Proton Mail has unveiled a new desktop application for Windows, Mac, and Linux platforms.
This new software allows users of this privacy-centric mail service to avoid a web browser for checking, composing, and organizing their emails.
Well-known to those who prioritize privacy, Proton was created by a team of scientists and engineers collaborating at CERN in 2014. Since its inception, the firm has expanded to offer a variety of online services with a focus on security and privacy. These include encrypted emails, VPN, and cloud storage.
On their official blog, Proton outlines the reasons for liberating their webmail service from the constraints of a web browser:
“Besides the issues of privacy, getting to your emails through a web browser can become a task, especially when you have other tabs open. Notifications can get lost amidst the various social media, online shopping, and other tabs constantly open on your browsing window.”
Thus, a solution emerged in the form of a new Proton Mail desktop app, designed to provide users with “an optimal mailing experience that not only ensures safety but also frees them from distractions.”
This desktop application offers equivalent core functionalities, advancements, and personal data safety measures just like the web version of Proton Mail. Moreover, it efficiently integrates with the existing OS, supports both light and dark modes, provides native desktop notifications, and allows easy switching between mail and calendar.
Despite presenting these new features, the company maintains that “the application still maintains the essence of Proton. Anyone familiar with our web application will find an immediate sense of familiarity.”
Proton Mail is a premium service with a 14-day free trial for testing its features before committing. It offers an assortment of attractive features such as email aliases, comprehensive encryption, and an Easy Switch wizard facilitating easy import of messages from Gmail or Outlook.
Proton Mail is compatible with Windows, Mac, and Linux (beta).
For Linux users, the installers are offered in DEB and RPM format. In case you’re using Ubuntu, opt for the DEB version. Note that DEBs aren’t directly installable in Ubuntu 23.10 and 24.04, hence you may require to initially install Gdebi and use the GUI or resort to using apt in the CLI.