sales-proton-mail

What this skill does

# Proton Mail Platform Help

Helps with everything related to using Proton Mail — the privacy-first encrypted email service with end-to-end encryption, zero-access architecture, and bundled productivity suite (Calendar, Drive, VPN, Pass). Swiss-based, 100M+ users.

## Step 1 — Gather context

If `references/learnings.md` exists, read it first for accumulated platform knowledge.

Ask the user:

1. **What are you trying to do with Proton Mail?**
   - A) Evaluating Proton Mail — is it right for me?
   - B) Migrating from Gmail/Outlook/another provider
   - C) Setting up Proton Mail Bridge for desktop clients
   - D) Comparing Proton Mail to alternatives (Tuta, Fastmail, Hey)
   - E) Managing storage, aliases, or custom domains
   - F) Troubleshooting search, Bridge, or sync issues
   - G) Evaluating Proton Mail for business/team use
   - H) Something else — describe it

2. **Which plan are you on (or considering)?**
   - A) Free (1 GB, 1 address, 150 msg/day limit)
   - B) Mail Plus (~$4/mo — 15 GB, 10 addresses, 1 custom domain)
   - C) Unlimited (~$10/mo — 500 GB, 15 addresses, 3 custom domains, VPN/Drive/Pass)
   - D) Business plan
   - E) Not sure yet

**If the user's request already provides most of this context, skip directly to the relevant step.**

## Step 2 — Route or answer directly

| Problem domain | Route to |
|---|---|
| AI email drafting or triage | `/sales-superhuman {question}` or `/sales-shortwave {question}` |
| Team shared inbox with ticketing | `/sales-helpdesk-selection {question}` |
| Inbox cleanup / unsubscribe | `/sales-clean-email {question}` |
| Server-side email filtering | `/sales-sanebox {question}` |
| Meeting scheduling | `/sales-meeting-scheduler {question}` |

When routing to another skill, provide the exact command.

If the question is about Proton Mail itself, continue to Step 3.

## Step 3 — Proton Mail platform reference

**Read `references/platform-guide.md`** for the full platform reference — capabilities, pricing, Bridge setup, migration, comparison context.

Answer the user's question using only the relevant section. Don't dump the full reference.

## Step 4 — Actionable guidance

Focus on the user's specific situation:

- **Evaluating Proton Mail**: Match their priorities. If they need AI, automation, or API access, Proton is not the right fit. If they want maximum privacy and encryption, it excels.
- **Migration**: Use Easy Switch for Gmail/Outlook. Warn about re-training contacts to use new address.
- **Bridge issues**: Check ports 1143/1025, firewall, antivirus. New Outlook is incompatible.
- **Storage**: Free tier fills fast. Upgrade to Mail Plus for 15 GB or use Drive for attachments.

If you discover a gotcha or tip not covered in `references/learnings.md`, append it there.

## Gotchas

> *Best-effort from research — review these, especially items about pricing and plan features that may change.*

- **No public API.** No official REST API, no webhooks, no Zapier, no Make. Community libraries exist (Go, Python, Node.js) but are unofficial and may break. If you need automation, Proton is the wrong tool.
- **Search is limited by encryption.** End-to-end encryption means the server cannot index message bodies. Search works on metadata and locally cached content. Finding old emails is significantly harder than Gmail.
- **Bridge required for desktop clients.** IMAP/SMTP only works through Proton Mail Bridge (Mail Plus+ required). Bridge uses ports 1143/1025 and can conflict with firewalls. New Outlook is incompatible.
- **Free tier is very limited.** 1 GB storage, 1 address, 150 messages/day, no custom domains. Fills up fast with attachments.
- **No AI features.** Unlike Superhuman or Shortwave, Proton has no AI drafting, categorization, or smart inbox. Lumo AI is nascent.
- **Leaving is costly.** Your @proton.me/@protonmail.com address dies when you stop paying. Set up forwarding before canceling.
- **Self-improving**: If you discover something not covered here, append it to `references/learnings.md` with today's date.

