Proton Scribe Review 2026: A Privacy-First AI Writing Assistant for Proton Mail

If you’re a Proton Mail user, you’ve probably noticed the AI writing toolbar sitting right inside the compose window — that’s Proton Scribe (part of Business), Proton’s built-in writing assistant. I’ve been testing it out, and here’s my honest take.

What Is Proton Scribe?

Proton Scribe is an AI writing assistant baked directly into Proton Mail. It sits in the compose toolbar and offers a few key actions: Write for me, Proofread, Expand, and Shorten. It’s designed with Proton’s signature privacy focus front and center — which, as we’ll get to, is one of its biggest selling points.

Getting Started

Setup is straightforward. When you first use Scribe, you’re presented with two options:

• Securely run on device — your data never leaves your machine, but requires a download and compatible hardware.
• Securely run on Proton servers — faster processing, and Proton promises no logs are kept to protect your privacy.

For most users, the Proton server option is the practical choice. It’s quick to get going and doesn’t require any additional setup beyond clicking “Get started.”

How It Works in Practice

Using Scribe is dead simple. You type a quick prompt in the compose area — something like “Write a hello world mail” — and within seconds it drafts a clean, coherent email for you. The result is appropriately short and friendly:

Hi there,

Just wanted to say hello! How’s it going?

Best,

For quick, simple replies and casual emails, it genuinely delivers. The output is natural, well-structured, and ready to send with minimal editing.

What’s Good

• Privacy-first design — whether on-device or on Proton’s no-log servers, your email content isn’t being fed into a third-party AI pipeline.
• Seamlessly integrated — it lives right in the compose window, no switching tabs or copy-pasting.
• Useful for simple writing tasks — drafting short replies, polishing grammar with Proofread, or adjusting length with Expand/Shorten all work well.
• Low friction — the setup takes under a minute, and the UI is clean and intuitive.

What’s Missing

Here’s where Scribe still has room to grow. Right now, it’s essentially a compose assistant — and not much more. A few features I’d love to see:

• Email summarization — long threads can be hard to parse. A “Summarize this thread” button would be a game-changer for productivity.
• Smart categorization — automatically tagging or sorting emails by topic or urgency would bring Scribe closer to a true inbox assistant.
• Pre-generated responses — this one would be a standout feature. You often get similar emails that warrant similar replies. If Scribe could detect patterns and pre-draft a suggested response before you even open the compose window, that would save a significant amount of time.

These aren’t dealbreakers, but they do mean Scribe currently punches below its potential as a full AI email assistant.

Pricing & Availability

Proton Scribe is available as part of Proton Duo or Family. If you need it for your team, it’s also included in Proton for Business. For a few euros extra a month, it’s a solid addition — especially if you already trust Proton with your email.

Verdict

Proton Scribe is a great start. If you care about privacy and want a no-fuss assistant for drafting and polishing emails, it does the job well. The privacy model is genuinely reassuring, and the core writing features work smoothly.

But if you’re hoping for a smarter inbox co-pilot — one that summarizes threads, categorizes your mail, and anticipates your replies — you’ll find it a bit limited for now. Here’s hoping those features are on the roadmap, because the foundation is clearly there.

Polished, private, and practical for basic writing tasks. Just needs more brains.

Last Updated on 1 April 2026