Proton Launches Sheets, a Private Alternative to Google and Excel for Privacy
Proton Sheets is a client-side encrypted spreadsheet tool that existing Proton Drive users can use for free.
Written by Jackie Leavitt (Editor at Large)
Reviewed by Aleksander Hougen (Chief Editor)
Last Updated:
Proton has taken one step closer to becoming a full productivity business suite by launching its latest service, Proton Sheets, a client-side, end-to-end encrypted spreadsheet tool — this means not even Proton can access the spreadsheets or even metadata. The launch of Proton Sheets follows shortly after the launch of Proton Docs.
Proton now offers the following services, all with the same level of privacy and security:
- Email: Proton Mail
- VPN: Proton VPN
- Cloud storage: Proton Drive
- Password manager: Proton Pass
- Authentication: Proton Authenticator
- Wallet: Proton Wallet
- Calendar: Proton Calender
- Docs: Proton Docs
- Sheets: Proton Sheets
- AI: Lumo AI
- Video chat app: Proton Meet (in beta)
Anyone with a Proton Drive account can use Proton Sheets for free; users can access it via Proton Drive by clicking “new” and “new sheet.”
Proton is pitching this as an alternative to Excel and Google, offering an option without surveillance or data harvesting. Google has embedded its AI tool into many of its services, including Google Sheets, which means data is used to train and improve its AI services.
Although Proton has its own AI tool, Lumo AI, where all chats are client-side encrypted, and Lumo uses its existing knowledge to answer questions — though users can opt to have Lumo search the internet for more recent data.
Stay tuned as we dive into the functionality of these new Proton services and update our reviews.