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Fact check: What is the difference between ProtonMail and Tutanota?
1. Summary of the results
ProtonMail and Tutanota are both secure, privacy-focused email providers with distinct characteristics:
Key Technical Differences:
- Encryption approach: Tutanota offers more comprehensive encryption, covering subject lines and email headers, while ProtonMail only encrypts email bodies [1]
- ProtonMail uses PGP encryption and supports PGP compatibility, while Tutanota uses AES and RSA encryption without PGP support [1]
Infrastructure:
- ProtonMail is based in Switzerland, while Tutanota operates from Germany [2]
- ProtonMail has a significantly larger user base with 70+ million users [1]
Pricing and Storage:
- Tutanota offers more generous plans starting at €12/year with 1GB free storage [3]
- ProtonMail is more expensive at $48/year with 500MB free storage [3]
2. Missing context/alternative viewpoints
Several important factors weren't addressed in the original question:
Ecosystem Considerations:
- ProtonMail offers a broader ecosystem including VPN and cloud storage [2]
- Tutanota provides desktop clients for Linux, Windows, and macOS, offering wider platform support [2]
Environmental Impact:
- Tutanota uses green energy, making it more environmentally friendly [4]
Search Capabilities:
- Tutanota allows full email body search
- ProtonMail limits searches to subject, sender, and recipient [3]
3. Potential misinformation/bias in the original statement
The original question assumes these services are directly comparable, but there are important distinctions in their target audiences:
Business Model Differences:
- Tutanota positions itself as a purely security-focused service without outside investors [5]
- ProtonMail aims for a broader appeal with more traditional email features [1]
Trade-offs:
- While Tutanota offers stronger encryption, it sacrifices compatibility with other email services [5]
- ProtonMail's PGP support offers better interoperability but less comprehensive encryption [1]
Multiple sources conclude that Tutanota slightly edges out ProtonMail in terms of privacy features and pricing [2] [4], though both remain excellent secure email options depending on specific user needs.