Cybersecurity · head to head
Ory Kratos vs Proton Mail
The short version
- Each has a real cost: Ory Kratos headless means you build every screen, which is significant work compared with a hosted login page; Proton Mail paid plan pricing not displayed on vendor site
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which Ory Kratos and Proton Mail actually diverge.
| Attribute | Ory Kratos | Proton Mail |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing model | Open-source self-hosted, with a paid managed network | freemium |
| Platforms | Linux, Docker, Kubernetes, Self-hosted | 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 Ory Kratos
- Headless API
- Self-service flows
- Multi-factor authentication
- Pluggable identity schemas
Only in Proton Mail
Nothing recorded that Ory Kratos does not also cover.
What people use each for
The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.
Ory Kratos
- Products needing complete control over the look and flow of authenticationnot Proton Mail
- Applications that must not hand user identity data to a third partynot Proton Mail
- Teams building identity as infrastructure across several servicesnot Proton Mail
Proton Mail
- Encrypted email communicationnot Ory Kratos
- Privacy-focused email servicenot Ory Kratos
- Family email protectionnot Ory Kratos
Where each one falls short
Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.
Ory Kratos
- Headless means you build every screen, which is significant work compared with a hosted login page
- More moving parts than a monolithic IAM: Kratos handles identity, and OAuth2 needs Ory Hydra alongside
- Documentation assumes real familiarity with identity concepts and is not a gentle introduction
- Self-hosting identity carries the security and availability burden that hosted providers absorb
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
Ory Kratos
Free- Self-hostedFree
- Full identity server
- All flows
- Community support
Proton Mail
FreeNo published plan breakdown. See the Proton Mail review.
Which should you pick?
Choose Ory Kratos if
- You need headless api.
- You want to start without paying.
- You work on Linux, Docker, Kubernetes, Self-hosted.
- You also want self-service flows.
Questions people ask
- Is Ory Kratos or Proton Mail better?
- Neither clearly leads. Ory Kratos 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, Ory Kratos or Proton Mail?
- Ory Kratos starts at Free and Proton Mail at Free.
- Does Ory Kratos or Proton Mail run on more platforms?
- Ory Kratos runs on Linux, Docker, Kubernetes, Self-hosted. Proton Mail runs on Web.
- Can I use Ory Kratos for free?
- Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
- What is Ory Kratos best used for?
- Ory Kratos is most often used for products needing complete control over the look and flow of authentication, applications that must not hand user identity data to a third party, teams building identity as infrastructure across several services. Of those, products needing complete control over the look and flow of authentication and applications that must not hand user identity data to a third party are not what Proton Mail is typically brought in for.
- What can Ory Kratos do that Proton Mail cannot?
- Ory Kratos covers Headless API, Self-service flows, Multi-factor authentication, Pluggable identity schemas.
Answered from the vendors’ own pages
Ory Kratos: Is Ory Kratos free?
Yes, open source and free to self-host. Ory Network is a paid managed service.
Proton 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.
SourceOry Kratos: What does headless mean here?
Kratos provides identity flows as APIs and no user interface. You build the login, registration and recovery screens yourself.
Proton 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.
SourceOry Kratos: Does Kratos do OAuth2?
No. Kratos handles user identity; OAuth2 and OpenID Connect provider functionality is Ory Hydra, a separate component.
Proton 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
Other head to heads
- Ory Kratos vs 1Password
- Ory Kratos vs Bitdefender Total Security
- Ory Kratos vs Norton 360
- Ory Kratos vs LastPass
- Ory Kratos vs Snyk
- Ory Kratos vs Bitwarden
- Ory Kratos vs Brave Browser
- Ory Kratos vs Clerk
- Ory Kratos vs CrowdStrike Falcon
- Ory Kratos vs Kaspersky Total Security
- Ory Kratos vs Mullvad VPN
- Ory Kratos vs OneTrust
- Ory Kratos vs Private Internet Access
- Ory Kratos vs Tuta
- Ory Kratos vs Akeyless
- Ory Kratos vs Doppler
- Ory Kratos vs Frontegg
- Ory Kratos vs Infisical
- Proton Mail vs 1Password
- Proton Mail vs Bitdefender Total Security
- Proton Mail vs Norton 360
- Proton Mail vs LastPass
- Proton Mail vs Snyk
- Proton Mail vs Bitwarden
- Proton Mail vs Brave Browser
- Proton Mail vs Clerk
- Proton Mail vs CrowdStrike Falcon
- Proton Mail vs Kaspersky Total Security
- Proton Mail vs Mullvad VPN
- Proton Mail vs OneTrust
- Proton Mail vs Private Internet Access
- Proton Mail vs Tuta
- Proton Mail vs Akeyless
- Proton Mail vs Doppler
- Proton Mail vs Frontegg
- Proton Mail vs Infisical