I find it somewhat contradictory that, as a free user, you can use Proton Mail and Proton Calendar on your smartphone without any issues, while access via the desktop app is only possible with a paid subscription. Users who primarily work on a computer, in particular, view this as an unnecessary and artificial restriction.

Personally, if I were to switch to Proton Mail Plus, I’d prefer to use the Proton Mail Bridge to connect my inbox to an email client like Thunderbird or Outlook—so the desktop app wouldn’t be a deciding factor for me at all. As a result, the current limitation acts more as a deterrent than an incentive to switch.

A slightly fairer and more consistent model, in which the basic features are equally available to free users across all platforms—that is, in the web browser, mobile app, and desktop app—would, in my view, build significantly more trust and, in the long run, increase the willingness to sign up for a paid subscription.