite of privacy software under one roof.
What has changed?
At the heart of rebranding is the new URL, proton.me. It serves as a hub to bring together Mail, VPN, Calendar, and Drive, and those who choose to sign up will be able to purchase the full Proton package that includes unlimited access to all four services.
Subscribers will be able to access all of their products with a single login to Proton, which is a positive in terms of ease of use.
The Proton’s aesthetic has changed, too, from a striking but controversially dated black-green color scheme to a more subtle magenta and blue. Little has changed regarding the apps themselves, but we have noticed that the latest update to the Proton VPN interface has blue rather than green flashes.
The functionality of all Proton services remains the same, and you will still be able to use the free VPN and free email service as before.
Are Proton VPN and Proton Mail available separately?
In short, yes. While comprehensive security and privacy suites are generally useful and promote good internet hygiene, many people will still just want a VPN or private email client.
Proton VPN pricing has been simplified, and gone is the cheap but toothless basic plan. Now, any Proton VPN subscription will give you the full-fat version with access to every server, Secure Core technology, and premium streaming VPN performance from Proton.
There was also a slight decrease in the overall cost – the one-month plan is $9.99, the one-year plan is $5.99 per month, the two-year plan is $4.99 per month (Opens in a new tab). This brings Proton more in line with the competition, and addresses one of our biggest complaints with service.
Proton Mail is also available separately, but it’s worth noting that to get all of its premium features, you’ll need to sign up for the full Proton package. This isn’t bad if you want both VPN and Mail, but to some it may seem a bit pricey just for an email client.
Do other brands do the same?
In the past year or so, we’ve seen a number of top-tier privacy providers branch out and start offering more comprehensive packages. For example, NordVPN offers a wide range of products, including NordLayer Business VPN and NordLocker for cloud storage.
Surfshark recently launched the Surfshark One package, which includes antivirus and private search and alert software, which notifies users if their data has been included in a breach.
ExpressVPN, which we rate as the best on the market, recently launched an in-house password manager called ExpressVPN Keys, which comes bundled for free with every subscription.
Comparing the Proton suite with these, it’s clear that the Swiss provider’s full package is more comprehensive, with cloud storage, VPN, secure mail, and secure calendar. However, it is also more expensive as well. Whether that extra spending is worth it will be entirely on the individual’s shoulders.
[ad_2]
