Proton launches its own version of Google Docs

Original Article ↗ Hacker News Discussion ↗

Proton has launched an end‑to‑end encrypted, Google Docs–style editor integrated into Proton Drive, aiming to extend its privacy‑focused ecosystem beyond email, calendar, VPN, and password management. Commenters welcome a non‑Google/Microsoft option for collaborative documents but question whether Proton is spreading itself too thin, pointing to missing standards support (CalDAV/CardDAV), sluggish or unreliable mobile and web apps, and features that feel “80% finished” compared with incumbents. The launch also revives debates over Proton’s E2EE claims, data‑sharing under legal orders, open‑source transparency, and the broader risk of concentrating too much of one’s digital life with a single provider.

Scope of Proton Docs / Drive Announcement

  • New collaborative docs editor integrated into Proton Drive; supports .docx and .txt upload, export to several formats (.docx, .pdf, .txt, .md, HTML).
  • Aimed as a private, E2EE alternative to Google Docs within Proton’s ecosystem.
  • Non‑Proton recipients must create a (free or paid) Proton account to access shared docs, which some see as collaboration friction.
  • Built on acquired Standard Notes tech and Lexical editor; not written entirely from scratch.

Ecosystem Strategy & “Half‑Baked” Concerns

  • Many paying users say Proton keeps shipping new products (Docs, Drive, Pass, VPN) while core Mail/Calendar/Contacts/Drive remain incomplete or rough.
  • Common asks: CalDAV/CardDAV support, better calendar integration with other providers, richer sharing in Drive, more stable and capable mobile apps (especially Android).
  • Some fear Proton is chasing enterprise/GSuite‑style “full stack” at the cost of polish and reliability.

Comparisons with Alternatives

  • Fastmail frequently cited as more mature for mail/calendar/contacts (DAV support, solid apps, strong spam handling) but lacks Proton’s built‑in encryption/VPN.
  • Other alternatives mentioned: self‑hosted CalDAV/CardDAV (Radicale, Baïkal), CryptPad, Zoho, HedgeDoc, Nextcloud, Bitwarden, KeePassXC, OnlyOffice.
  • Several users prefer splitting services (email, VPN, password manager, notes, docs) across different vendors to avoid “all eggs in one basket.”

Privacy, Encryption, and Legal Reality

  • Debate over Proton’s “E2EE” marketing: many emails are not end‑to‑end encrypted unless both sides use PGP.
  • Some see the marketing as overselling; others note Proton’s docs explain limits and argue expectations should be realistic.
  • Proton has complied with lawful requests (e.g., handing over IP or recovery email); critics call this “snitching,” supporters reply that operating within the law is unavoidable.
  • VPN’s usefulness is debated: from “mostly pointless” to “critical for avoiding ISP tracking and geoblocks.”

Open Source & Trust

  • Clients (including Drive) are open source in a monorepo; server side is closed.
  • Some criticize delayed code pushes and “open‑source washing,” others say open clients are mainly for verifiability, not cloning competitors.

Overall Sentiment

  • Split between enthusiasm (“finally a private Docs alternative, good enough for daily use”) and skepticism (“80%‑baked clones; fix email/calendar/mobile first; hard to rival Google’s network effects”).