Proton, the Swiss company long associated with secure communication tools, is steadily transforming into a full-fledged productivity platform that can credibly compete with the biggest names in the field. What started as a niche, encrypted email service has evolved far beyond its original scope. The company’s 2022 rebranding—dropping the “Mail” and becoming simply Proton—signaled a shift toward a broader ecosystem of privacy-centric digital tools.
Since then, Proton has gradually assembled an entire suite designed for users who want modern cloud services without sacrificing control over their data. Its lineup now includes a highly regarded VPN, a password manager, cloud storage, and a secure email client, all protected by strong end-to-end encryption. Recently Proton also stepped into the AI space with Lumo, a generative assistant positioned as a confidential and privacy-respecting alternative to high-profile chatbots such as ChatGPT, Claude, and Gemini. Lumo’s introduction made it clear that Proton aims not only to compete feature-for-feature but also to redefine what “trustworthy AI” should look like.
The newest member of this growing ecosystem is Proton Sheets, a spreadsheet editor designed for both individual and workplace productivity. Integrated directly into Proton Drive, the app joins the existing Docs editor to form the foundation of a secure, cloud-based office suite. Proton Sheets supports real-time collaboration, allowing multiple users to work together while maintaining strict control over permissions. Owners can easily manage who is allowed to open, comment on or modify a spreadsheet—an essential capability for teams handling sensitive or confidential information.
Beyond collaboration features, the tool focuses on practicality and compatibility: it works on desktop and mobile browsers, supports importing common formats like CSV and XLS, and presents a clean interface aimed at users who want something familiar but more secure than traditional web-based spreadsheets.
What truly sets Proton Sheets apart is the security model. All documents stored or edited within the Proton ecosystem are protected with automatic end-to-end encryption—meaning even Proton itself cannot access the contents. This level of protection is still uncommon among mainstream competitors such as Google Sheets or Microsoft Excel Online, where user data typically passes through servers in a readable form. Proton’s approach ensures that spreadsheets containing financial details, business plans, research data or any other sensitive material remain private at all times.
With Proton Sheets, the company moves one step closer to offering a privacy-driven alternative to the dominant cloud office suites. Its strategy is clear: provide the convenience of modern online tools while guaranteeing that users—not service providers—retain full control over their information.
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