Hushmail vs ProtonMail Comparison

Hushmail and ProtonMail were created almost twenty years apart from each other, but don’t let that age gap cloud your judgment. Both youngster and veteran offer strong security measures and a similar set of email features. They do work a little differently though, and those small details will be decisive in deciding between them. Probably the biggest difference between these two email client service providers is that ProtonMail offers a limited free plan, while Hushmail does not. However, depending on your needs, it might be worthwhile to spend some money each month to enjoy all features provided by Hushmail.

Like other email service providers on the market, Hushmail users can automatically exchange end-to-end encrypted messages among themselves via OpenPGP. For people outside the Hushmail universe, things continue to be pretty straightforward as well. Although you can send the message right away, we advise you to create a security question first. This way, before the receiver enters their secure temporary Hushmail inbox with their own password, they’ll first have to answer your question correctly to see the email’s content. One of Hushmail’s unique features is its pre-built secure web forms that are easily customized through the drag-and-drop builder. There are various templates to choose from that are perfect for companies, especially healthcare organizations, to save time and ensure their web forms are secure.

Unfortunately, Hushmail falters in the email management department. However, since it supports POP3 and IMAP, you can use your Hushmail account with third-party software such as Outlook. Hushmail’s pricing structure is also pretty inflexible as the only option is to get a yearly subscription which works out at $4.17 per month.

ProtonMail also has a zero-knowledge architecture, which means that it doesn’t have access to your password and it encrypts any messages received from unsafe sources before storing them. In other words, the company can’t access any of your data. While this is perfect privacy-wise, just remember that customer support won’t be able to help if you lose your password.

Unfortunately, the focus on security means that many of the email management tools were left behind. This is why ProtonMail doesn’t offer anything else besides email filters, rules, archiving, and backups. Prices start at $4 per month with annual payments, but there’s a free plan that you can take advantage of forever.

Conclusion

ProtonMail and Hushmail are both reliable email service providers that will secure your personal information. However, they’re clearly built for different purposes. With its pre-built web forms and its HIPAA compliancy, Hushmail is the perfect email service for healthcare organizations. Meanwhile, for personal use, ProtonMail comes with an array of advantages that Hushmail can’t compete with. Not only is the software open source, but the company is also based in Switzerland, where privacy laws are stricter than Canada. Furthermore, while Hushmail isn’t transparent about how emails are received from insecure sources, ProtonMail’s zero-knowledge architecture clearly displays that everything is encrypted. Finally, ProtonMail provides a free version that can be used forever, while Hushmail’s best offer is a 14-day free trial, followed by a 60-day money-back guarantee.