Cybersecurity · head to head
Chainguard vs Proton Mail
Chainguard
Cybersecurity
Secure-by-default open source software with hardened container images and libraries
- From
- Free
- Rated
- -
The short version
- Each has a real cost: Chainguard containers Catalog at 19,000 USD/year expensive for teams under 10 people; Proton Mail paid plan pricing not displayed on vendor site
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which Chainguard and Proton Mail actually diverge.
| Attribute | Chainguard | Proton Mail |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing model | Licensing by artifact type and team size | freemium |
| Platforms | Cloud, Container, VM | Web |
Identical on both: starting price (Free), free tier (Yes), user rating (Not yet rated), category (Cybersecurity).
What each one covers
Drawn from each product's published feature list. An absence here means we hold no record of it - not that the product lacks it.
Only in Chainguard
- Hardened container images
- CVE remediation SLA
- SLSA L2/L3 builds
- Sigstore signatures
- SBOM generation
- Language libraries
- VM images
- Artifact scanning
Only in Proton Mail
Nothing recorded that Chainguard does not also cover.
What people use each for
The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.
Chainguard
- Deploying hardened container images with minimal attack surfacenot Proton Mail
- Meeting supply chain security requirements for regulated industriesnot Proton Mail
- Reducing CVE exposure with contractual remediation guaranteesnot Proton Mail
- Building secure language packages with automatic backportsnot Proton Mail
- Verifying artifact provenance with Sigstore signaturesnot Proton Mail
Proton Mail
- Encrypted email communicationnot Chainguard
- Privacy-focused email servicenot Chainguard
- Family email protectionnot Chainguard
Where each one falls short
Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.
Chainguard
- Containers Catalog at 19,000 USD/year expensive for teams under 10 people
- Per-image pricing for containers requires custom quotes with no transparency
- Free tier limited to 5 container images for testing
- Libraries pricing by ecosystem and developer count lacks transparent per-developer cost
- VM image catalog pricing opacity makes cost estimation difficult
Proton Mail
- Paid plan pricing not displayed on vendor site
- Free tier limited to 1 GB storage
- Free tier limited to single email address
Pricing, plan by plan
Chainguard
Free- Free TierFree
- Five container images to test and deploy
- Containers Per-Image$undefined/custom
- Licensed by quantity and type
- Base images, application images, AI/ML images, FIPS variants
- Custom pricing per image
- Containers Catalog$19000/year
- For 10-person engineering teams
- 2,000+ container images
- Contractual CVE remediation SLAs
- Libraries Licensing$undefined/custom
- Licensed by ecosystem (Python, Java, JavaScript)
- Licensed by developer count
- Unlimited pulls with no metering
Proton Mail
FreeNo published plan breakdown. See the Proton Mail review.
Which should you pick?
Choose Chainguard if
- You need hardened container images.
- You want to start without paying.
- You work on Cloud, Container, VM.
- You also want cve remediation sla.
Questions people ask
- Is Chainguard or Proton Mail better?
- Neither clearly leads. Chainguard starts at Free and Proton Mail at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
- Which is cheaper, Chainguard or Proton Mail?
- Chainguard starts at Free and Proton Mail at Free.
- Does Chainguard or Proton Mail run on more platforms?
- Chainguard runs on Cloud, Container, VM. Proton Mail runs on Web.
- Can I use Chainguard for free?
- Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
- What is Chainguard best used for?
- Chainguard is most often used for deploying hardened container images with minimal attack surface, meeting supply chain security requirements for regulated industries, reducing cve exposure with contractual remediation guarantees, building secure language packages with automatic backports. Of those, deploying hardened container images with minimal attack surface and meeting supply chain security requirements for regulated industries are not what Proton Mail is typically brought in for.
- What can Chainguard do that Proton Mail cannot?
- Chainguard covers Hardened container images, CVE remediation SLA, SLSA L2/L3 builds, Sigstore signatures.
Answered from the vendors’ own pages
Chainguard: How much is the Chainguard Containers Catalog?
The Containers Catalog is 19,000 USD per year for 10-person engineering teams, providing access to 2,000+ hardened container images.
SourceProton Mail: Is there a free version of Proton Mail?
Yes, Proton Mail offers a free plan with 1 GB storage, 1 encrypted email address, and basic features like folders, labels, and filters.
SourceChainguard: What SLAs does Chainguard offer?
Chainguard provides contractual CVE remediation SLAs: 7 days for critical vulnerabilities, 14 days for high/medium/low severity, all with priority support.
SourceProton Mail: What does the Mail Plus plan include?
Mail Plus includes 15 GB storage, 10 encrypted email addresses, support for 1 custom domain, 10 hide-my-email aliases, priority support, and access to Proton Calendar.
SourceChainguard: Can I try Chainguard before purchasing?
Yes. The free tier includes five container images for testing and deployment, allowing hands-on evaluation.
SourceProton Mail: What is included in Proton Unlimited?
Proton Unlimited provides 500 GB storage, 15 email addresses, 3 custom domains, unlimited hide-my-email aliases, access to Mail, Calendar, VPN, Drive, and Pass, plus dedicated support.
SourceProton Mail: Does Proton Mail offer a money-back guarantee?
Yes, Proton Mail provides a 30-day money-back guarantee for paid plans.
SourceRelated pages
More on Proton Mail
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