My Proton Pass Experience After 3 Years: Why I Left Google Password Manager

TL;DR: I switched from Google Password Manager to Proton Pass, and after using Proton Pass for around three years, I still prefer it. The biggest reason is not just password storage. It is the combination of end-to-end encryption, email aliases, passkeys, built-in 2FA, dark web monitoring, and freedom from being locked inside Chrome.

But let me be clear upfront.

Proton Pass is not perfect. Autofill is not always as instant as Google’s. Some websites behave weirdly with email aliases. And if you only use Chrome on Android, Google Password Manager will feel more convenient.

Still, I renewed Proton Pass again.

When Proton Pass first launched, I grabbed their introductory offer at around €12 per year for Pass Plus. That was a no-brainer for me.

Proton Pass has matured a lot. The free plan is genuinely usable, the paid plan has become more feature-rich, and the product feels less like a new Proton side-project and more like a serious password manager.

Quick note: This is my personal experience after using Proton Pass. Password manager pricing and plan limits can change, so always check Proton’s official pricing page before buying.

Why did I switch from Google Password Manager?

Short answer: I wanted my password manager to be separate from my browser and advertising ecosystem.

Google Password Manager is convenient. I will not pretend otherwise. If you use Chrome, Android, and a Google account everywhere, it works without much thinking.

That convenience is exactly why I used it for a long time.

But slowly, it started feeling uncomfortable. My browser, search history, email, Android phone, saved passwords, and account recovery were all tied to the same company. Even if Google Password Manager is technically secure, I did not like that level of dependency.

Also, I wanted features Google Password Manager did not give me properly:

• Email aliases for signups
• A proper dedicated password manager app
• Better cross-browser support
• Built-in 2FA codes inside the vault
• Dark web monitoring for aliases and email addresses
• Open-source apps and independent audits

That is where Proton Pass made sense for me.

I already liked Proton’s privacy-first approach because of Proton Mail and Proton VPN. So when Proton launched a password manager, I tried it early.

What is Proton Pass?

Short answer: Proton Pass is a privacy-focused password manager from the same company behind Proton Mail.

It stores your passwords, notes, credit cards, passkeys, and aliases. It also helps you generate strong passwords, autofill logins, share passwords securely, and monitor weak or leaked credentials.

The important difference is how Proton thinks about privacy.

Proton says Pass uses end-to-end encryption across all fields, including usernames, web addresses, notes, and other saved data. The apps are also open source and independently audited, according to Proton’s own security page.

That matters because a password manager is not just storing passwords. It is storing a map of your digital life.

Here is what Proton Pass gives you today:

• Unlimited logins, notes, and credit cards on the free plan
• Browser, mobile, desktop, and web apps
• Passkey support across devices
• 10 hide-my-email aliases on the free plan
• Unlimited aliases on Pass Plus
• Built-in 2FA authenticator on paid plans
• Dark Web Monitoring on paid plans
• Secure vault and link sharing
• Emergency Access and file attachment on Pass Plus

If you only want free unlimited password storage, the free plan is already strong. But for my usage, Pass Plus is where Proton Pass becomes truly useful.

Is Proton Pass better than Google Password Manager?

Short answer: for privacy and cross-platform control, yes. For pure Chrome convenience, no.

Google Password Manager is good at one thing: staying invisible. It saves passwords in Chrome, syncs them with your Google account, warns about weak or compromised passwords, and works well on Android.

For many people, that is enough.

But Proton Pass gives me a cleaner separation. My passwords are not tied to Chrome. My aliases are not tied to my main Gmail address. My 2FA codes are inside a dedicated encrypted vault. And I can use the same setup across Safari, Brave, Firefox, Chrome, iOS, Android, macOS, Windows, and Linux.

I am not saying Google Password Manager is unsafe. Google itself offers Password Checkup and passkey support, and it has improved password security over time.

My issue is simpler: I do not want my browser company to also be my password manager, identity layer, email provider, ad profile, and recovery system.

That is the real reason I moved.

The feature that made Proton Pass worth paying for: email aliases

Short answer: aliases changed how I sign up for websites.

This is my favourite Proton Pass feature by a big margin.

Instead of giving my real email address to every random SaaS, shopping site, newsletter, tool, or deal page, I create a unique alias. If that website leaks my email or starts sending spam, I can simply disable that alias.

My main inbox stays clean.

The free plan includes 10 hide-my-email aliases. Pass Plus includes unlimited aliases, custom domains for aliases, additional mailboxes, and the ability to send from an alias, according to Proton’s plan explanation page.

