eM Client
Proton Mail
| Feature | eM Client | Proton Mail |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | Free / from $49.95/mo | Free / from $3.99/mo |
| Free Plan | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes |
| Rating | 4.3 / 5 | 4.5 / 5 |
| Best For | professionals, windows-users, outlook-alternatives, small-businesses | privacy-conscious-users, journalists, activists, security-professionals |
| Founded | 2007 | 2014 |
| ✓ | ✗ | |
| Calendar | ✓ | ✓ |
| Contacts | ✓ | ✗ |
| Tasks | ✓ | ✗ |
| Chat | ✓ | ✗ |
| Pgp Encryption | ✓ | ✗ |
| Encryption | ✗ | ✓ |
| Zero Access Architecture | ✗ | ✓ |
| Self Destructing Emails | ✗ | ✓ |
| Custom Domains | ✗ | ✓ |
| Bridge For Desktop | ✗ | ✓ |
✓ eM Client Pros
- One-time purchase
- Feature-rich
- Good Exchange support
- Modern UI
✗ eM Client Cons
- Desktop only
- Free limited to 2 accounts
- Occasional sync issues
✓ Proton Mail Pros
- End-to-end encryption
- No ads
- Swiss privacy laws
- Open source
✗ Proton Mail Cons
- Limited free storage
- Fewer integrations
- Search limited to metadata
The Verdict
eM Client is built for professionals and windows users, with a focus on email and calendar. Proton Mail targets privacy conscious users and journalists and leads with encryption and zero-access-architecture.
On pricing, Proton Mail is the clear winner for budget-conscious users — starting at $3.99/mo compared to $49.95/mo for eM Client. That $45.96/mo difference adds up quickly for growing teams.
Both offer free plans, so you can test each with your real workflow before committing to a subscription.
This is a genuinely close comparison. If you can, sign up for both free trials (where available) and run a one-week test with your actual team tasks before deciding.