Software Alternatives, Accelerators & Startups

OpenSMTPD VS ProtonMail

Compare OpenSMTPD VS ProtonMail and see what are their differences

OpenSMTPD logo OpenSMTPD

OpenSMTPD is a FREE implementation of the server-side SMTP protocol as defined by RFC 5321, with...

ProtonMail logo ProtonMail

Secure email with absolutely no compromises. Get your free encrypted email account today.
  • OpenSMTPD Landing page
    Landing page //
    2019-03-05
  • ProtonMail Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-10-15

ProtonMail

$ Details
freemium โ‚ฌ5.0 / Monthly (user - 5 GB)
Startup details
Country
Switzerland
City
Geneva
Employees
50 - 99

OpenSMTPD features and specs

  • Simplicity
    OpenSMTPD is designed to be simple and straightforward, which makes it easier to configure and manage compared to other mail transfer agents. Its configuration syntax is clean and readable.
  • Security-focused
    One of the main goals of OpenSMTPD is to provide a secure mail transfer agent. It is developed by the OpenBSD team, which is known for its emphasis on security.
  • Lightweight
    OpenSMTPD is a lightweight solution, using minimal system resources, making it suitable for systems with lower hardware capabilities or for those looking to optimize performance.
  • Integration with OpenBSD
    As a project developed by the OpenBSD team, OpenSMTPD integrates well with OpenBSD, taking advantage of the system's security features and optimizations.
  • Active Community
    OpenSMTPD has an active development community, which provides timely updates, patches, and support, helping to keep the software secure and reliable.

Possible disadvantages of OpenSMTPD

  • Feature Limitation
    Compared to more established mail servers like Postfix or Exim, OpenSMTPD may lack some advanced features or integrations that larger enterprises might require.
  • Limited Documentation
    The documentation for OpenSMTPD, while improving, is not as comprehensive as that for more widely-used MTAs, which can create a steeper learning curve for new administrators.
  • Less Third-Party Support
    Due to its lesser adoption compared to other MTAs, there might be fewer third-party tools, plugins, and resources available for extending OpenSMTPD's capabilities.
  • Platform Specific Optimization
    While its integration with OpenBSD is a strength, it may not be as optimized for other operating systems, possibly leading to a less efficient experience outside the BSD ecosystem.
  • Community-Centric Development
    Being a smaller, community-driven project, OpenSMTPD may not offer the same level of support or development resources as more commercially backed mail server solutions.

ProtonMail features and specs

  • End-to-End Encryption
    ProtonMail uses robust end-to-end encryption, ensuring that only the sender and the recipient can read the emails. This enhances the security and privacy of your communications.
  • Zero Access to User Data
    ProtonMail does not have access to user data or emails. This means that even ProtonMail cannot read your emails, providing an additional layer of privacy.
  • Swiss Privacy Laws
    Based in Switzerland, ProtonMail benefits from stringent Swiss privacy laws, which are some of the strongest in the world. This offers users greater legal protection against mass surveillance.
  • Open Source
    ProtonMail's encryption algorithms are open source, which means their code can be reviewed and audited by anyone, promoting transparency and trust.
  • User-Friendly Interface
    ProtonMail offers an intuitive and clean user interface, making it easy for users to manage their emails efficiently.

Possible disadvantages of ProtonMail

  • Limited Free Storage
    The free version of ProtonMail offers only 500 MB of storage, which might be insufficient for users who need to store a large number of emails.
  • Paid Plans
    Advanced features and additional storage require a paid subscription, which may be a hassle for users looking for a completely free service.
  • Search Limitations
    Due to end-to-end encryption, the search functionality in ProtonMail is limited compared to other email services, as the search can only be performed on email subjects, not the content.
  • Compatibility Issues
    ProtonMail's encryption might not be fully compatible with other email services, potentially causing issues with sending and receiving encrypted messages.
  • Learning Curve
    New users who are unfamiliar with encryption concepts might find it slightly challenging to understand and use all of ProtonMailโ€™s security features effectively.

Analysis of ProtonMail

Overall verdict

  • ProtonMail is generally considered to be a good email service, especially for users who prioritize privacy and security. Its user-friendly interface and strong encryption make it a reliable choice for personal and professional communication.

Why this product is good

  • ProtonMail is known for its strong emphasis on privacy and security. It offers end-to-end encryption, ensuring that your emails are secure and can only be read by the intended recipient. Additionally, the service is based in Switzerland, which has strong privacy laws. ProtonMail is also open-source, allowing for transparency and community trust in its security measures.

Recommended for

  • Individuals who prioritize email privacy and security
  • Journalists, activists, and professionals handling sensitive information
  • Users looking for an ad-free email experience
  • Anyone seeking a secure communication tool with a simple, intuitive interface

OpenSMTPD videos

DAY[0] Episode #31 - kr00k, GhostCat, and more issues from NordVPN, Samsung, OpenSMTPd

ProtonMail videos

ProtonMail Review - Good or Not?

More videos:

  • Review - ProtonMail Review
  • Review - Top 4 Email Services BETTER than Protonmail!

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to OpenSMTPD and ProtonMail)
SMTP Servers
100 100%
0% 0
Email
2 2%
98% 98
MTA
100 100%
0% 0
Email Clients
0 0%
100% 100

User comments

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Reviews

These are some of the external sources and on-site user reviews we've used to compare OpenSMTPD and ProtonMail

OpenSMTPD Reviews

Best Free and Open Source Alternatives to Microsoft Exchange Server
OpenSMTPD is an implementation of the server-side SMTP protocol, with some additional standard extensions. Its design goals include security, reliability, ease of configuration, and support for common use cases.

