Proton Drive

What Is Proton Drive?

The encrypted cloud storage market has operated under a painful trade-off for years: choose privacy or choose collaboration, but not both. Tresorit offers zero-knowledge encryption but no document editing. Nextcloud provides self-hosted control but demands technical overhead. Google Drive delivers seamless collaboration across Docs, Sheets, and Slides — while scanning every file to build advertising profiles and operating under US jurisdiction where FISA Section 702 compels data access.

Proton Drive is the first serious attempt to break this trade-off. Launched as a basic encrypted file locker in 2022, it has evolved into something far more ambitious. With the addition of Proton Docs in 2024 and Proton Sheets in 2026, Proton Drive now offers real-time collaborative document editing where every keystroke is end-to-end encrypted. File names, metadata, and folder structures are encrypted on the user's device before upload. Proton's servers store only ciphertext they cannot read.

Proton AG, headquartered in Geneva, built this service on the same zero-access architecture that powers Proton Mail's 100+ million accounts. The company employs over 400 people in Switzerland and has expanded its ecosystem to include Mail, Calendar, Drive, Docs, Sheets, Meet, VPN, and Pass — positioning itself as the encrypted alternative to Google Workspace. Proton Drive's free tier starts at 5 GB, with paid plans scaling to 500 GB and beyond through the Proton Unlimited bundle.

Key Features

Proton Docs — Encrypted Real-Time Collaboration

Proton Docs is the feature that transforms Proton Drive from a storage product into a productivity platform. Multiple users can edit the same document simultaneously, seeing each other's cursors and changes in real time — the same experience Google Docs provides. The critical difference: all changes, keystrokes, and content are end-to-end encrypted. Proton cannot read any document on its platform.

The editor supports rich text formatting, headings, lists, tables, images, and embedded media. Suggested edits allow collaborators to propose changes that appear as highlighted text for review, acceptance, or rejection. Comment threads enable discussion within documents. Email notifications alert collaborators to new comments and suggestions.

Recipients do not need a Proton account to view or edit shared documents, which significantly reduces collaboration friction. Link sharing supports granular permissions — view-only or edit access, with optional password protection and expiry dates.

Proton Sheets — Encrypted Spreadsheets

Added in 2026, Proton Sheets brings encrypted spreadsheet functionality to the Proton ecosystem. Teams can build budgets, track projects, or manage data with the confidence that no third party — including Proton — can access the content. The feature set is still maturing relative to Google Sheets, but basic formulas, formatting, and multi-user editing are operational.

Zero-Access File Encryption

Every file uploaded to Proton Drive is encrypted on the user's device using end-to-end encryption before transmission. File names, folder names, and metadata are also encrypted — Proton's servers cannot identify what files a user has stored, let alone read their content. The encryption implementation is open source and has been independently audited by Securitum.

File versioning keeps up to 10 previous versions for 7 days on the free plan. Premium users get up to 200 versions retained for 10 years — a critical feature for businesses that need audit trails without sacrificing encryption.

Photo Backup and Sync

Proton Drive's mobile apps on iOS and Android include automatic photo and video backup. Desktop apps for Windows and macOS sync files bidirectionally between local folders and the encrypted cloud. The virtual drive feature lets users browse cloud files without downloading them, saving local storage space.

Pricing

Proton Drive's pricing reflects the cost of encrypted infrastructure operated in Switzerland, but it is competitive within the privacy-focused storage market.

Free provides 5 GB of encrypted storage with access to Proton Docs. This is a third of Google Drive's 15 GB free allocation, but it includes genuine encryption that Google does not offer. For light users testing the platform, 5 GB is adequate.

Drive Plus at EUR 4.99/month (EUR 3.99/month annually) delivers 200 GB of storage with enhanced file versioning (200 versions retained for 10 years). This is the entry point for individuals who need Proton Drive as a primary cloud storage service.

