Proton just launched a privacy-first alternative to Google Workspace and Microsoft 365


Google and Microsoft have long ruled the workplace productivity game, but, at the same time, they’ve built empires on your data, and Proton is done watching from the sidelines. On March 31, 2026, Proton officially launched its own workspace alternative, called Proton Workspace (they couldn’t have been more direct).

The Proton Workspace, as the company states, is a fully bundled productivity suite designed to give businesses a genuine, encryption-first alternative to those from the big tech companies. 

What’s so unique about Proton Workspace?

Proton’s Workspace includes several useful tools that people already use as part of their digital lives. They include Proton Mail, Calendar, Drive, Docs, and Sheets, VPN, and Pass. It comes in two tiers: Standard at $12.99 per month (billed annually) and Premium at $19.99 per month.

With the latter, you’ll also get 3TB of storage, higher video calling limits, and access to Lumo, the company’s privacy-focused AI assistant. The standout feature, for me, is Proton Meet, a brand-new encrypted video conferencing tool. 

It uses end-to-end encryption via the Messaging Layer Security (MLS) protocol. In other words, not even Proton can listen in. Even if you don’t have an account, Proton says that anyone can host or join a meeting. This, in my opinion, makes the tool quite useful for journalists, activists, or anyone who needs to keep their conversations off the grid. 

Why should businesses actually care?

The practical value is quite straightforward. Proton Mail handles encrypted emails, Drive and Docs cover file storage and collaboration, and Meet takes care of video calls; all as part of one subscription. For teams handling sensitive client data (perhaps the public relations departments of multinational companies), that’s a genuine operational advantage. 

The company supports compliance with GDPR, HIPAA, and CCPA, which matters for anyone working in healthcare, legal, or finance. Furthermore, the company operates under Swiss jurisdiction, which has some of the toughest privacy laws on the planet. Clearly, Proton wants to cash in on privacy, something Google Workspace and Microsoft 365 aren’t as aggressive about. 



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