Proton Mail referral link and review
Proton Mail is an end-to-end encrypted email service run by Proton AG in Geneva, Switzerland. It has a free plan, Mail Plus from $3.99 per month on annual billing, and the Proton Unlimited bundle. Signing up through a Proton referral link gives new users a two-week free trial of an eligible paid plan without entering payment details first.
Referral link disclosure: the button above is our referral link. If you sign up through it, we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. The bonus and terms are set by Proton Mail (Proton Affiliate Program) and can change — check them on the official site before you sign up.
How to get started
- Open Proton through the referral link on this page; it redirects to a personalized Proton sign-up page.
- Pick an eligible paid plan, such as Mail Plus, Drive Plus or Pass Plus, to start the two-week free trial.
- Create your account and choose your @proton.me address; the trial is only for people new to Proton.
- Use the plan during the trial; Proton does not ask for payment information until the trial ends.
- Add a payment method before the trial ends if you want to keep the paid plan, or stay on Proton Free.
What is Proton Mail?
Proton Mail is an encrypted email service from Proton AG, a Swiss company in Geneva supervised by the non-profit Proton Foundation.
- End-to-end and zero-access encryption – Proton states that it never sees your inbox, on any plan.
- Swiss jurisdiction – Swiss law governs the terms for users outside the United States.
- Open source – Proton says its services are open source and independently audited.
- Apps – web, Windows, macOS, Linux, Android and iPhone, plus Proton Mail Bridge for desktop clients.
- Hide-my-email aliases – keep your main address private when signing up for websites.
The same account also opens Proton VPN, Pass, Drive and other Proton apps.
Who it's for
Proton Mail suits people who want an inbox the provider cannot read and aliases that keep their main address out of marketing lists. Mail Plus adds a custom domain for a branded address. Proton Unlimited fits users who would otherwise pay separately for a VPN, password manager and cloud storage.
Desktop email clients need Proton Mail Bridge, and personal plans cover a single user.
Proton Mail pricing at a glance
| Plan | Monthly | Yearly (per month) | Storage | Addresses | Custom domains |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Proton Free | $0 | – | 1 GB | 1 | – |
| Mail Plus | $4.99 | $3.99 ($47.88/year) | 15 GB | 10 | 1 |
| Proton Unlimited | $12.99 | $9.99 ($119.88/year) | 500 GB | 15 | 3 |
Free starts at 500 MB (1 GB after the "Get started with Proton" checklist), with 150 messages per day, 3 folders, 3 labels, 1 filter and 25 MB attachments.
Mail Plus removes the daily limit and adds unlimited folders and labels, 10 aliases and priority support. Unlimited adds unlimited aliases and paid Proton VPN, Pass and Drive.
Proton referral program terms
Any Proton user except Proton for Business customers can join from account.proton.me/referral.
- New user gets: a two-week free trial of an eligible paid plan, with no payment information until it ends.
- Referrer gets: $20 in Proton credits when the friend subscribes to VPN Plus, Mail Plus, Pass Plus, Drive Plus or Proton Unlimited, issued after a full paid month (two months on monthly plans).
- Limits: credits are capped at $1,000 (50 referrals), only pay for your own Proton subscription and are not cash.
- Eligibility: the friend must be new to Proton and sign up through the link.
Proton also runs a separate affiliate program for creators, publishers and organizations, paying a share of subscriptions by bank transfer with a $100 minimum; affiliates must disclose the relationship.
Refunds and account rules
- 30-day refund: cancel within 30 days of the first purchase for a full refund; once per user, only for purchases on Proton's website or apps, not for cash or bank transfer payments.
- Inactive free accounts may be deleted after 12 months without activity; paid accounts are exempt.
- Age: at least 13, with guardian consent for minors.
- No regional sign-up restriction is stated in the terms.
Pros and cons
Pros
- End-to-end and zero-access encryption on every plan, including Free
- Swiss company with published terms and a 30-day refund window
- Usable free plan with 1 GB storage after onboarding
- Mail Plus includes a custom domain and 10 aliases from $3.99/month yearly
- Referral link gives new users a two-week trial without payment details
Cons
- Free plan is limited to 150 messages per day and 3 folders and labels
- Desktop email clients need Proton Mail Bridge
- Inactive free accounts can be deleted after 12 months
- Referral trial and credit only apply to people who have never used Proton
- Refunds are one-time and exclude cash and bank transfer payments
Frequently asked questions
Is there a Proton Mail referral code or promo?
Proton uses referral links rather than codes you type. Signing up through the link on this page gives a new Proton user a two-week free trial of an eligible paid plan such as Mail Plus, with no payment details required until the trial ends.
Is Proton Mail legit?
Proton Mail is operated by Proton AG, a Swiss company in Geneva. It publishes its terms and a 30-day refund policy, and offers support through a contact form and mail@support.proton.me. Caveat: refunds are once per user and exclude cash and bank transfer payments.
How much does Proton Mail cost?
Proton Free costs nothing. Mail Plus is $4.99 per month, or $3.99 per month billed $47.88 yearly. Proton Unlimited, which adds VPN, Pass and Drive, is $12.99 per month or $9.99 per month billed $119.88 yearly.
How does the Proton referral program work?
Any Proton user except business customers gets a link at account.proton.me/referral. When a new user subscribes to a qualifying plan through it, the referrer earns $20 in Proton credits, up to $1,000, usable only on Proton subscriptions.
Can I use a referral link if I already have a Proton account?
No. Proton says the referred person must be new to Proton; people who have used Proton before do not get the trial, and the referrer gets no credit.
Tuta (Tutanota)