Proton Unveils Sheets: Encrypted Alternative to Google Sheets and Excel

Proton, the Swiss privacy-focused tech firm behind Proton Mail, has launched Sheets — an encrypted web-based spreadsheet service designed to rival Google Sheets and Excel. The platform encrypts all files and metadata by default, preventing access even by the service developers. It is available through a web browser and the Proton Drive app.

Key features and how it works

Proton Sheets supports familiar spreadsheet features such as formulas, charts, and real-time collaboration. Users can import common formats, including CSV (Comma-Separated Values) and XLS (Excel) files, and these uploads are instantly protected. Flexible access controls let owners decide who can view, comment, or edit documents.

• Real-time collaboration with others while maintaining data privacy
• Automatic encryption of files and metadata
• Import and export support for CSV and XLS
• Granular permissions and sharing settings

Privacy-driven design

All data is encrypted at rest and in transit, so confidentiality remains intact even during collaboration. The approach reflects Proton's commitment to privacy and aims to reduce risks associated with using personal data to train AI systems by large technology companies.

About Proton

Proton is a Swiss company founded in 2014 by researchers from CERN. It offers a suite of privacy-first tools, including Proton Mail, Proton Calendar, Proton Docs, Proton Pass, and Proton Drive, all designed to protect user information.

According to Anant Vijaysingh, head of Proton Drive, Sheets was developed in response to growing privacy concerns around how data could be used to train AI models in major tech products.

Expert commentary

Expert comment: Security experts laud the privacy-centric approach, while noting the importance of performance and user adoption for real-world impact. The success of Proton Sheets will depend on how smoothly it handles large spreadsheets and fast collaboration under varying networks.

Summary

Proton Sheets offers a privacy-first path for collaborative spreadsheets by encrypting data and metadata automatically. It supports CSV and XLS imports, real-time editing, and flexible access controls, all accessible via browser and Proton Drive. The platform aligns with Proton's broader ecosystem of secure tools and could influence how organizations approach shared documents in the future.

Key insight: Encrypting both data and metadata, together with precise access controls, sets a new standard for secure, collaborative spreadsheets.