ProtonMail launches encrypted email desktop apps in beta for Windows and Mac

Proton Mail has finally released desktop versions of its encrypted email service in beta for Windows and macOS to all Proton supporters on paid plans (it was previously available only to users with a Visionary plan). This will allow users to access their ProtonMail inbox directly on these operating systems, without the need to do so through a browser or other third-party email clients. There's also a Linux version in development.

The new desktop apps also come with an easy and direct access to Proton Calendar, along with other enhancements such as seamless Gmail migration, notification badges, and improved accessibility and font support.

Paid users can download the beta versions from the ProtonMail website or the ProtonMail web app for existing users, in Settings → All Settings → ProtonMail → Desktop app. The beta still has some restrictions though, such as not supporting account switching or opening Mailto links on Windows or ICS files, and some bugs with notifications, but the company plans to continue adding all the features from the web version to these new desktop versions.

The release of ProtonMail for desktop is great news for those seeking alternatives to apps like Microsoft Mail and Calendar, which has been recently replaced by a slower webapp version with fewer features. It also brings a well-known player to compete with recent releases like Amie.