Proton Pass review 2026: Swiss password manager tested

Proton Pass is a Swiss, open-source password manager that works well for people who want a European provider, a usable free plan and built-in email aliases. It is slightly younger than 1Password or Bitwarden and has fewer team features, but its basics are solid and its price is fair. This review is an editorial assessment based on vendor documentation, published audit information and price lists, not a laboratory test. For comparison with the field, see our best password managers page.

How we assess it

We use the same criteria on every page: encryption model (zero knowledge), independent audits, passkey support, server location and EU option, recovery, export and switching, price (October 2026) and platforms.

Verdict in short

Recommended for: privacy-minded individuals, families in the Proton ecosystem, and anyone who wants aliases built into the manager. Less suitable for: larger teams with complex needs, or people who want the most mature sharing tools. Alternatives: Bitwarden and 1Password.

Security

Proton Pass encrypts data end to end, and Proton states that it cannot read your vault. The apps and extensions are open source. Proton had the security firm Cure53 audit the Proton Pass mobile apps, browser extensions and API, and published the results: the report found a moderate number of findings, most of limited severity, and Proton reported fixing them with one exception tied to an Android platform limitation. Newer product versions may have been assessed since, so check Proton’s security page for current reports.

Proton’s wider ecosystem is tied together by one account. That is convenient, but it means the security of your Proton account, with a strong password and two-factor authentication, protects everything.

Features

• Free plan: unlimited logins, notes, credit cards and devices, passkey support, password generator and 10 hide-my-email aliases.
• Plus plan: unlimited aliases, a built-in authenticator, vault and secure-link sharing, dark web monitoring, file attachments, advanced account protection, emergency access, custom alias domains and a command-line tool.
• Passkeys: create, store and use passkeys, also on the free plan. See passkeys explained.
• Aliases: disposable email addresses that forward to your inbox, helpful against spam and tracking.
• Platforms: Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, Android and the major browsers.
• Bundles: Proton Unlimited combines Pass with Mail, Calendar, VPN and Drive.

Recovery, export and switching

Your Pass vault is tied to your Proton account. If you forget your password, recovery depends on the methods you set up beforehand, such as a recovery phrase or recovery file. Without them, encrypted data can be lost, because Proton cannot decrypt it for you. Keep recovery material offline and read our overview of account recovery.

Import from other managers is supported, and you can export your data as CSV or in an encrypted format. As always, delete plaintext exports after use.

Prices (October 2026)

Prices shown by Proton and in public coverage, in euros:

Plan	Yearly billing	Monthly billing	Users
Free	0	0	1
Pass Plus	About 35.88 EUR per year (2.99 EUR per month)	4.99 EUR per month	1
Pass Family	About 47.88 EUR per year (3.99 EUR per month)	6.99 EUR per month	Up to 6
Proton Unlimited	About 10 EUR per month	About 13 EUR per month	1, with Mail, VPN, Drive and Calendar

Proton often runs discounts for new customers, so the first-year price can be lower than the renewal price. There is a 30-day money-back guarantee. Proton Pass for Business starts at roughly 2 USD per user and month on annual billing, per public price lists. For team use, see password managers for business.

Privacy and data location

Proton is headquartered in Switzerland, which is outside the EU but covered by a European Commission adequacy decision for data protection. Proton says its infrastructure is in Switzerland and builds its brand on privacy. That makes Proton Pass one of the most credible European options, as discussed in our overview of European password managers. Zero-knowledge encryption, not geography, is the main protection for your passwords.

Strengths and weaknesses

Strengths: a Swiss provider with open-source apps, a free plan that includes unlimited logins and passkeys, built-in hide-my-email aliases, a clean and modern interface, and attractive family pricing. Bundling with Proton Mail, VPN and Drive suits people who want fewer vendors.

Weaknesses: the product is younger than the big rivals and has fewer team and sharing features, the built-in authenticator and secure sharing require a paid plan, and everything hangs on one Proton account, so account recovery needs careful preparation. Its public audit history is shorter than Bitwarden’s.

Getting started in practice

Create or sign in to your Proton account, set a strong password and switch on two-factor authentication, then immediately save the recovery phrase or recovery file offline. Install the browser extension and the app on your phone, import passwords from your browser or previous manager, and replace your most-used email addresses with aliases for new sign-ups. When a site offers a passkey, save it in Proton Pass, as described in passkeys explained. If you later want sharing or the built-in authenticator, upgrade to Plus or the family plan.

Who should skip it

If you need advanced team administration, long-established sharing workflows or the longest audit record, Bitwarden or 1Password are the safer picks today. If you dislike tying your passwords to the same account as your email and VPN, a stand-alone manager keeps risks separate, though Proton does support strong sign-in protections on the account.

Alternatives

• Bitwarden: open source with an EU region, a broader set of free features such as unlimited sharing on Families, and a longer audit history. See Proton Pass vs Bitwarden.
• 1Password: more polish and a Secret Key, no free plan.
• KeePassXC: local and free.

Conclusion

Proton Pass is a credible, privacy-first choice with a generous free tier and aliases that few rivals match. If you want a European provider and already use or plan to use other Proton services, it is an easy recommendation. If you need advanced team tooling or a longer track record, compare it with Bitwarden or 1Password. Whichever way you go, set up recovery first.