We need to talk about the structure of paying for Proton services

VPN
1

Now with the release of Proton Wallet, I’m feeling increasingly like I’m paying for features that I simply don’t need, while feeling a lack of what I need.

This is within the scope of the existing features and products. Personally I don’t have a need for Wallet or Calendar, nor do I need Linux support, but I do want more storage for example, but there are those of us who do, or might not want another password manger or use the VPN.

What it feels is the issue to me is the lack of breaking up services, having different tiers, and no way to upgrade within existing services unless I pay way more for Visionary.

Although Apple and Google aren’t privacy friendly companies, I believe their pricing makes a lot more sense. You can pay for individual, bundled or everything, aka “One”.

So my solution to this is to have the following

  • You can buy “premium” versions of each app, whilst still having access to free versions (what they more or less already do)
  • Proton to offer bundles such as VPN, with Drive
  • Or allow me to create my own bundle, whilst allowing free access to apps I don’t need premium features or even access too
  • Still offer an “all in one” bundle that equals too all services being cheaper then paying separately
  • Offer upgrading storage without having to upgrade the whole account. 500GB just isn’t enough, why not offer a custom scale from 100GB all the way through to 10TB, with a slider to select the amount, that has increments?
2

This has been discussed here: https://www.reddit.com/r/ProtonMail/comments/1ed04wq/comment/lf5yipt/

3

‘I’m feeling increasingly like I’m paying for features that I simply don’t need, while feeling a lack of what I need.’

The way that some might see it, we’re constantly getting added new bonuses to stuff we already pay for and stuff that we might use as freebies. They have been very generous when just giving already paying users their new features, when they could easily charge for them.

Proton offers a software suite, and like any suite, you’re going to get features you might not use. That’s just the nature of the beast. If you’re feeling like you’re overpaying for unused stuff, maybe it’s time to reevaluate your needs or look elsewhere.

Originally, I was paying very close to the single tier of what it currently is today, and that was just for email. Then, I was given a VPN for free, then I was given a password manager for free, then I was given more and more for free .

The top non-Visionary tier runs about $12 a month. For that price, you’re getting pretty close to what you’d pay for these services individually anyway in other places. Except for their password manager which in no way should be 12 bucks a month. Which, frankly, you shouldn’t be using. Stick with Bitwarden instead. It’s superior.

It’s worth remembering that Proton isn’t Google or Apple. They’re not mining your data or bombarding you with ads to make a buck. Their privacy-focused approach means they need a different pricing strategy to keep the lights on and keep developing.

Breaking up the suite or offering a build-your-own bundle sounds nice in theory, but in practice, extremely convoluted. Especially for new users who want simplified tiers. It’d be a pricing nightmare. The current setup, while not perfect, keeps things relatively simple.

The one thing I’ll give you is the storage issue. More flexible upgrade options there wouldn’t hurt. I also agree that they sort of push things out unpolished before pushing something else out. They do have more than enough services at this point at which they need to focus on what they have.

They are selling an integrated, privacy-first ecosystem. If you’re not using everything in the toolbox, that’s on you. But don’t expect them to start slicing and dicing their offerings just because you’re not using the calendar or whatever. That’s not how suite software works.

4

Checking the pricing:

  • Proton Mail and Drive are each $5 per month or $50 per year
  • Proton VPN is $10 per month or $80 per year (after the $60 intro price)
  • Proton Unlimited is $13 per month or $120 per year
  • Proton Pass is $5 per month or $24 per year

So:

  • Unlimited is already cheaper than VPN+Mail or VPN+Drive (or VPN+Pass if paying by the month)
  • If you only wanted Mail+Drive then Unlimited is less appealing - although for the extra $3 per month or $20 per year, the bonus VPN in Unlimited seems well worth it to tighten the Mail security.

100% agree that 500GB storage is falling behind the times and needs to be higher. 1TB in Unlimited would be more competitive. Or at least some step between Unlimited and Family.

5

It is always surprising how many people don’t understand what upselling is and why companies use it.

In addition it seems people forget that while new services are added no higher prices are added to the subscription plans. Compared to a year ago for instance I pay the same price for unlimited but now I have docs, photo backup and in the future the wallet. I won’t use the wallet since I will always stick to my hardware wallet but since I don’t pay extra for it I don’t care that it is there.

6

Linux user here. I do care about Linux support which is WHY I am paying them. If Linix would be a second class citizen I would be gone.

