As we all know, today’s world is firmly connected and monitored via the internet.
If you, like myself, prefer having privacy and want to communicate with others without the fear of unwanted interception of your communications, secure email is a must-have.
While looking at secure email services, two names popped up: ProtonMail vs. Hushmail.
The three main differences between Hushmail and ProtonMail are development dates, the target audience, and free service plans. ProtonMail is a newer mailing service marketed toward all people and has a free service plan, making it a top contender compared to Hushmail.
As someone who appreciates privacy and online security, I had to delve a bit deeper into these companies to see how they really differ.
Though the differences mentioned above are easy to find and research, doing this research can save heaps of money and time in the future.
About ProtonMail
ProtonMail is a simple to use secure email service that utilizes end-to-end encryption and other security measures to ensure that your emails are protected and indecipherable by unwanted persons in the case of a breach.
After researching ProtonMail, I found that Proton Technologies AG owns the company. The email service was started in 2014 by scientists who met at the European Center for Nuclear Research.
ProtonMail claims that using their end-to-end email encryption service means that not even the staff or developers of the service can ready your emails.
Since its creation, ProtonMail has been used by a wide variety of people and is accessible to all civilians.
About Hushmail
Hushmail is a web-based secure email service started in 1999 by Hush Communications.
Hushmail uses end-to-end encryption to secure your emails and has the added option to turn off encryption if sending an email to a user that does not use Hushmail.
In my research, I have found that though any individual can use Hushmail, it is mainly focused on and tailored to businesses and companies with many employees.
The fact that this service is made for business is also why Hushmail was first primarily used by healthcare centers or businesses to secure their clients’ personal information.
Differences between ProtonMail and Hushmail
Looking at the differences between ProtonMail and Hushmail can be more research-intensive due to the finer details that should not be overlooked.
Therefore, I have used the websites of both companies, other reliable sources, and even forums to get as much information as possible related to these two services.
Customer support
Setting up your account can be pretty tricky. Considering that there are certain features that you might need help with, customer support is probably an essential thing you should look at when comparing these two services.
Though neither ProtonMail nor Hushmail offers online chat support, ProtonMail offers you full-time 24/7 support via call or email. The addition of 24/7 support is possible due to their large team of support agents.
Hushmail also offers support via call or email, though they will only be able to provide support during their usual work hours, meaning that you might have to wait a while to get a response.
Free to use
Another aspect to consider when discussing the differences between these two services is using the service free of charge or having a long enough trial period to test the service.
The free-to-use period is another critical area where ProtonMail provides what Hushmail doesn’t. If you sign up with ProtonMail, you can create a free account and use the services.
Though you have the option of a free account, it is essential to note that this account does have restrictions and limitations.
Hushmail doesn’t offer you a free account to use but a free trial period of 14 days.
The time included in the free trial might be long enough for you to form an opinion and decide whether to keep on using this service.
Money-Back Guarantee
If you are unhappy with the services provided by a specific company, it is natural you will want a refund.
Wanting your money back is especially true if you have purchased an annual plan for a service that does not work for your needs.
After doing some research, it seems that the better company for this specific feature is Hushmail. Hushmail offers you a 60-day money-back guarantee and says, “We understand that your needs may change.
Therefore, we offer a 60-day money-back guarantee in case you decide to cancel your service.”
This is one area where ProtonMail is a bit lacking. If your subscription with ProtonMail is canceled, your account will receive credit with the funds left in your account.
Once the credit has been allocated to your account, you will have to contact the support team to see if you can have the funds transferred to your bank account.
Supported devices
Another critical difference between ProtonMail and Hushmail is the supported platforms for using this service.
Since both services are made to be web-based, it is natural that both services support basic browsers. It is also true that both companies have apps for Apple Devices.
However, ProtonMail supports more devices by installing their bridge to use any email client you prefer.
Using the bridge to connect to your preferred client can be done on Mac, Windows, and Linux and ProtonMail also has an app for android devices.
Hushmail, at this time, does not have an android app for its users but does have an online form that will notify you when one has been developed. For android users that want to use this service, this might be a deal-breaker, even if only temporarily.
Target Audience
Both companies mentioned above allow for personal users, not part of a business. However, Hushmail is marketed more towards businesses meaning that their service is mainly made to help companies treat sensitive information.
ProtonMail is a service that is made and maintained for anyone to use. However, Hushmail also allows private users and offers a special package for users not part of a corporate team.
Conclusion
After I have researched both secure email service providers above, it is pretty clear that these services are marketed to different audiences, which will determine which one is best for your use.
If you want to secure your online correspondence, ProtonMail is the winner compared to the business-based Hushmail.