This is something Google Password Manager does not solve for me.

Yes, there are separate alias services. But having aliases inside the password manager makes the habit automatic. When I create a new login, Proton can generate the password and alias in the same flow.

That is practical security. Not theory.

My rule now: If I do not fully trust a website, I do not give it my real email address. I use a Proton Pass alias.

The only catch is that a few websites do not like alias-looking emails. It does not happen every day, but it happens. For banks, government accounts, and high-trust services, I still use my real email or a dedicated serious email address.

Proton Pass security: what I actually care about

Short answer: I care about end-to-end encryption, open source apps, audits, and not leaking unnecessary metadata.

Most password managers say they are secure. That is easy marketing.

What I like about Proton Pass is that Proton explains the security model in more detail. Proton says Pass encrypts not only passwords, but also usernames, URLs, and notes. The apps are open source, and Proton says independent audit reports are public.

That does not mean Proton Pass is magically unhackable.

No password manager is.

If your laptop has malware, if your master password is weak, if your recovery methods are messy, or if you approve phishing prompts without thinking, you can still get compromised.

But I like the default posture:

• End-to-end encryption
• Zero-knowledge design
• Open-source clients
• Independent audits
• Pass Monitor for weak, reused, and risky passwords
• Dark Web Monitoring on paid Proton plans
• Proton Sentinel for advanced account protection on paid plans

Proton’s Pass Monitor documentation says it scans for credential leaks, checks password health, and reminds you about inactive 2FA. Proton’s Dark Web Monitoring documentation says paid Proton users can monitor compromised personal data and get actions to reduce risk.

That is useful because the biggest password problem is not that people lack a vault. It is that they keep using old, weak, reused, leaked passwords and forget which accounts are risky.

Cross-platform support is better than I expected

Short answer: Proton Pass works better when you use more than one browser or operating system.

I move between macOS, iPhone, Android, Chrome, Brave, and sometimes Safari. Google Password Manager is fine when I stay inside Chrome. It becomes less attractive when I do not.

Proton Pass gives me one vault across browsers and devices.

The browser extensions work on the major browsers. The desktop apps are available for Windows, macOS, and Linux. The mobile apps work on iOS and Android. Proton’s pricing page also lists passkeys supported across all devices.

This matters more than people think.

If your password manager only feels good in one browser, you slowly stop using better privacy tools because switching becomes annoying. Proton Pass removes that friction for me.

I also compared Proton Pass with another password manager in my heylogin vs Proton Pass review. My conclusion there was similar: Proton Pass is not the flashiest option, but it is the one I trust more for my current setup.

Built-in 2FA is useful, but use it carefully

Short answer: built-in 2FA is convenient, but I do not put every critical 2FA code inside the same vault.

Proton Pass can store and autofill 2FA codes. This makes logging in much faster because you do not need a separate authenticator app for every normal account.

For regular SaaS tools, forums, shopping sites, and low-risk accounts, I like this.

For my most sensitive accounts, I still prefer keeping 2FA separate or using hardware security keys where possible. That includes core email, banking, domain registrar, and a few business-critical accounts.

This is not a Proton-specific criticism. It is just my security preference.

If one vault contains both the password and the 2FA code, compromise of that vault becomes more serious. Convenience goes up, separation goes down.

So my approach is simple: use Proton Pass 2FA for convenience where the risk is normal, but keep the highest-value accounts more separated.

What I like about Proton Pass after 3 years

Short answer: the product solves real daily problems, not just theoretical privacy concerns.

Here is what still makes me renew it:

1. Email aliases save me from spam

This alone justifies the subscription for me. I know exactly which website leaked or misused my email because each account gets a separate alias.

2. It works outside Chrome

I can use Brave today, Safari tomorrow, and Chrome when I need it. My password manager does not care.

3. The security model is easier to trust

Open source, audits, end-to-end encryption, and Swiss jurisdiction do not automatically make a product perfect. But they do make the trust conversation stronger than a closed browser-based password manager.

4. Pass Monitor gives me a cleanup list

I like tools that convert vague security advice into specific actions. Proton Pass tells me where passwords are weak, reused, or missing 2FA.

5. It fits the Proton ecosystem

If you already use Proton Mail, Proton VPN, or Proton Drive, Proton Pass feels natural. If you use Proton Unlimited, it becomes even easier to justify because Pass is part of the bundle.

This is similar to why I liked the Google Gemini student offer when Google bundled a lot of value together. I wrote about that separately in my Gemini AI Pro free for students in India post. Bundles can be great, but only when you actually use the included tools.