ProtonMail Reviews

  1. Dennis
    ยท Commercial Director at SpeechKit ยท
    A great product made by a great team

    Protonmail is the best secure email solution period, other products in the suite such as ProtonVPN and hopefully soon Drive and Calendar will finally make it the perfect Gsuite alternative.

    ๐Ÿ Competitors: Google Workspace, Microsoft Office 365
    ๐Ÿ‘ Pros:    Encryption|Easy to use|Excellent features|Easy integration
    ๐Ÿ‘Ž Cons:    None

5 Of The Best Alternatives To Proton Mail
Email providers like Gmail and Yahoo offer lots of great features for free. However, all those freebies come at a cost, as these popular email services track your activity and target you with ads. In contrast, Protonmail uses end-to-end encryption and doesn't collect any data linked to a user's identity, and the basic version is free. But if you like it, you'll want to...
The Top 4 ProtonMail Alternatives
While ProtonMail is generally received in a positive light, it isnโ€™t without its flaws. Itโ€™s been subjected to DDoS attacks that have made its services inaccessible to some users. ProtonMail is also not well suited to high-volume use and its subject lines are not encrypted. To some, these issues may be trivial and others may wish to see what else may be available to them.
Best ProtonMail Alternatives for Secure Communications
While ProtonMail has set a high standard in the realm of secure email services, there are several alternatives out there that offer unique features and capabilities. Whether youโ€™re an individual looking for a secure email client or a business in need of a comprehensive security solution, thereโ€™s an alternative to ProtonMail that can meet your needs. Remember, the best secure...
Source: canarymail.io
10 Best Alternatives to Microsoft Outlook to Try in 2023
It's hard to find a more trustworthy email service provider than ProtonMail. It's built for people who want to be sure that no one is accessing their data, and that's where it clearly comes out ahead compared to Outlook, which is owned by Microsoft. But when choosing ProtonMail, you may miss some of the key features and integrations offered by Microsoft and its line of apps.
Source: mysignature.io
11 Top Outlook Alternatives to Try
With ProtonMail, your email is even protected from ProtonMail. Your data is stored using zero-access encryption, so ProtonMail itself doesnโ€™t know your password and canโ€™t decrypt your emails.
Source: kinsta.com

Social recommendations and mentions

Based on our record, ProtonMail seems to be a lot more popular than OpenSMTPD. While we know about 414 links to ProtonMail, we've tracked only 2 mentions of OpenSMTPD. We are tracking product recommendations and mentions on various public social media platforms and blogs. They can help you identify which product is more popular and what people think of it.

OpenSMTPD mentions (2)

  • Has anyone setup a Linux based internal only smtp relay?
    I've had something of the same experience with Postfix, u/0x29aNull. Check out OpenSMTPD. It is lightweight and standards compliant. I know that there are packages for Debian and Alpine Linux. There may also be ones for Fedora/RHEL derivatives. I use it in my environment on OpenBSD. Source: over 3 years ago
  • DKIM Migration: Rpamd instead of DKIMproxy out on OpenBSD / OpenSMTPD
    When I installed Rspamd with on OpenBSD / OpenSMTPD the other day, DKIMProxy out (dkimproxy_out daemon), which had been got via OpenBSD Ports package system, was used to add DKIM signatures to mails in order to improve security on emails. - Source: dev.to / about 5 years ago

ProtonMail mentions (414)

  • Email username
    You might want to consider getting a domain name of your own and then get email hosting which will allow you to set up your email in the way you want. If you don't want to have to manage and pay for domain name and email hosting, you may try premium email services like Space Email, Proton Mail etc. With then you'll definitely be able to get a username/email address of your choice. Source: over 2 years ago
  • How to Force Current Session Logout - Answered
    I closed all Proton Mail tabs and navigated to protonmail.com and a cleared out login area was shown. Without checking the "keep me logged in", I entered my credentials and was prompted for my 2FA info. I entered that and it worked. Source: almost 3 years ago
  • help
    Can I add my gmail account to my proton mail account so I can send emails and choose betwen my gmail.com email or my protonmail.com email account? Im not talking about the easy switch feature btw. Source: almost 3 years ago
  • Ask HN: Gmail Alternatives
    I hear ProtonMail[1] is good, especially for your needs. [1]: https://protonmail.com/. - Source: Hacker News / almost 3 years ago
  • Which do you use? @protonmail.com, @proton.me or @pm.me?
    Protonmail.com for my primary, though really, simplelogin.com when I sign up at a site. Source: about 3 years ago
View more

What are some alternatives?

When comparing OpenSMTPD and ProtonMail, you can also consider the following products

Postfix - Postfix is a mail transfer agent (MTA) that routes and delivers electronic mail.

Tutanota - Get your encrypted mailbox for free.

Exim - Exim is a message transfer agent (MTA) developed at the University of Cambridge for use on Unix systems connected to the Internet.

Zoho Mail - Zoho Mail is a secure, encrypted, and enterprise-ready email solution, a suite of apps tailor-made for your organization's needs.

Sendmail - Sendmail is a general purpose internetwork email routing facility that supports many kinds of...

Gmail - Gmail is available across all your devices Android, iOS, and desktop devices. Sort, collaborate or call a friend without leaving your inbox.