Just to put aome things in perspective for you.

Also, VPN, Password manager and Drive like features is what I value (as a business user). Not having to use the Google ecosystem is the reason why I Proton.

7

Yea it’s getting a bit annoying they aren’t adding or polishing existing products. Not being able to increase storage is ridiculous!? Just let me choose a storage tier and pay for it, don’t give me a damn bitcoin wallet.

8

That’s how pricing for most platforms work. You pay Microsoft $X per user per month and get a gigantic list of features that you might not use. But you do need some of them. It doesn’t cost Microsoft anything to allow access to features you don’t use. But there is no option to pay Microsoft less per user per month and remove features. Then, when you do need more features, you say “oh my susbcription already has that” or “oh it’s either an extra $1/mo/user over here or I pay a third party $7/user/mo and then I have to integrate different providers”.

It’s bundled like this to make it more sticky. Many people don’t use password managers. But if they have a subscription that includes one for free (proton pass) they might dabble. And then if they like it and want premium features, either they stick with the one that they have already set up and just upgrade to unlimited or they have to find another provider to get used to.

In other words: proton is developing tools that customers might need or might entice people to use proton, in order to make the proton unlimited plan more sticky. They fully expect you to not use all the features. I barely use drive for example, because I have a NAS. but it is convenient in some cases, so I have a very small use of proton drive, and that makes the proton platform more likely to retain me as a customer.

9

Honestly if you feel that the service is giving you a bunch of things you don’t want and you are paying for it you should probably go somewhere else. Personally speaking I do want better linux support and bunch of other people did as well that’s why it’s one of the highest rated posts on their forums.

10

Imagine getting a new feature for free then complain

11

I’m an Unlimited subscriber. I take it I can downgrade and get account credits to use against, say Mail Plus if I wanted to go elsewhere for the other parts of the suite?

12

I found my balance with Mail Plus and SL Premium.

13

I learned of how Proton pricing works the hard way. I already had Proton Pass and I thought I was signing up for a subscription to VPN not realizing that signing up for VPN plus means I’m losing access to the pro version of Proton Pass. I thought they were two distinct subscriptions not realizing it was one subscription with different bundles that included different apps. It’s my fault for not reading carefully but I do wish I could just pick which apps to subscribe

14

Hm. I have to agree with OP. If OP doesn’t want to use certain services, you could argue OP doesn’t have to use them and he’s paying the same price either way. But by following that logic you must also agree if a service provided to OP by proton isn’t used or wanted, then it’s a waste of resources for proton to continue to develop on said service for OP. Many users are of the same opinion as OP. So for many and possibly the majority, the service is wasteful on multiple levels not just resources. It’s giving the impression that Proton is trying too much. Stretching too far. That proton is diluting itself with projects that don’t follow the spirit it was following originally. I have concerns.

15

I think proton unlimited is a good middle tier. You get the best of most things without horrendously overcomplicating your setup.

It sounds like you are a visionary user. That’s great! But understand visionary is coming equipped with business level packages and is greatly more expensive. The only reason to use it as an individual is to support the company.

I was a plus user myself for years until they freely upgraded me to unlimited when it came out. The old plus rate was locked in, I think forever but at least for the subscription cycle at 5.99 per month. For 6 dollars, having most of everything is great.

I do think progressive rollouts for things like wallet are scammy though. Unlike scribe where there’s an api cost, wallet costs you nothing to rollout and is better suited for individuals rather than scribe, which seems business focused.

16

I mean since we’re talking about paying for a service… how about sort? It’s been years. I just don’t understand unless they just flat don’t want to do it.

17

I had faced the same problem. Purchased the unlimited version of Proton only to realise within the 30 day period that I hardly have any use for the VPN, Calendar and Drive.

I only use Mail and Pass, and it kind of sucks to create 2 different accounts for them, when there could be an option to bundle them together under one account.

18

More services is a good thing. The problem with proton is, that everything stays half baked forever. I don’t want a zoo full of half baked products, I want the ones that I’m already paying for to get properly rounded.

19

+1 . Just break up the services. All I need is more storage and a vpn. Why should I pay for custom domains and calendars etc etc .

20

Can we please stop opening threads with “We need to talk about”? It sounds like a veiled threat to the company, like you’re the boss doing a quarterly performance review. Just make your point without the theatrics.