ElectronMail

ElectronMail is a free, open-source desktop client for ProtonMail and Tutanota that wraps both services in a native-feeling macOS application, adding persistent local search, multiple-account switching, and offline access that the browser never offers.

What is ElectronMail?

ElectronMail is a community-built desktop wrapper for ProtonMail (and Tutanota) that lives in your Dock rather than a browser tab. It is not affiliated with Proton AG — it is an independently maintained open-source project available on GitHub — but it speaks the same encrypted protocols and never touches your message content in transit. Think of it as the desktop app Proton never quite shipped, built by someone who clearly wanted it as much as you do.

The project packages the ProtonMail web interface inside an Electron shell, then layers on genuinely useful power-user features: a local SQLite message index for instant full-text search, a system-tray presence that lets you glance at unread counts without opening a window, and desktop notifications that actually fire when new mail arrives. After a few days with it, going back to a browser tab feels like a step backward.

What does ElectronMail do best?

ElectronMail's standout strength is persistent local search across your entire ProtonMail history — something the official web client still can't do without a paid plan and even then with friction.

• Instant full-text search: ElectronMail indexes your messages locally so queries return results in milliseconds, not seconds. I've found emails from two years ago faster than I could in Gmail.
• Multiple accounts in one window: Switch between a personal ProtonMail address and a work alias through a sidebar rather than juggling two browser profiles.
• System tray integration: Unread badges, quick-compose, and background notification delivery without keeping a browser window open.
• Keyboard-first navigation: Configurable shortcuts for archiving, labeling, and composing make heavy inbox workflows feel genuinely snappy.
• Offline message cache: Previously synced messages are readable even when you lose your connection — critical on planes or patchy hotel Wi-Fi.

Is ElectronMail free?

Yes — ElectronMail is completely free to download and use. It is open-source software published under the MIT licence on GitHub, which means you can inspect every line of code, build it yourself, or fork it.

Note that ElectronMail itself costs nothing, but it connects to ProtonMail accounts. ProtonMail's free tier has storage and sending limits; paid ProtonMail plans unlock more storage and features inside the app. The app adds no subscription layer of its own.

Who should use ElectronMail?

ElectronMail is built for ProtonMail users who spend serious time in their inbox and have outgrown the browser tab experience. If you're a developer, journalist, or privacy-conscious professional who keeps ProtonMail open all day and wants searchable history, system notifications, and a proper Dock icon, this is the app for you.

It is decidedly not for casual users who check email once a day — the initial sync and index-build takes time, and the settings surface is deep enough to feel overwhelming if you just want to read a message. If you're happy in the browser, stay there. But if you've ever wished ProtonMail had an app that respected your keyboard workflow, ElectronMail is worth the ten-minute setup.

What are the best ElectronMail alternatives?

The closest official competitor is Proton Mail Bridge, which lets standard IMAP clients like Apple Mail, Spark, or Airmail read your ProtonMail account — a solid option if you prefer a native macOS mail client over an Electron app. Mimestream is superb but Gmail-only. Mimestream and Canary Mail both offer polished native experiences but don't support ProtonMail natively without Bridge.

For Tutanota users specifically, ElectronMail is effectively the only desktop-class option outside the browser, since Tutanota's encryption model prevents direct IMAP access. That alone makes it irreplaceable for a meaningful slice of privacy-first users.

How does ElectronMail compare to Proton Mail Bridge?

Proton Mail Bridge routes your encrypted mail through a local IMAP/SMTP proxy so any native mail app can read it — the result feels more macOS-native and integrates with Spotlight, Contacts, and notification centre at the OS level. ElectronMail, by contrast, keeps everything self-contained: one window, one process, with its own search index and notification system.

Bridge wins on native integration and offline composing in a first-class mail client. ElectronMail wins on zero-configuration account setup (no IMAP wrestling), Tutanota support, and the built-in local search that doesn't rely on your mail client's own indexer. I run both: Bridge feeds Apple Mail, ElectronMail handles the Tutanota address I can't add anywhere else.