What I do not like about Proton Pass

Short answer: Proton Pass is private and useful, but it is not always the smoothest password manager.

Here are the honest downsides I have noticed:

• Autofill can be slower than Google – Not always, but enough that I notice it on some sites.
• Some websites dislike aliases – A few services reject alias emails or make customer support awkward when you use one.
• Advanced features take time to understand – Aliases, mailboxes, custom domains, vault sharing, and emergency access are powerful, but not instantly obvious to new users.
• Proton ecosystem lock-in is still a thing – It is privacy-friendly lock-in, but still lock-in. If you use Proton Mail, VPN, Drive, and Pass together, switching later takes effort.
• Pricing can be confusing – Proton has Free, Pass Plus, Pass Family, Proton Unlimited, and frequent promotional pricing. Always check what you are actually buying.

None of these are deal-breakers for me.

But if you expect Google-level invisible autofill everywhere, Proton Pass may feel slightly more hands-on in the beginning.

Should you use the free plan or Pass Plus?

Short answer: start with the free plan, upgrade only if aliases and security features become part of your workflow.

The free plan is enough if you only need:

• Unlimited logins
• Unlimited devices
• Browser, mobile, and desktop apps
• Password generator
• 10 hide-my-email aliases
• Basic weak/reused password alerts
• Passkey support

Pass Plus makes sense if you want:

• Unlimited hide-my-email aliases
• Built-in 2FA authenticator
• Dark Web Monitoring
• Secure vault sharing
• Secure link sharing
• Custom domain aliases
• Emergency Access
• File attachments

For me, Pass Plus is worth it because of aliases. If Proton removed unlimited aliases, I would rethink the subscription immediately.

That is the real value anchor for me.

Who should switch to Proton Pass?

Short answer: switch if you care about privacy, aliases, and browser independence.

Proton Pass is a good fit if:

• You do not want your password manager tied only to Chrome.
• You use multiple browsers or operating systems.
• You want hide-my-email aliases built into signup flow.
• You already use Proton Mail, VPN, or Unlimited.
• You prefer open-source and audited security tools.
• You want a stronger password cleanup workflow.

You can probably stay with Google Password Manager if:

• You only use Chrome and Android.
• You do not want to learn a new app.
• You do not care about email aliases.
• You want the most invisible autofill experience.
• You are not ready to pay for password management.

My honest recommendation is this: try the free plan first. Import a few logins. Use it for one week. Create aliases for low-risk websites. See if the workflow clicks.

If aliases become useful, upgrade. If not, you still get a good free password manager.

Quick FAQ

Is Proton Pass free?

Yes. Proton Pass has a free plan with unlimited logins, notes, credit cards, unlimited devices, password generator, passkeys, and 10 hide-my-email aliases. Paid plans add unlimited aliases, dark web monitoring, built-in 2FA, sharing, custom domains, and more.

Is Proton Pass safe?

Proton Pass is designed with end-to-end encryption and a zero-knowledge model. Proton also says its apps are open source and independently audited. That said, your security still depends on your master password, device safety, recovery setup, and phishing awareness.

Is Proton Pass better than Google Password Manager?

For privacy, aliases, cross-browser use, and dedicated password management, I prefer Proton Pass. For pure Chrome and Android convenience, Google Password Manager is still smoother. The right choice depends on whether you value convenience or control more.

Can Proton see my passwords?

Proton says Proton Pass uses zero-knowledge end-to-end encryption, which means Proton should not be able to read your saved passwords or vault data. Your data is encrypted before it reaches Proton’s servers.

Are Proton Pass aliases worth it?

Yes, aliases are the main reason I pay for Proton Pass. They help protect my real email address, reduce spam, and make it easier to identify which service leaked or misused my email.

Should I store 2FA codes in Proton Pass?

It is convenient for normal accounts, but I prefer keeping 2FA separate for critical accounts like email, banking, domains, and business systems. Putting passwords and 2FA in one vault is easier, but less separated.

Summing Up!

After using Proton Pass for around three years, I still think switching from Google Password Manager was the right move for me. The biggest win is not just password storage. It is aliases, privacy, cross-browser freedom, and a security model I trust more.

If you are fully inside Chrome and Android, Google Password Manager may be enough. But if you want a dedicated password manager that also protects your email identity, Proton Pass is worth trying.

My recommendation is simple: start with the free plan, then upgrade only if aliases, built-in 2FA, and dark web monitoring become useful in your daily workflow.

Are you still using Google Password Manager, or have you moved to Proton Pass, Bitwarden, 1Password, or something else? Tell me in the comments.