## Related skills

- `/sales-fastmail` — Fastmail independent email with full JMAP API, custom domains, Masked Email ($5/mo). Install:
  `npx skills add sales-skills/sales --skill sales-fastmail -a claude-code`
- `/sales-hey` — Hey privacy-first email service (Screener, Imbox/Feed/Paper Trail, no AI, $99/yr). Install:
  `npx skills add sales-skills/sales --skill sales-hey -a claude-code`
- `/sales-em-client` — eM Client desktop email client (PGP encryption, calendar/tasks, works with Proton Bridge). Install:
  `npx skills add sales-skills/sales --skill sales-em-client -a claude-code`
- `/sales-superhuman` — Superhuman email client (keyboard-driven speed, AI Write, MCP server, $25-40/mo). Install:
  `npx skills add sales-skills/sales --skill sales-superhuman -a claude-code`
- `/sales-shortwave` — Shortwave AI-native Gmail client (AI filters, Ghostwriter, MCP consumer). Install:
  `npx skills add sales-skills/sales --skill sales-shortwave -a claude-code`
- `/sales-spark-mail` — Spark Mail cross-platform AI email client (works with Proton via IMAP). Install:
  `npx skills add sales-skills/sales --skill sales-spark-mail -a claude-code`
- `/sales-sanebox` — SaneBox server-side email filtering (works with Proton Mail). Install:
  `npx skills add sales-skills/sales --skill sales-sanebox -a claude-code`
- `/sales-clean-email` — Clean Email inbox cleanup (works with any IMAP provider including Proton). Install:
  `npx skills add sales-skills/sales --skill sales-clean-email -a claude-code`
- `/sales-do` — Not sure which skill to use? The router matches any sales objective to the right skill. Install:
  `npx skills add sales-skills/sales --skill sales-do -a claude-code`

## Examples

### Example 1: Migrate from Gmail to Proton Mail
**User says**: "I want to move all my email from Gmail to Proton Mail. How do I do this?"
**Skill does**:
1. Reads platform guide for migration section
2. Explains Easy Switch: connects to Gmail via OAuth and imports emails, contacts, calendars
3. Notes: import is a one-time copy — new Gmail emails after import won't sync
4. Warns: recipients still have your old Gmail address. Set up Gmail forwarding to Proton during transition
5. Recommends Mail Plus ($4/mo) minimum for 15 GB storage — Free tier's 1 GB won't fit most Gmail exports
**Result**: Clear migration plan with storage warning

### Example 2: Bridge not connecting to Thunderbird
**User says**: "Proton Mail Bridge keeps timing out when I try to connect it to Thunderbird"
**Skill does**:
1. Reads platform guide Bridge troubleshooting section
2. Checks: is Bridge running? Are ports 1143 (IMAP) and 1025 (SMTP) free?
3. Suggests: increase Thunderbird timeout (Edit → Preferences → Config Editor → `mailnews.tcptimeout`)
4. Notes: firewalls and antivirus can block Bridge. Whitelist the Bridge process
5. If still failing: reset Bridge via Help → Clear cache, re-enter credentials
**Result**: Systematic troubleshooting for Bridge-Thunderbird connection

### Example 3: Should I use Proton or Fastmail?
**User says**: "I'm a solopreneur choosing between Proton Mail and Fastmail for my business email. I need a custom domain and I use Claude Code."
**Skill does**:
1. Compares: Proton offers E2E encryption, zero-access architecture; Fastmail offers JMAP API, speed, and IMAP without Bridge
2. Notes: Proton has no API — nothing to connect to Claude Code. Fastmail has a full JMAP API that could integrate
3. Compares pricing: Proton Mail Plus $4/mo vs Fastmail Standard ~$5/mo — similar for custom domain
4. Key difference: if automation and API access matter, Fastmail wins. If privacy is the top priority, Proton wins.
5. Notes both lack AI features — for AI email, consider Superhuman or Shortwave instead
**Result**: Decision framework based on API needs vs privacy priority

## Troubleshooting

### Search not finding emails
**Symptom**: You search for an email you know exists but Proton returns nothing
**Cause**: End-to-end encryption prev