Proton Introduces Secure Spreadsheet App

Proton has rolled out a new spreadsheet application called Proton Sheets, emphasizing privacy and security. This app aims to attract users away from the widely-used spreadsheet platforms of Google and Microsoft.

Distinguished by its end-to-end encryption, Proton Sheets ensures that spreadsheets remain confidential, inaccessible even to Proton itself. The application supports real-time collaboration, strengthening its appeal to users concerned with data privacy.

Getting Started with Proton Sheets

To utilize Proton Sheets, users need to have a Proton Drive account, which offers a complimentary 5GB storage option. The tool functions seamlessly across various web browsers and is integrated into the Proton Drive app, allowing secure access from any device.

Visually, Proton Sheets resembles popular spreadsheet programs like Excel and Google Sheets, featuring similar grid layouts and toolbars. As stated by Anant Vijay, the Proton Drive product lead, these design choices were deliberate to provide users a sense of familiarity when transitioning from other spreadsheet software.

Compatibility and Features

The application supports widely-used spreadsheet formulas and permits importation of CSV and XLS files, enhancing its interoperability with other platforms.

Proton Sheets follows the recent introduction of Proton Docs, a document editor that also mirrors features found in other major productivity software like Google Docs and Microsoft Word. This expansion is part of Proton’s initiative to address user concerns about the data harvesting practices prevalent among big tech companies, particularly those involving AI technologies like Gemini, which Google has integrated into their spreadsheet offerings.

Enhancing Privacy in Digital Workspaces

According to Vijay, a spreadsheet application was the necessary addition after the release of Proton Docs to complete a secure online workspace suite. “You can now safeguard every aspect of your workspace, from emails and calendars to documents and spreadsheets, free from surveillance and data extraction practices,” he emphasized.