Proton now has an end-to-end encrypted spreadsheet app | The VergeSkip to main contentThe homepageThe VergeThe Verge logo.The VergeThe Verge logo.TechReviewsScienceEntertainmentAIHamburger Navigation ButtonThe homepageThe VergeThe Verge logo.Hamburger Navigation ButtonNavigation DrawerThe VergeThe Verge logo.Login / Sign UpcloseCloseSearchTechExpandAmazonAppleFacebookGoogleMicrosoftSamsungBusinessCreatorsMobilePolicySecurityTransportationReviewsExpandLaptopsPhonesHeadphonesTabletsSmart HomeSmartwatchesSpeakersDronesScienceExpandSpaceEnergyEnvironmentHealthEntertainmentExpandGamesTV ShowsMoviesAudioAIVerge ShoppingExpandBuying GuidesDealsGift GuidesSee All ShoppingCarsExpandElectric CarsAutonomous CarsRide-sharingScootersOther TransportationFeaturesVideosExpandYouTubeTikTokInstagramPodcastsExpandDecoderThe VergecastVersion HistoryNewslettersExpandThe Verge DailyInstallerVerge DealsNotepadOptimizerRegulatorThe StepbackArchivesStoreSubscribeFacebookThreadsInstagramYoutubeRSSThe VergeThe Verge logo.Proton now has an end-to-end encrypted spreadsheet appComments DrawerCommentsLoading commentsGetting the conversation ready...NewsCloseNewsPosts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.FollowFollowSee All NewsTechCloseTechPosts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.FollowFollowSee All TechPrivacyClosePrivacyPosts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.FollowFollowSee All PrivacyProton now has an end-to-end encrypted spreadsheet appThe privacy-focused Proton Sheets tool is designed to compete with Google Sheets and Microsoft Excel.The privacy-focused Proton Sheets tool is designed to compete with Google Sheets and Microsoft Excel.by Jess WeatherbedCloseJess WeatherbedNews ReporterPosts from this author will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.FollowFollowSee All by Jess WeatherbedDec 4, 2025, 3:15 PM UTCLinkShareImage: ProtonJess WeatherbedCloseJess WeatherbedPosts from this author will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.FollowFollowSee All by Jess Weatherbed is a news writer focused on creative industries, computing, and internet culture. Jess started her career at TechRadar, covering news and hardware reviews.Proton has added a new privacy-focused spreadsheet app to its productivity suite to tempt users over from Google and Microsoft’s platforms. The new Proton Sheets tool provides real-time collaboration features and end-to-end encryption, according to Proton’s announcement, “ensuring that no one else, not even Proton, can access your spreadsheet and the information it contains.”A Proton Drive account (which provides a free tier with 5GB of storage) is required to use Proton Sheets. The Sheets tool is supported across web browsers and the Proton Drive app, and can be accessed “securely on any device,” according to Proton.The design for Proton Sheets looks similar to Excel or Google Sheets, including the white grid, toolbar locations, and overall user interface. The visual similarities were an intentional decision, according to Proton Drive product lead Anant Vijay, helping to make the interface “immediately familiar” to anyone who’s used a spreadsheet app before. The app also supports commonly-used formulas and the ability to import CSV and XLS files from other platformsThis latest release follows the launch of Proton Docs in July 2024, a word processor that similarly riffs on rival apps like Google Docs and Microsoft Word. Proton is launching the Sheets app in response to concerns around data harvesting practices used by Big Tech, especially regarding AI models like Gemini, which Google has now integrated into its own Sheets tool.“No one should need to expose their data to use a service. After Proton Docs, a spreadsheet tool was the next piece of the puzzle for a secure workspace,” says Vijay. “You can now protect your entire workspace, from your email to your calendar, your documents to your spreadsheets. No surveillance. 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Proton has introduced a new spreadsheet application, Proton Sheets, designed to compete with established platforms like Google Sheets and Microsoft Excel, addressing growing concerns around data privacy and security within productivity suites. The core feature of Proton Sheets revolves around end-to-end encryption, guaranteeing that no party, including Proton itself, can access or decrypt the data contained within the spreadsheets. This design choice directly responds to broader anxieties regarding data harvesting practices employed by major tech corporations, particularly in the context of AI development and integration, as exemplified by Google’s utilization of Gemini within Sheets. A Proton Drive account, offering a 5GB free tier, is required for access, facilitating seamless integration within Proton’s existing ecosystem.

The user interface of Proton Sheets mirrors the familiar layouts of Excel and Google Sheets, intentionally adopted to minimize the learning curve for users accustomed to traditional spreadsheet software. This design decision, led by Proton Drive product lead Anant Vijay, prioritizes immediate usability and accessibility. The application supports standard spreadsheet functionalities, encompassing the creation of formulas and the import of data from CSV and XLS file formats, further enhancing its versatility. Following the launch of Proton Docs, a word processor similarly designed to compete with Google Docs and Microsoft Word, the introduction of Proton Sheets represents the next strategic step in Proton’s commitment to establishing a secure, privacy-focused workspace. Vijay emphasized the ambition to secure an entire workspace, extending protection from email and calendars to documents and spreadsheets, ultimately eliminating the need for surveillance and data harvesting.

The application’s architecture is built around a fundamental principle: data control rests entirely with the user. This contrasts sharply with models where user data is leveraged for analysis or other purposes, a concern increasingly prevalent in the digital landscape. By employing end-to-end encryption, Proton Sheets aims to restore a sense of agency and security for users concerned about the potential misuse or exploitation of their data. The development reflects a larger trend within the technology industry, driven by regulatory pressure and user demand, towards platforms that prioritize data protection and control. The successful implementation of Proton Sheets hinges on its ability to maintain this commitment to security while delivering a functional and intuitive user experience, competing effectively against established players in the productivity software market.