Google Docs vs Proton Docs

Google Docs

• People and teams who draft and review documents together in a browser
• Organizations that already pay for Google Workspace
• Collecting edits and comments from collaborators outside the company

Proton Docs

• People who want documents the provider itself cannot read
• Lawyers, doctors and advisers drafting confidential client documents
• Existing Proton Drive users who want a document editor in the same account

Google Docs

• There is no standalone paid Docs plan; the business version comes only as part of Google Workspace, with Gmail, Drive and Meet.
• Gemini in Docs and eSignature are not in Business Starter; both start at Business Standard, $14 per user / month on a 1-year commitment.
• Offline editing on a computer works only in Chrome or Microsoft Edge with the Google Docs Offline extension installed.
• Google lists Docs for web browsers, Android, iPhone and iPad; no Windows or Mac desktop app is listed.

Proton Docs

• There is no standalone Docs plan: it is part of Proton Drive, and the paid plans differ in storage and bundled Proton services.
• A document can be no larger than 25 MB.
• In the Windows and macOS Drive apps a document is only a placeholder file that opens in the browser at docs.proton.me.
• The free plan's 5 GB of storage is shared with the files and photos kept in Proton Drive.

Google Docs

Co-editing, comments and version history

Several people can edit one document at the same time, leave comments and assign action items. Earlier versions can be opened and restored, and sharing settings control who can view, comment or edit.

Smart chips and building blocks

Typing @ inserts people, files, calendar events and dropdown menus, or building blocks such as meeting notes, email drafts and review trackers.

Document tabs and pageless mode

A document can be split into tabs for each part of a project or report, and pageless mode removes page breaks for continuous writing.

Gemini in Docs

Drafts and restyles documents from prompts, drawing on a user's Drive, Gmail and Chat. Among Business editions it starts at Business Standard; Starter does not include it.

Word and PDF files

Microsoft Word documents can be edited directly without making a copy, or converted to Docs format. PDF files can be imported and worked on as well.

Offline editing

Documents can be opened, created and edited without a connection. On a computer this requires Chrome or Microsoft Edge with the Google Docs Offline extension.

Proton Docs

End-to-end encryption

Documents are encrypted on your device before they are uploaded, and only you hold the keys, so nobody else can read them. Proton says that includes Proton itself.

Real-time collaboration

See who else is viewing or editing a document and follow their cursors live. Every update stays end-to-end encrypted.

Suggestions and comments

Collaborators can propose edits as highlighted suggestions to accept or reject, and discuss a passage in threaded comments attached to the text.

Sharing controls

Invite people by email or with a sharing link, including people without a Proton Account, choose whether they can view or edit, and revoke access at any time.

Import and export

Opens .docx, .txt, .md and .html files stored in Proton Drive for editing, and downloads documents as .docx, .html, .txt, .md or .pdf.

Rich text editing

The toolbar covers text styles, fonts, colors and highlights, code blocks, numbered, bulleted and check lists, quotes, dividers, images and tables.

Google Docs

• Personal Google Account$0

  Create, edit and share documents in a browser or the mobile apps, with comments, version history and offline access.

• Business Starter$7

  per user / month, 1-year commitment ($8.40 flexible)

  Google Workspace with Docs and 30 GB of pooled storage per user. Gemini in Docs and eSignature are not included.

• Business Standard$14

  per user / month, 1-year commitment ($16.80 flexible)

  2 TB of pooled storage per user. The lowest Business edition with Gemini in Docs and eSignature with Docs and PDFs.

• Business Plus$22

  per user / month, 1-year commitment ($26.40 flexible)

  Everything in Standard with 5 TB of pooled storage per user, plus Vault, eDiscovery and advanced endpoint management.

• EnterpriseCustom

  No minimum or maximum user count, with data loss prevention, context-aware access and data regions; priced through Google sales.

Proton Docs

• Proton Free$0

  5 GB of storage for files, photos and documents, with the online document and spreadsheet editor.

• Drive Plus$3.99

  per month, billed yearly at $47.88 ($4.99 billed monthly)

  Proton Drive with Docs, 200 GB of storage and 10 years to recover previous file versions.

• Drive Professional$7.99

  per user / month, billed yearly ($9.99 billed monthly)

  Team plan for Proton Drive with Docs: 1 TB per user, user access management and sync across devices and users.

• Proton Unlimited$9.99

  per month, billed yearly at $119.88 ($12.99 billed monthly)

  500 GB of storage plus Proton VPN, Proton Mail, Proton Calendar and Proton Pass alongside Drive and Docs.

• Proton Duo$14.99

  per month, billed yearly at $179.88 ($19.99 billed monthly)

  Everything in Unlimited for up to 2 users, with 2 TB of storage and advanced account protection.

• Proton Family$23.99

  per month, billed yearly ($29.99 billed monthly)

  3 TB of storage for up to 6 users, with the Proton premium products that are included in Duo.

Google Docs

• Annual discount

  Save 16% with a 1-year commitment

  Business Starter is $7 per user per month on the Annual/Fixed-Term Plan against $8.40 on the Flexible Plan. Standard drops from $16.80 to $14 and Plus from $26.40 to $22.

• Nonprofit

  Google Workspace for Nonprofits at $0

  Eligible nonprofits get Google Workspace for Nonprofits at $0, or Business Standard at $3.50 and Business Plus at $6.16 per user per month on a 1-year commitment.

• Education

  Education Fundamentals at no charge

  Google Workspace for Education Fundamentals, which includes Docs, is available at no charge to qualifying institutions.

Proton Docs

• Annual discount

  20% to 25% off with yearly billing

  Billed yearly, Drive Plus is $3.99 a month instead of $4.99 (20% off), Proton Unlimited is $9.99 instead of $12.99 (23% off) and Proton Duo is $14.99 instead of $19.99 (25% off).

• Education

  Student discount on Proton Unlimited

  Students verified through Student Beans get 62% off Proton Unlimited for the first 12 months. The subscription then renews at the regular price.

• Nonprofit

  Reduced pricing for nonprofits

  Proton offers nonprofit organizations reduced pricing through a customized quote from its sales team. No fixed percentage is published.