Proton Unlimited at EUR 12.99/month (EUR 9.99/month annually) includes 500 GB of storage plus full access to the Proton ecosystem: Mail, Calendar, Drive, Docs, Sheets, Meet, VPN, and Pass. For users replacing Google Workspace with encrypted alternatives, this is the tier to evaluate.

Proton Business at EUR 12.99/user/month bundles all productivity tools with admin consoles, user management, and priority support. It competes directly with Google Workspace Business pricing while providing fundamentally different privacy architecture.

Against Google Drive, Proton is more expensive per gigabyte. Against the cost of a GDPR violation — up to 4% of annual global turnover — the premium for encryption is trivial.

EU Compliance & Privacy

Proton AG operates from Geneva, Switzerland, under the Swiss Federal Data Protection Act revised in 2023. Switzerland holds an EU adequacy decision, meaning the European Commission recognises Swiss data protection as equivalent to EU standards.

Proton Drive's zero-access encryption goes beyond GDPR compliance. The regulation requires organisations to protect personal data; Proton's architecture ensures the company never possesses the data in readable form. File content, file names, and folder structures are encrypted on the user's device. Proton holds only encrypted ciphertext.

All infrastructure is located in Switzerland, with no data processing outside Swiss jurisdiction. Open-source clients licensed under GPLv3 have been independently audited by Securitum, a European security firm. Audit results are published publicly. For European businesses subject to GDPR, NIS2, or sector-specific data protection regulations, Proton Drive eliminates the data processor risk.

Who It's Best For

European businesses migrating from Google Workspace that need cloud storage and document collaboration without exposing file content to a US-jurisdiction provider.

Legal, healthcare, and financial professionals handling confidential documents who need encryption that is architectural rather than policy-based.

Privacy-conscious individuals replacing Dropbox or Google Drive who want their files encrypted by default without managing self-hosted infrastructure.

Teams that need collaborative editing with genuine encryption — Proton Docs fills the gap that no other encrypted storage provider has addressed.

The Verdict

Proton Drive has crossed a threshold. With Proton Docs and Sheets, it is no longer just encrypted storage — it is the beginning of an encrypted productivity suite. The collaboration features do not yet match Google Workspace's depth: Docs lacks advanced formatting, Sheets lacks complex formulas, and the integration ecosystem is limited to Proton's own products. The 5 GB free tier is modest. But Proton Drive is the only cloud storage service that combines real-time collaboration with genuine end-to-end encryption and zero-access architecture. For organisations where data confidentiality is mandatory rather than aspirational, the trade-offs are acceptable. The gap between Proton Drive and Google Drive is narrowing with every release.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Proton Drive end-to-end encrypted?

Yes. Proton Drive encrypts files, file names, and all metadata on your device before upload. Proton's servers store only encrypted data, and Proton does not hold decryption keys. The encryption clients are open source and independently audited by Securitum.

Can I collaborate on documents in Proton Drive?

Yes. Proton Docs supports real-time collaborative editing with full end-to-end encryption. Multiple users can edit simultaneously, with changes visible in real time. Suggested edits and commenting are supported. Recipients do not need a Proton account to access shared documents.

How does Proton Drive compare to Google Drive?

Google Drive offers 15 GB free, a mature collaboration suite, and a vast integration ecosystem. Proton Drive offers 5 GB free with genuine end-to-end encryption, Proton Docs for encrypted collaboration, and Swiss jurisdiction. Google processes file content for various services; Proton cannot access files at all.

Is Proton Drive GDPR compliant?

Yes. Proton AG is based in Geneva, Switzerland, which has an EU adequacy decision. Zero-access encryption exceeds GDPR requirements. All infrastructure is in Switzerland. Open-source clients are independently audited.

Does Proton Drive have mobile and desktop apps?

Yes. Desktop apps for Windows and macOS sync files between your computer and Proton Drive. Mobile apps for iOS and Android include automatic photo backup. A web interface provides access from any browser.