Core features include common formulas, real-time collaboration, data visualization with graphs and charts, and the ability to import encrypted CSV and XLS files.

Users can import existing CSV or XLS files and protect them with end-to-end encryption, reflecting Proton’s open-source, Switzerland-based origins.

The initial release focuses on core spreadsheet features; macros and pivot tables are not included, signaling a secure data repository rather than a full Excel-equivalent.

Proton launches Proton Sheets, a privacy-first, end-to-end encrypted spreadsheet tool designed as an alternative to Google Workspace, available on web and mobile to safeguard data from AI data scraping.

Proton Drive integration enables seamless use within a secure workspace that already includes encrypted email, calendar, and document editing services.

The publication includes a standard ethics disclaimer about reporting accuracy and potential conflicts of interest, reinforcing commitment to impartiality.

Ongoing website upgrades and a contact email for glitches are noted as ancillary maintenance details rather than content core.

Proton, founded in 2014 at CERN, serves over 100 million accounts and develops products on an open-source basis.

The article situates Proton within its broader ecosystem and references related PCMag coverage for context.

The move into Sheets comes amid widespread cloud-based spreadsheet use in Europe, where about half of businesses rely on them for operations and data analysis.

Contextual support comes from Switzerland and other privacy-forward moves, with Proton framed as a regional alternative to US cloud services.

Pricing includes a 5GB free tier, smaller than Google’s 15GB, signaling potential upsell needs for storage-heavy migrations.

Independent security auditors have not publicly verified Proton Sheets’ specific implementation, though Proton’s architecture recently passed a third-party audit; enterprise features are still developing.

The interface mirrors traditional spreadsheets to minimize switching effort for users.

Access controls let users manage who can view or edit files, strengthening collaboration security.

Proton Sheets is pitched as a privacy-first option for both businesses and individuals, with more details on Proton’s business site.

The launch is framed as a major shift, aiming to preserve business data and prevent it from being used to train external AI models without consent.

Organizations should audit cloud-based spreadsheet usage and favor platforms with verifiable encryption and user-controlled access for sensitive data.

Industry context notes high spreadsheet reliance in North America and rising AI integration, underscoring concerns over data sharing and AI training without consent.

Spreadsheets can be shared with other Proton users with options to grant or revoke access as needed.

Proton positions encryption as a shield against AI training data ingestion amid concerns about data policies on current platforms.

More information and details are available on Proton’s official site and related Drive materials.

Proton emphasizes a privacy-first stance with commitments like No surveillance, No data harvesting.

Other Proton improvements—Drive, Pass, VPN, and Lumo—are planned to launch alongside or after Sheets.

Proton Sheets is free for Proton Drive account holders and benefits from Swiss privacy protections.

The interface is familiar to current spreadsheet users, with automatic encryption that requires no retraining.

Key features include real-time collaboration, end-to-end encryption, and configurable viewing/editing permissions.