Proton Mail: Only 500 MB to 1 GB of Free Storage — Back Up Your Emails Locally
How much free storage does Proton Mail offer? Just 500 MB to 1 GB. Proton Mail is one of the most trusted privacy-focused email providers with end-to-end encryption. But its free storage is the smallest among major providers. Here is how the limit works and how to back up your emails before your mailbox fills up.
Proton Mail Free: 500 MB Start, Up to 1 GB
According to the official Proton pricing page, the free plan includes up to 1 GB of storage. However, new users start with just 500 MB. By completing the starter checklist (installing the desktop app, running an import, etc.), you can double your storage to 1 GB. This storage is dedicated to email — it is not shared with other Proton services like Proton Drive.
For comparison: Gmail offers 15 GB (shared with Drive and Photos), Outlook.com provides 15 GB of pure mailbox storage plus 5 GB of cloud, Yahoo Mail gives you 20 GB, and mail.com leads with 65 GB of email storage. At 500 MB to 1 GB, Proton Mail has the smallest free limit of any major provider.
When Does 500 MB Become a Problem?
500 MB is not much. A single email with a photo attachment can be 5-10 MB. At 500 MB, just 50-100 emails with attachments are enough to fill your mailbox. Even the 1 GB you get after the starter checklist only accommodates about 100-200 such emails.
If you use Proton Mail as your primary email address and regularly receive attachments, you will hit the limit within a few months. Proton offers paid plans starting at $3.99/month (15 GB), but there is also a free alternative: archive your emails locally.
The IMAP Catch: Proton Mail Bridge Required
Proton Mail does not support direct IMAP access. The end-to-end encryption prevents standard IMAP clients from connecting directly to the servers. Instead, Proton provides the Proton Mail Bridge — a desktop application that runs locally and provides an IMAP interface.
The Bridge decrypts your emails locally and makes them available through a local IMAP connection. This allows you to use standard email clients like Thunderbird, Apple Mail, or mailriva to access your Proton mailbox.
Important: Proton Mail Bridge is only available for desktop (Windows, macOS, Linux). On mobile devices, you use the Proton Mail app directly.
How to Back Up Proton Mail Emails — Step by Step
Install Proton Mail Bridge
Download Proton Mail Bridge from proton.me and install it on your computer. The Bridge establishes a local IMAP connection to your Proton Mail account.
Download mailriva
Download mailriva for free and install the app. You can scan your mailbox and see your storage usage before exporting anything.
Connect via Bridge
Connect your Proton Mail account in mailriva through the local IMAP connection provided by the Bridge. You will immediately see all your folders and storage usage.
Back up your emails
Select older or large emails and save them as EML or MBOX files on your computer. Folder structure and all attachments are preserved.
Delete backed-up emails
After confirming your local backup, delete the archived messages from Proton Mail to immediately free up storage.
Proton Mail vs. Other Providers
| Provider | Free Storage | Type |
|---|---|---|
| Proton Mail | up to 1 GB | Email only (500 MB start, 1 GB via checklist) |
| Tuta | 1 GB | Email only |
| Gmail | 15 GB | Shared with Drive + Photos |
| Outlook.com | 15 GB email + 5 GB cloud | Separate |
| mail.com | 65 GB email + 2 GB cloud | Separate |
Frequently Asked Questions
How much free storage does Proton Mail offer?
Up to 1 GB on the free plan. New users start with 500 MB and can increase to 1 GB by completing the starter checklist. For more storage, paid plans start at $3.99/month (15 GB).
Does Proton Mail support IMAP?
Only through the Proton Mail Bridge. The Bridge is a desktop app that runs locally and provides an IMAP interface. Direct IMAP access to Proton servers is not possible due to the end-to-end encryption.
Can I back up Proton Mail emails locally?
Yes. With Proton Mail Bridge and mailriva, you can export your emails via the local IMAP connection and save them as EML or MBOX files on your computer — including folder structure and attachments.
How does Proton Mail compare to Tuta?
Both are privacy-focused with end-to-end encryption. Tuta offers 1 GB free but no IMAP at all. Proton Mail offers up to 1 GB (starting at 500 MB) and supports IMAP via the Bridge desktop app.