Proton Sheets Launches as Encrypted Alternative to Google Sheets

[MacRumors]

Proton today announced the launch of Proton Sheets, its end-to-end encrypted spreadsheet web application designed to offer a privacy-focused alternative to Google Sheets and Microsoft Excel.

Unlike traditional spreadsheet tools, Proton Sheets encrypts all user data by default, including filenames and metadata. That means no one, not even Proton, can access the contents of users' spreadsheets. The company says the new tool is a response to growing concerns about Big Tech's data collection practices and the integration of AI features that may use proprietary business information for training purposes.

Proton Sheets supports commonly used formulas, data visualization through charts and graphs, and real-time collaboration features. Users can import existing CSV and XLS files, which are then protected with encryption. The application includes access controls that let users manage who can view or edit files.

"With the launch of Proton Sheets, we are not just closing the productivity gap – we are reclaiming data sovereignty for businesses and individuals alike," said Anant Vijay Singh, head of product at Proton Drive. "The reality today is that most spreadsheet tools come from Big Tech giants whose entire business models are built on exploiting user data. Now, with AI woven deeply into these platforms, the risks have escalated exponentially. Every keystroke, every formula you enter can feed into their AI training pipelines. This is an unacceptable trade-off. Users deserve a future free from hidden surveillance and invasive data mining. That's why we built Proton Sheets: a robust, privacy-first alternative that puts control, security, and trust back where they belong – firmly in users hands."

The spreadsheet tool is available through web browsers and within the Proton Drive app. Following the release, Proton Drive now offers a range of productivity tools that includes email, calendar, documents, and spreadsheets, all with built-in encryption.

More information about Proton Sheets is available on the Proton website.

Article Link: Proton Sheets Launches as Encrypted Alternative to Google Sheets

 

[cjsuk]

Yadda yadda big tech companies this that this that.

Proton are literally now gatekeeping your spreadsheets in their cloud. This is just changing one problem for another.

Just use LibreOffice or Numbers and keep the files offline ffs. Hell even Excel is better than this idea.

 

[UliBaer]

It's a big difference whether "the cloud" (=your data) is located in America (Microsoft and all similar services, btw) or if it is located in Europe - at least for us Europeans!

 

[JackNL]

Number in combination with iCloud + Advanced Data Protection is also an alternative to local storage.

 

[TwoBytes]

Is this for crime organisation tax returns?

 

[TheOldChevy]

Yadda yadda big tech companies this that this that.

Proton are literally now gatekeeping your spreadsheets in their cloud. This is just changing one problem for another.

Just use LibreOffice or Numbers and keep the files offline ffs. Hell even Excel is better than this idea.

These are two different problems: encryption and isolation.

 

[cjsuk]

These are two different problems: encryption and isolation.

When they're in the same place they are the same problem.

 

[MangoAvocado]

Yadda yadda big tech companies this that this that.

Proton are literally now gatekeeping your spreadsheets in their cloud. This is just changing one problem for another.

Just use LibreOffice or Numbers and keep the files offline ffs. Hell even Excel is better than this idea.

Exactly, you don’t want big tech to spy on your documents? Keep them on your computer. For those documents which you need to collaborate with others 99% have a Google account. If Big G wants to see my ****** excel skills let them be my guest.
If you’re a CFO and using Google Sheets, are you okey?

 

[cjsuk]

It's a big difference whether "the cloud" (=your data) is located in America (Microsoft and all similar services, btw) or if it is located in Europe - at least for us Europeans!

Actually when I recently did a risk assessment, despite being a European entity, exactly the same risks were outlined for each geographic region. The EU-US Data Privacy Framework and nearly all local legislation thanks to the recent proposed changes aren't sufficient to protect customer data under their own requirements. Most orgs are sticking their fingers in their ears and hoping there won't be problems. We don't get that luxury.

 

[fguerraz]

Yadda yadda big tech companies this that this that.

Proton are literally now gatekeeping your spreadsheets in their cloud. This is just changing one problem for another.

