MailGuard
Proton Pass
MailGuard vs Proton Pass: Do You Want a Generator or a Firewall?
Proton Pass is an excellent password manager with basic aliasing. MailGuard is a dedicated email firewall for power users.
MailGuard vs Proton Pass: Beyond the "Hide My Email" Button
Proton Pass is a success story. It took the technology of SimpleLogin (which Proton acquired) and integrated it directly into a password manager. It makes creating an alias as easy as creating a password.
If your goal is simply "I need a random email for this signup form," Proton Pass is perfect.
But if your goal is managing your digital identity, you need more than a generator. You need a firewall.
The Utility vs. The Platform
Proton Pass treats email aliases like passwords: static strings of text you generate once and store. MailGuard treats email aliases like active channels.
- We monitor them.
- We apply rules to them (expiry, limits, locks).
- We give you a "command line" for your inbox.
Feature Showdown
| Feature | Proton Pass (Plus) | MailGuard (Pro) | The Winner? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cost | ~$48/year | $24/year | MailGuard |
| Primary Function | Password Manager | Email Firewall | Depends on need |
| Alias Format | Random | Semantic/Custom | MailGuard |
| Custom Domains | Yes (limited in lower tiers) | Unlimited | MailGuard |
| Heuristic Filtering | No | Yes (Smart Scan) | MailGuard |
| Auto-Expiry logic | Manual toggle only | Automated (.7d) | MailGuard |
| Ecosystem Lock | High (Proton) | None (Agostic) | MailGuard |
Deep Dive: Where MailGuard Wins
1. Independence
Proton Pass hooks you into the Proton ecosystem. While Proton is a great company, putting your eggs (Email + Passwords + VPN + Drive) in one basket creates a single point of failure. MailGuard is infrastructure-agnostic. Use us with Gmail, Outlook, Fastmail, or even Proton Mail itself. We are the shield in front of your inbox, not the vault storing it.
2. The Power of "Tags"
In Proton Pass, to make an alias stop working, you have to open the app, find the login, and toggle "Address Active" to off.
In MailGuard, you can create the alias as netflix.cancel-after-trial@my-domain.com.
The logic is self-contained. You don't need to remember to cancel the alias; MailGuard remembers for you.
3. Smart Scan (The Killer Feature)
Proton Pass uses SimpleLogin's backend, which is a binary switch (On/Off). MailGuard's Smart Scan allows "Blocked" aliases to still receive OTPs and Security Alerts.
- The Scenario: You signed up for a service, then blocked the alias because of spam. Six months later, you need to log in to delete your account.
- Proton Pass: The login verification email bounces. You are stuck.
- MailGuard: We detect the OTP (One-Time Password) pattern and let it through automatically. You log in, delete the account, and never worry about it again.
Verdict
- Choose Proton Pass if: You are looking for a Password Manager first and foremost, and view email masking as a nice "bonus" feature.
- Choose MailGuard if: You already have a password manager you like (1Password, Bitwarden) and want a dedicated, best-in-class tool for email privacy that connects to everything.
Don't settle for a "bonus feature." Get the dedicated tool with MailGuard.