Does Pulsar need a bridge app for IMAP like Proton does?

No. IMAP and SMTP are served directly on every Pulsar plan, including the free one. You configure Apple Mail, Thunderbird or any standards client against the server itself, with no local bridge process to keep running.

Is Pulsar end-to-end encrypted?

Pulsar supports OpenPGP and S/MIME on the Pro plan, so end-to-end encrypted mail works with anyone using those standards rather than only within one provider. Mail at rest is encrypted, and you can point the archive at storage you control.

Is Pulsar hosted in Europe?

Yes. Pulsar runs on EU infrastructure and is operated from France, under GDPR, with a DPA available.

Can I export my mail out of Pulsar?

Yes, as mbox, on any plan, from day one. No support ticket and no waiting period.

Comparison

Pulsar vs Proton

Proton and Pulsar want the same thing — mail that is not an advertising product. We disagree about the protocol. Proton puts a bridge between you and your mailbox; we put IMAP, SMTP and JMAP on every plan.

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Feature by feature

Pulsar Mail compared with Proton, feature by feature
Feature	Pulsar	Proton
JMAPRFC 8620 / 8621	Yes	No
IMAP and SMTP on every plan	Yes	Partial
ManageSieveRFC 5804, server-side filters	Yes	No
Runs its own MTANot a reseller	Yes	Yes
MTA-STS and DANE outbound	Yes	Partial
Bring-your-own S3 archive	Yes	No
Full mbox export	Yes	Yes
Native mobile appsStandards clients only, for now	No	Yes
Years in operation	2026	2014

Where Pulsar is the better choice

IMAP and SMTP with nothing in between

Proton's standard-protocol access is partial and routed through a local bridge application. Pulsar serves IMAP and SMTP directly on every plan, free included, so your client connects to the server.

JMAP

Pulsar implements JMAP (RFC 8620 and 8621) — one efficient, modern, batched protocol for mail, and no proprietary client requirement.

ManageSieve filters

Server-side filtering over ManageSieve (RFC 5804), so your rules run on the server and remain a script you own.

Bring your own S3 archive

Your archive can live in an S3-compatible bucket you control. That option does not exist in Proton.

Where Proton is the better choice

Proton has native mobile apps and has been running since 2014, with a far larger security team and a longer public track record. Pulsar launched in 2026. If you want first-party iOS and Android apps, or you need a provider with a decade of published audits behind it, Proton is the safer pick today.

Common questions

Does Pulsar need a bridge app for IMAP like Proton does?: No. IMAP and SMTP are served directly on every Pulsar plan, including the free one. You configure Apple Mail, Thunderbird or any standards client against the server itself, with no local bridge process to keep running.
Is Pulsar end-to-end encrypted?: Pulsar supports OpenPGP and S/MIME on the Pro plan, so end-to-end encrypted mail works with anyone using those standards rather than only within one provider. Mail at rest is encrypted, and you can point the archive at storage you control.
Is Pulsar hosted in Europe?: Yes. Pulsar runs on EU infrastructure and is operated from France, under GDPR, with a DPA available.
Can I export my mail out of Pulsar?: Yes, as mbox, on any plan, from day one. No support ticket and no waiting period.