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MailSprout

Last updated: June 2, 2026

MailSprout vs. Proton Mail: which is right for your business?

MailSprout is custom-domain business email that lets you create unlimited email accounts across all of your domains for one flat monthly price, with no per-user charges.

Proton Mail is a Swiss-based email service built around end-to-end encryption and a privacy-first philosophy. It charges per user per month. This page lays out when each option makes sense, including an honest look at when Proton's encryption is worth the trade-offs.

Get started ($15/mo)See all plans

Who should pick what

Pick Proton Mail if:

  • Encryption and Swiss privacy law are non-negotiable for your business or clients (lawyers, journalists, activists).
  • You're willing to pay a per-seat premium for that level of protection.
  • You want a vertically integrated privacy ecosystem (Proton Calendar, Proton Drive, Proton VPN).

Pick MailSprout if:

  • Your business runs standard email: invoices, client notes, customer replies. Standard TLS encryption covers that just fine.
  • You have 3 or more people and the per-seat cost adds up.
  • You own multiple domains and want all of them covered at one flat price.
  • You want email that works in Apple Mail or Outlook directly, without an extra Bridge app running in the background.

What it costs

Proton Mail business plans use per-user monthly pricing. Adjust the seat count below to see how that compares to MailSprout's flat rate. Pricing shown is approximate for the Mail Essential plan, billed annually. Verify current pricing at proton.me/mail/pricing (opens in a new tab).

Proton Mail (Mail Essential)

$31.92/mo

$383.04/yr

8 users × $3.99/mo

Proton Mail offers multiple business plans at different per-user rates. This uses the Mail Essential plan as a representative estimate. Verify your exact pricing at proton.me/mail/pricing.

MailSprout Starter

$15/mo flat

$180/yr

Unlimited accounts on every domain you own.

At that size, MailSprout costs $16.92 less per month. That's $203.04 back per year.

Feature by feature

FeatureProton MailMailSprout
Custom-domain emailyes (paid plans)Yes
Per-user pricingyes (per user / month)no (flat rate)
End-to-end encryptionyes (Proton-to-Proton, and for external mail with PGP)no (standard TLS in transit)
Standard email apps (no helper app)partial (requires Proton Bridge desktop app for full access)yes (works in any standard email app)
Mobile appsyes (native Proton Mail iOS/Android)works in Apple Mail, Gmail, Outlook
Mobile setupProton Mail app (or Bridge for other apps)One-tap QR (Apple Mail), standard settings for Outlook/Gmail
Webmailyes (Proton Mail webmail)yes (Roundcube)
Multiple custom domainsyes (paid plans)yes (flat rate covers all domains)
Calendaryes (Proton Calendar)no (works with any calendar app)
Swiss privacy jurisdictionYesno (US-based via MxRoute)
Setup time~10 min per domain~10 min per domain, 30 sec per account
Supportemail supportemail support (replies within a business day)
SOC 2 / enterprise complianceno (privacy-focused, not compliance-cert-focused)No

The honest note: Proton's encryption is real and meaningful for specific threat models. For most small businesses, standard TLS is what every email provider on the internet uses and is sufficient. The other meaningful difference is that Proton requires a Bridge app to use standard email clients, while MailSprout works directly.

Migrating from Proton Mail

Proton Mail's end-to-end encryption means migration requires an extra step. You can use the Proton Bridge desktop app to expose a local connection that standard migration tools can read, or use Proton's own export tool to download your messages as .eml or .mbox files. Either way, your mail history comes with you. We have a guide that walks through both approaches. Read the Proton Mail migration guide. Or email support@mailsprout.io and we'll help you plan the cutover.

Common questions

When does Proton Mail's encryption actually matter for a small business?+
Proton's end-to-end encryption protects the content of messages stored on their servers and messages sent between Proton users. For most small businesses sending invoices, customer replies, and project updates, standard TLS-in-transit encryption (which MailSprout uses) is what the rest of the internet runs on. Proton's stronger model becomes genuinely important when your business handles sensitive client communications where you'd face serious consequences if a server were ever compromised: attorneys, journalists, healthcare providers, or anyone with clients in high-risk situations. If that's not your situation, the overhead of Proton's setup adds friction without adding much for your threat model.
Can I use MailSprout with a privacy-focused setup (no Google, no Microsoft)?+
Yes. MailSprout works with any email app that supports standard protocols: Apple Mail, Thunderbird, Fastmail's app, Proton Mail's app (connected via Bridge), or any other client. You're not required to use Gmail or Outlook. The QR code setup is designed specifically for Apple Mail, but any app that accepts server credentials works.
Does MailSprout work without a desktop Proton Bridge-style app?+
Yes. MailSprout uses standard server settings that any email app reads directly. There's no desktop helper app required. Apple Mail on iPhone or Mac connects via the QR code. Outlook, Thunderbird, and similar apps connect with the server settings we provide. No extra software to install or keep running.
I own 4 domains. How does Proton Mail pricing compare at that scale?+
Proton Mail supports custom domains on paid business plans, which is good. But the per-user rate still applies across all of those domains. If you have 4 people across 4 domains, you're paying four seats per month at $3.99 or more per seat. MailSprout's flat rate covers all four domains and any number of accounts for one monthly price.
How do I migrate my email from Proton Mail to MailSprout?+
Proton Mail uses end-to-end encryption, which means your messages aren't accessible to standard migration tools without decryption. To export your mail, you use the Proton Mail Bridge desktop app (available on Mac, Windows, and Linux), which provides a local connection that tools like imapsync can read. Alternatively, Proton Mail offers an export tool that downloads your messages as .eml or .mbox files. We have a guide that walks through both options. For more help, email support@mailsprout.io.

One subscription. Every employee, every domain.

Email hosting for small businesses and people running a stack of domains. All your projects and brands in one dashboard. Unlimited accounts, one flat fee, cancel any time.

Get started ($15/mo)See all plans

Proton Mail pricing verified June 2026. Verify current pricing at proton.me/mail/pricing (opens in a new tab).