Proton
Zoho Meeting
| Feature | Proton | Zoho Meeting |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | Free / from $3.99/mo | Free / from $1.5/mo |
| Free Plan | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes |
| Rating | 4.5 / 5 | 4.1 / 5 |
| Best For | privacy-advocates, journalists, activists, security-conscious-users | zoho-users, small-businesses, budget-conscious-teams, webinar-hosts |
| Founded | 2014 | 2009 |
| Encrypted Email | ✓ | ✗ |
| Vpn | ✓ | ✗ |
| Cloud Storage | ✓ | ✗ |
| Calendar | ✓ | ✗ |
| Password Manager | ✓ | ✗ |
| Aliases | ✓ | ✗ |
| Self Destructing Messages | ✓ | ✗ |
| Video Meetings | ✗ | ✓ |
| Webinars | ✗ | ✓ |
| Screen Sharing | ✗ | ✓ |
| Recording | ✗ | ✓ |
| Virtual Backgrounds | ✗ | ✓ |
| Analytics | ✗ | ✓ |
✓ Proton Pros
- End-to-end encryption for all services
- Swiss-based with strong privacy laws
- Open-source and independently audited
- Comprehensive privacy suite (mail, VPN, drive, calendar)
- Free tier available for all services
✗ Proton Cons
- Free storage is limited (1GB for mail)
- Less feature-rich than mainstream alternatives
- Search functionality limited due to encryption
✓ Zoho Meeting Pros
- Very affordable pricing
- Zoho ecosystem integration
- No participant limit on free plan
- GDPR compliant
✗ Zoho Meeting Cons
- Fewer features than Zoom
- Limited third-party integrations
- Lower brand recognition
The Verdict
Proton is built for privacy advocates and journalists, with a focus on encrypted-email and vpn. Zoho Meeting targets zoho users and small businesses and leads with video-meetings and webinars.
Pricing is close: Zoho Meeting starts at $1.5/mo versus $3.99/mo for Proton — not a deciding factor on its own.
Both offer free plans, so you can test each with your real workflow before committing to a subscription.
Proton edges out on user ratings (4.5 vs 4.1). While both are well-regarded, that gap reflects real differences in user satisfaction worth considering.
Feature-wise, Proton offers broader built-in capabilities (7 features vs 6), while Zoho Meeting takes a more focused approach — which can mean a simpler, faster onboarding experience.
Bottom line: Proton has a slight overall edge — but if very affordable pricing matters most to you, Zoho Meeting may still be the right call.