Brandwave

How popular isProton Mail?

In September 2026, people searched for Proton Mail by name about 4.1 million times worldwide, a 22% increase from the previous year. These searches made up 24.6% of all global email hosting provider searches, placing Proton Mail second out of five providers. When we asked both ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews about email hosting providers, Proton Mail appeared in all answers and was the fourth most recommended of the five.

Search and AI answers in September 2026

Proton Mail is the second most searched of 5 competitors and the fourth most recommended in AI answers.

  1. Microsoft 365Share of searches 45.3%Mentioned in 4 of 5 AI answersPlace in AI recommendations 2nd
  2. Proton MailShare of searches 24.6%Mentioned in 5 of 5 AI answersPlace in AI recommendations 4th
  3. Zoho MailShare of searches 16.5%Mentioned in 5 of 5 AI answersPlace in AI recommendations 3rd
  4. Google WorkspaceShare of searches 11.7%Mentioned in 4 of 5 AI answersPlace in AI recommendations 1st
  5. FastmailShare of searches 1.9%Mentioned in 4 of 5 AI answersPlace in AI recommendations 5th
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Top email hosting providers in ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews

In three ChatGPT questions and two Google AI Overviews, Proton Mail appeared in all five answers. Proton Mail is the fourth most recommended of the five.

Most recommended by AI

Brands get a higher ranking if they are mentioned earlier in the answers.

  1. Google Workspace1st
  2. Microsoft 3652nd
  3. Zoho Mail3rd
  4. Proton Mail4th
  5. Fastmail5th

Mentioned by AI

Each dot is one answer, filled in when that answer mentions the brand.

  • Proton Mail5 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
  • Zoho Mail5 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
  • Microsoft 3654 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
  • Google Workspace4 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
  • Fastmail4 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers

See every answer about email hosting providers

5 answers

Brands are shown in the order each answer named them. The survey took place in the United States on October 19, 2026.

Which email hosting providers compete with Proton Mail?

Proton Mail against email hosting providers worldwide, by month

Share of searches by month for Microsoft 365, Proton Mail, Zoho Mail, Google Workspace. The figures are in the table below the chart.

View monthly share of searches table
MonthMicrosoft 365Proton MailZoho MailGoogle WorkspaceFastmail
Oct 202552.3%18.7%18.8%9.2%0.97%
Nov 202555.4%20.2%13.5%10%0.86%
Dec 202550.4%22.5%15%11%0.95%
Jan 202647%25.6%14%12.3%1.1%
Feb 202649.4%22.1%14.7%12.8%0.94%
Mar 202647.1%25.6%14%12.2%1.1%
Apr 202645.5%24.8%16.6%12.2%0.87%
May 202647.1%25.6%14%12.2%1.1%
Jun 202640.8%27.1%18.1%12.8%1.1%
Jul 202636.1%29.3%19.6%13.8%1.2%
Aug 202640.8%27.1%18.1%12.8%1.1%
Sep 202645.3%24.6%16.5%11.7%1.9%

  1. 1.Microsoft 365

    45.3%

    Held 1st. 7.5M estimated branded searches, +22% vs prior month. Share +4.5 points.

  2. 2.Proton Mail

    24.6%

    Held 2nd. 4.1M estimated branded searches, -0.03% vs prior month. Share -2.5 points.

  3. 3.Zoho Mail

    16.5%

    Held 3rd. 2.7M estimated branded searches, +<0.01% vs prior month. Share -1.6 points.

  4. 4.Google Workspace

    11.7%

    Held 4th. 2M estimated branded searches, +0.85% vs prior month. Share -1.1 points.

  5. 5.Fastmail

    1.9%

    Held 5th. 310K estimated branded searches, +78.2% vs prior month. Share +0.7 points.

Compare popularity between Proton Mail and its closest rivals

Every comparison with Proton Mail

13 comparisons

How has branded search demand for Proton Mail changed worldwide over the last 12 months?

4 findings
  • Across the 12 months ending September 2026, estimated monthly branded searches for Proton Mail worldwide rose from 3.4M to 4.1M.
  • Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Proton Mail’s share of searches among email hosting providers worldwide increased from 18.7% to 24.6%.
  • Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Proton Mail’s share of searches among email hosting providers worldwide peaked at 29.3% in July 2026 and was lowest at 18.7% in October 2025.
  • Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Proton Mail rose from 3rd to 2nd among email hosting providers worldwide.

How did search popularity change for email hosting providers worldwide in September 2026?

5 changes

  1. In September 2026, Microsoft 365 gained share of searches among email hosting providers worldwide, from 40.8% to 45.3%.

  2. In September 2026, Fastmail gained share of searches among email hosting providers worldwide, from 1.1% to 1.9%.

  3. In September 2026, Proton Mail lost share of searches among email hosting providers worldwide, from 27.1% to 24.6%.

  4. In September 2026, Zoho Mail lost share of searches among email hosting providers worldwide, from 18.1% to 16.5%.

  5. In September 2026, Google Workspace lost share of searches among email hosting providers worldwide, from 12.8% to 11.7%.

How are Proton Mail’s branded searches counted?

6 search terms

Brandwave collects information about searches that people make online using Proton Mail’s name. When viewed over time, estimated search volumes for these branded terms can be used to understand whether interest in the brand is growing, holding steady, or fading.

  • email proton mail
  • proton mail
  • proton mail app
  • proton mail email
  • proton mail software
  • protonmail

Do you work for Proton Mail? To request corrections or removal please contact us via our support page and we will be happy to assist.

How the Brand Demand Index is measured

Where does Proton Mail compete?

Proton Mail is ranked in three competitor sets. Each share is worked out among that set's brands, so it differs from set to set.
Competitor setRankShare of searchesRanking
Email providers7th of 7<0.01%Show ranking
Email hosting providers2nd of 524.6%Shown above
Email clients6th of 60.28%Show ranking
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