Swiss-based privacy firm Proton on Thursday announced the availability of its end-to-end encrypted cloud storage for Mac users through its macOS app.
The Proton Drive app allows users to sync files between Mac and the cloud, access files offline, and free up space on local drives. Unlike iCloud, all data (including metadata) is end-to-end encrypted by default, so no one – not even Proton – can see the files.
The files are synced on-demand, meaning they don’t occupy space on the local computer until needed. Files and folders saved in the Proton Drive folder automatically sync online to Proton Drive, and changes are mirrored between local and cloud-based copies.
Once files and folders are downloaded for offline access, the Proton Drive app syncs changes with the next internet connection becomes available. Users can also access and restore previous versions of files via the web interface. At present, only files in the Proton Drive folder are synced between online and offline copies, although Proton says it is working to enable synchronization for any local folder.
The Proton Drive app also offers options in the app’s menu bar, including one-click sync pausing, sync status, quick access to Proton Drive, and service support.
Web access to Proton Drive arrived last September, followed by native mobile apps in December and a Windows app in July. The arrival of the Mac app means Proton Drive is now available on all major platforms.
Proton Drive offers 1GB of storage for free, and additional paid plans start at $4 per month for 200GB of storage, including additional features such as the ability to automatically store previous versions of a file for up to 10 years. Black Friday deals are currently available on the company’s website.
Stay tuned for additional details as they become available.