I use Proton, business tier. My only gripe is that addresses can’t be deleted without contacting support, or so I’ve read. I can’t find a delete button on any of my addresses, but can find the button to buy more address slots.
Using custom domains and a catch-all pointing to certain labels is my workaround.
I also find it weird that you can’t create unlimited addresses on your custom domains.
For the shared domains, limits in this regard are absolutely understandable as the supply is limited but addresses should have next to no cost for PM when they’re under my own domain.
I imagine a bad actor could buy a custom domain, connect it to proton, and then spam millions of people from thousands of addresses, using Proton’s infrastructure?
I imagine a bad actor could buy a custom domain, connect it to proton, and then spam millions of people from thousands of addresses, using Proton’s infrastructure?
You could do that without creating thousands of addresses; one is plenty for that. Also, they’d still be under your domain, so all you’d do is hurt the custom domain’s reputation and probably get it blocked by everyone quite quickly. If anything, I’d imagine thousands of addresses under one domain spamming would get that domain banned much more quickly than if it was just one address.
What is the # limit on a custom domain?
There is no specific limit for addresses on custom domains; it’s one global limit of 15 addresses, no matter which domain they’re under.
This and the fact that I can’t use my mail clients on android (I understand the bridge and the incompatibility with encryption, it makes sense, I just don’t like it), stops me from being a paid customer
You aren’t missing anything. You can’t delete them yourself, but, you can pause them. For now, for me, the pause works just as well because if/when any of my email addys starts getting ridiculous spam I’ll just pause it. I run a business off one of my accounts and I don’t want any of the emails I’ve handed out to not reach me so I am fine nit being able to delete (for now). I’ve just been extra careful to choose addresses that I don’t feel a need to delete.
I’ve used both. I switched from Fastmail to Proton then back to Fastmail. If you’re just starting on your privacy journey I’d still recommend Proton.
When I switched to Proton they only did email and that’s what I wanted. Instead of focusing on email Proton expanded into other areas like VPNs, Proton Drive, and password managers. I already had good privacy focused solutions for all of those problems, so for me personally I didn’t like where they were spending their development time.
As a Linux desktop user and an iOS mobile user I was often one of the last to have new features available for Protons applications which got to be really annoying.
To use desktop email I had to install Proton bridge which required a GUI to run. It was always having issues. Super frustrating.
I really disliked that Proton didn’t give me a way to use SMTP without going through their bridge. I have three home servers configured with Fastmail app passwords limited to only SMTP to send me notifications for updates and other alerts. This would have been really flaky to make work with Proton.
With Fastmail everything uses open standards, IMAP, SMTP, CalDav, CardDav, and WebDav. It all integrates really well with my laptop and phone without any special tools. I end up using those services much more now. The downside to these open standards is you don’t get end to end encryption that Proton offers.
I also feel as if Fastmail is giving me more for my money. I remember having pain points with Proton and wildcard emails with custom domains and trying to use their hidden email service. All of that is much easier with Fastmail. I also had a few sites not allow Protons masked emails but Fastmail worked fine.
I’d say, if privacy is your main thing and you don’t already have some of the services offered by Proton go with them. If what you’re looking for is as much privacy as email will let you have without using non standard software, and you just really want reliable solid email, Fastmail is the right choice.
With Fastmail everything uses open standards, IMAP, SMTP, CalDav, CardDav, and WebDav. It all integrates really well with my laptop and phone without any special tools. I end up using those services much more now. The downside to these open standards is you don’t get end to end encryption that Proton offers.
Yes, this openness of Fastmail makes them a really good provider unlike Proton that is always pushing for more proprietary garbage and uses “encryption” and an excuse for everything.
Proton Mail is great. Can’t compare to fastmail because I’ve never used it. But I enjoy being a paying customer instead of an advertising target and I use every product in their suite. Happy to answer more specific questions
Add comment