Proton
Zoom
| Feature | Proton | Zoom |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | Free / from $3.99/mo | Free / from $13.33/mo |
| Free Plan | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes |
| Rating | 4.5 / 5 | 4.4 / 5 |
| Best For | privacy-advocates, journalists, activists, security-conscious-users | businesses, educators, remote-teams, enterprise |
| Founded | 2014 | 2011 |
| Encrypted Email | ✓ | ✗ |
| Vpn | ✓ | ✗ |
| Cloud Storage | ✓ | ✗ |
| Calendar | ✓ | ✗ |
| Password Manager | ✓ | ✗ |
| Aliases | ✓ | ✗ |
| Self Destructing Messages | ✓ | ✗ |
| Video Meetings | ✗ | ✓ |
| Screen Sharing | ✗ | ✓ |
| Breakout Rooms | ✗ | ✓ |
| Recording | ✗ | ✓ |
| Whiteboard | ✗ | ✓ |
| Webinars | ✗ | ✓ |
✓ 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
✓ Zoom Pros
- Reliable video quality
- Easy to use
- Large meeting capacity
- Many integrations
✗ Zoom Cons
- Meeting time limits on free
- Security concerns history
- Zoom fatigue
The Verdict
Proton is built for privacy advocates and journalists, with a focus on encrypted-email and vpn. Zoom targets businesses and educators and leads with video-meetings and screen-sharing.
On pricing, Proton is the clear winner for budget-conscious users — starting at $3.99/mo compared to $13.33/mo for Zoom. That $9.34/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.
Feature-wise, Proton offers broader built-in capabilities (7 features vs 6), while Zoom takes a more focused approach — which can mean a simpler, faster onboarding experience.
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.