Proton Drive

Proton Drive is an end-to-end encrypted cloud storage service built by Proton AG, a Swiss company founded by scientists from CERN. It launched in beta in 2020 and is part of a broader privacy-focused app ecosystem. It solves the problem of cloud providers accessing your private files without your consent.

Features

• End-to-End and Zero-Access Encryption: All files are encrypted on the user's device before upload. Even Proton itself cannot read stored data. Open-source code allows independent security audits.
• Proton Docs and Proton Sheets: Built-in encrypted document and spreadsheet editors support real-time collaboration. Multiple users can edit at the same time with all changes synced instantly.
• Version History: Paid plans store up to 200 file versions for up to 10 years. Free users can access up to 10 versions or 7 days of history, whichever comes first.
• Cross-Platform Sync and Offline Access: Apps are available for Windows, macOS, iOS, and Android, plus a web interface. Users can open and edit shared files offline on Windows desktop.
• Automatic Photo Backup and Albums: Mobile apps on Android and iOS back up photos automatically. Users can group images into end-to-end encrypted albums and invite others to contribute.

Use Cases

• For Healthcare and Legal Professionals: End-to-end encryption and ISO 27001 certification support HIPAA and GDPR compliance when storing sensitive client or patient files.
• For Remote Teams: Real-time co-editing in Proton Docs and Sheets allows secure collaboration. Teams can share folders and documents without exposing data to third parties.
• For Privacy-Conscious Individuals: Users who distrust Big Tech cloud providers can store personal files under Swiss privacy law with zero-knowledge encryption.
• For Businesses Leaving Google Workspace: Proton Drive integrates with Proton Mail, Calendar, VPN, and Pass. This gives teams a full productivity suite without handing data to ad-supported platforms.

Proton Drive is a strong option for users who need verifiable file privacy backed by Swiss law and open-source code. However, it trades some speed and advanced collaboration features for its strict security model.