Just use LibreOffice or Numbers and keep the files offline ffs. Hell even Excel is better than this idea.

And how do you share and collaborate on your cute local spreadsheets?

Also, Proton isn't gatekeeping s..t: they have public APIs, desktop clients, you can export as Xls, etc. "Their cloud" is very different from anyone else's: they have no interest in gatekeeping your data because they can't do anything with it.

 

[chmania]

Google Sheets is free for individual users with a Google Account, and that Google account is also free. And, every Google Account comes with 15 GB of free cloud storage. Anyway, Numbers is absolutely free, all you need is to learn how to use it. External storage, these days is pretty cheap. So, why pay for Proton?

 

[titanium69]

This is excellent. It`s about time we start to break down these tech monopolies. It benefits us all!

 

[cjsuk]

And how do you share and collaborate on your cute local spreadsheets?

Also, Proton isn't gatekeeping s..t: they have public APIs, desktop clients, you can export as Xls, etc. "Their cloud" is very different from anyone else's: they have no interest in gatekeeping your data because they can't do anything with it.

I think everyone has forgotten that we did this before the cloud was even a thing.

 

[HouseLannister]

Great. They are slowly replacing every default app on a phone. How long before Proton releases their own fork of Android?

 

[fguerraz]

Google Sheets is free for individual users with a Google Account, and that Google account is also free. And, every Google Account comes with 15 GB of free cloud storage. Anyway, Numbers is absolutely free, all you need is to learn how to use it. External storage, these days is pretty cheap. So, why pay for Proton?

If it's free, you're the product.

 

[q3anon]

I love Numbers. Forget that. Apple should invest more time on iWork (Pages, Number and Keynote) because they are fantastic apps and could be more, specially Pages.

 

[2low_tech]

Great. They are slowly replacing every default app on a phone. How long before Proton releases their own fork of Android?

I’m hoping they do. I have slowly migrated away from Google to Proton for my personal stuff. I still use YT and gmail( for online purchases) though.

 

[q3anon]

Never trust Proton.

 

[q3anon]

I’m hoping they do. I have slowly migrated away from Google to Proton for my personal stuff. I still use YT and gmail( for online purchases) though.

Never trust Proton.

 

[UliBaer]

Never trust Proton.

Care to elaborate on that? 🤔
Proton is a well accepted, trustworthy, open source driven company. If you have anything to inspect, you can do it.

[edit] Try that at Apple... 🤣

 

[Rafagon]

Never trust Proton.

Citation needed.

 

[iPadified]

Numbers is absolutely free

Where can I get a free of charge Mac/iPhone/iPad??? This is where part of the Apple tax goes.

 

[cjsuk]

Citation needed.

The email encryption is basically a fat lie which everyone is falling for.

There's no guarantee anything is encrypted in transit on SMTP so it may have been intercepted already. And by nature of how it works it's symmetric encryption so to store your email inbound from SMTP it has to be plaintext at some point and they have to have access to your key to encrypt that plaintext to store it in your mailbox. If they delay encryption and do it on your client, then it's stored on their equipment in plaintext or encrypted with a key they control anyway before your client connects.

The CORRECT solution is end to end encryption on email using PGP where you control the keys and manage the key distribution via a side channel, usually physical.

Of course that's actually inconvenient and requires technical knowledge so it's better not to use email for that sort of stuff and use Signal etc.

 

[Banan911]

Google Sheets is free for individual users with a Google Account, and that Google account is also free. And, every Google Account comes with 15 GB of free cloud storage. Anyway, Numbers is absolutely free, all you need is to learn how to use it. External storage, these days is pretty cheap. So, why pay for Proton?

Are you okay? You know why Google is free right?

 

[mw360]

This is great news. All this AI crap appearing in productivity apps is a serious security concern. Our clients are clamping down on it, we’ve banned our staff from actively using AI on confidential information, but passive AI snooping is getting into workflows anyway. This is the perfect time for a product like this to show up.