Fastmail x Tuta x Proton x Google — An uncommitted comparison
I have been considering an eventual migration from Google Gmail + Calendar to a paid service to reduce tracking and to stop someone spying into my emails and calendars; I am tired of receiving targeted ads and follow-up e-mails just after visiting any website.
So, since the beginning of the year, I am testing these three providers: Fastmail, Tuta and Proton. Although Tuta and Proton are offered as “privacy focused” services, with end-to-end encryption etc, my focus is “convenience”, I mean, to find the service that better fits my e-mail and calendar needs at a cost I can afford.
The following table is a summary of my findings; based on a criteria I have created by myself, I have determined a “score” to each of these services; Google is there just as a reference.
Considering the final score, Fastmail is the best service for me, even begin more expensive; I do enjoy using it; it works; almost every feature you may need is already there.
Second place is Tuta; I enjoy Tuta and support their philosophy; my big complain is that the Calendar is really bad and defective, but they have announced they are working on a revamp that may be released soon.
Then come Proton Mail. The interface is modern and gorgeous, the pricing is OK, but the entry plan offers less than Fastmail and Tuta; the lack of offline support and Calendar Search on mobile are roadblocks to me. And it seems that Proton is looking to become another Google, announcing many new services in sequence, while neglecting the existing ones. This is not good.
After all this testing and (both objetive and subjective) analysis my decision was: Proton is discarded and I will continue to evaluate Fastmail and Tuta for some more time before fully adopting one of them, looking forward to the changes that Tuta will make to its calendar; I may then update the comparison chart.
I do recommend you to test these services for yourself; these are my affiliation links:
- Fastmail (10% discount in the first year): https://join.fastmail.com/cefbc18c
- Tuta (a free additional month): https://app.tuta.com/signup?ref=OWZCcml5eVc
- Proton (a free month of Mail Plus): Proton (um mês grátis do Mail Plus): https://pr.tn/ref/13NPTHN7R7E0
