Ask HN: FastMail vs. ProtonMail?

#1

Post by _7bva » Tue, Mar 12, 2019, 8:51 PM UTC

I'm looking to de-google myself and these are two services that impress me.

>Fastmail offers 25 GB storage, full mobile sync with push: mail, contacts and calendars and your own domain name at $5/month

>Protonmail offers 5 GB storage, up to 1000 messages per day, send encrypted messages to external recipients, own domain and email aliases for 4€/Month

These are the comparable plans - price wise, but I'm honestly unsure which one to try. Any personal comments are appreciated. If you use either, I'd love some feedback if you may.

Re: Ask HN: FastMail vs. ProtonMail?

#2

Post by badpun » Tue, Mar 12, 2019, 9:10 PM UTC

I’ve recently switched to ProtonMail. Here are my takeaways:

- web client and mobile clients are functional for day to day work.

- IMAP integration (only in paid version) is a SNAFU and basically does not work.

- support responds to emails, but slowly (takes them 24-48 hours).

- importing messages is possible via the (beta) ImportExport tool. The tool is not 100% stable yet, so prepare to waste half a day on it.

Honestly, I was disappointed by how some of their software is garbage (esp. the IMAP integration). As security starts with good software practices, it makes me wonder if their service is actually that secure...

Re: Ask HN: FastMail vs. ProtonMail?

#3

Post by lrsjng » Tue, Mar 12, 2019, 9:12 PM UTC

From Wikipedia:

"ProtonMail maintains and owns its server hardware and network in order to avoid trusting a third party. It maintains two data centres in Lausanne and Attinghausen (in the former K7 military bunker under 1,000 meters of granite rock) for redundancy. Since the data centres are located in Switzerland, they are legally outside of US and EU jurisdiction. Under Swiss law, all surveillance requests from foreign countries must go through a Swiss court and are subject to international treaties. Prospective surveillance targets are notified and can appeal the request in court."

"As of December 2018, FastMail and all other Australian companies are subject to the Assistance and Access Bill, which compells them to provide backdoors for accessing encrypted communications if warranted by law enforcement. The company stated that concerns over the bill has affected their business."

Re: Ask HN: FastMail vs. ProtonMail?

#4

Post by peach » Tue, Mar 12, 2019, 9:32 PM UTC

lrsjng wrote: post #3

From Wikipedia: "ProtonMail maintains and owns its server hardware and network in order to avoid trusting a third party. It maintains two data centres in Lausanne and Attinghausen (in the former K7 military bunker under 1,000 meters of granite rock) for redundancy. Since the data centres are located in Switzerland, they are legally outside of US and EU jurisdiction. Under Swiss law, all surveillance requests from for…

I think this settles it.

Re: Ask HN: FastMail vs. ProtonMail?

#5

Post by rak00n » Tue, Mar 12, 2019, 9:34 PM UTC

> 1000 messages per day

Most people should get more than thousand emails everyday if they sign up for any service anywhere with that email address.

Re: Ask HN: FastMail vs. ProtonMail?

#6

Post by tradertef » Tue, Mar 12, 2019, 9:35 PM UTC

badpun wrote: post #2

I’ve recently switched to ProtonMail. Here are my takeaways: - web client and mobile clients are functional for day to day work. - IMAP integration (only in paid version) is a SNAFU and basically does not work. - support responds to emails, but slowly (takes them 24-48 hours). - importing messages is possible via the (beta) ImportExport tool. The tool is not 100% stable yet, so prepare to waste half a day on it. Hone…

Similar observations. However, I have not tried to use IMAP or Import function. For IMAP, you need to use another software which does the encryption and communication with the server one one side and provides IMAP server to your application on the other side. So, it is an artifact of security application and not because they can not do straight IMAP. Overall, I am happy though..

Re: Ask HN: FastMail vs. ProtonMail?

#7

Post by badpun » Tue, Mar 12, 2019, 9:41 PM UTC

tradertef wrote: post #6

badpun wrote: post #2

I’ve recently switched to ProtonMail. Here are my takeaways: - web client and mobile clients are functional for day to day work. - IMAP integration (only in paid version) is a SNAFU and basically does not work. - support responds to emails, but slowly (takes them 24-48 hours). - importing messages is possible via the (beta) ImportExport tool. The tool is not 100% stable yet, so prepare to waste half a day on it. Hone…

Similar observations. However, I have not tried to use IMAP or Import function. For IMAP, you need to use another software which does the encryption and communication with the server one one side and provides IMAP server to your application on the other side. So, it is an artifact of security application and not because they can not do straight IMAP. Overall, I am happy though..

Yep, I was talking about that special software for IMAP (Protonmail Bridge), which they provide and which is very broken.

Re: Ask HN: FastMail vs. ProtonMail?

#8

Post by cerberusss » Tue, Mar 12, 2019, 10:15 PM UTC

Or Zoho for $1/month.

Re: Ask HN: FastMail vs. ProtonMail?

#9

Post by Aeolun » Tue, Mar 12, 2019, 10:19 PM UTC

My experience is that Protonmail works, and that Fastmail works great.

In the end the performance tradeoffs for Protonmail were just not worth it to me.

Re: Ask HN: FastMail vs. ProtonMail?

#10

Post by elliotec » Tue, Mar 12, 2019, 10:20 PM UTC

I really like ProtonMail. I switched last month. Protonvpn is good too. I’ve had no problems at all.

The security/privacy stuff is what does it for me. Just knowing that they are serious about redundancy and are in a bunker in Switzerland makes it feel like a Swiss bank account with that famously Swiss sense of privacy and security. Love it.