The short answer
A PROTON* MAIL charge is an encrypted email, VPN, calendar, and cloud drive subscription from Proton AG based in Switzerland.
Why it shows up like this
A billing descriptor reading PROTON* MAIL indicates an encrypted email, VPN, and cloud storage subscription from Proton AG. This charge appears on your statement when you maintain a paid privacy plan, such as Mail Plus or the comprehensive Proton Unlimited suite.
Operating out of Geneva, Switzerland, Proton processes payments for zero-access encrypted services on monthly, annual, or multi-year billing cycles. Subscriptions renew automatically unless you manually modify your account settings or downgrade your service tier prior to the renewal date.
To verify this transaction, log in to your account portal and inspect the dashboard settings to view active plan details and past invoices. If you want to cancel future billing, access your account dashboard, select the free tier, and confirm the downgrade. Keeping close track of your monthly statements ensures complete financial security and prevents unexpected surprises from recurring charges.
Don’t recognize it? You might still
Common triggers include annual privacy plan renewals and automated subscription billing for encrypted email services.
- An annual or 2-year Proton Unlimited plan auto-renewed on its contract date.
- A custom email domain was configured for personal or business use.
- A household member upgraded their encrypted mailbox for 500GB storage.
What to do, in order
Access your account dashboard to review billing history, download invoices, and manage subscription renewals.
- Sign in to Proton Account Open account.proton.me and log in with your username and password.
- Check Dashboard Billing Click the gear icon > All Settings > Dashboard to view active subscriptions and invoices.
- Downgrade to Free Select Explore other Proton plans and choose the Free plan to stop recurring credit card transactions.
Quick questions
Review frequently asked questions regarding subscription downgrades and prorated refund windows.
What is Proton AG's refund policy?
Proton offers a 30-day prorated refund window for annual and biennial subscriptions upon contacting contact@proton.me.
Do I lose my @proton.me email address if I cancel my subscription?
Your email address remains active on the free plan, though custom domains and extra email aliases will be disabled.
Dispute Rights & Fraud Prevention
Contact customer support or submit an online inquiry if you need assistance with account billing disputes.
Independent reference — not affiliated with Proton AG. Billing names and policies change; verify with the merchant or your bank before acting.
Verified sources
Every claim on this page is checked against official sources — open them to confirm before you call your bank.
- Proton Billing and Invoices FAQ https://proton.me
- CFPB: Disputing Credit Card Charges https://www.consumerfinance.gov
Reviewed Aug 15, 2026 · high · About UnknownCharges