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Fastmail requires payment meaning it is very closely tied to your identity. Proton is one of the very very few who do not tie a new email account to your identity via phone number, payment info or alternative email (which requires phone, payment info etc..).

Even proton only provides webmail free - pop3/imap/smtp require payment. But that's still better than 99.99% of other webmail - everyone verifies via some method that ties to your personal info.

What's sketchy about proton?

I don't know if sketchy is the right word but every* time I encounter a proton mail user on a mailing list, they are tinfoil-hat paranoid. Like they are a random nobody, but they are convinced that "the Russians" or "the Chinese" are constantly hacking at their laptop and they are constantly trying to harden everything so much one wonders why they even bother using computers at all.

* OK "every" is an exaggeration but enough that the impression has been formed.

How is Fastmail vs Proton?