Proton adds encrypted spreadsheets to its expanding productivity suite

Proton has expanded its privacy-focused productivity software suite to include an end-to-end encrypted spreadsheet app.

The Swiss software vendor is perhaps best known for its encrypted email service, but has also begun to add a wider range of cloud-based tools in recent years with a focus on security and privacy. That began with the launch in 2022 of Proton Drive, its cloud storage platform, followed by a collaborative document editor last year. 

On Wednesday, Proton unveiled Sheets, which it described in a blog post as an “easy-to-use, end-to-end encrypted spreadsheet” that lets businesses collaborate and manage private data “without [worrying] about data collection or any confidential information being used for AI training.” 

Sheets includes spreadsheet functionality that should be familiar to Excel and Google Sheets users, including data visualizations, formulas for calculations, and live editing for real-time collaboration. Sheets is accessible from any device, and access controls enable users to select who can view and edit shared files. 

The app is “private-by-default,” which means all information entered by a user, including metadata such as filenames, is “secure, private, and can only be accessed with their permission,” Proton said.

“With the launch of Proton Sheets, we are not just closing the productivity gap — we are reclaiming data sovereignty for businesses and individuals alike,” said Anant Vijay Singh, head of product for Proton Drive. 

He argued that spreadsheet tools are built by tech companies whose business models depend on “exploiting user data.” As AI features are embedded into those platforms, Singh said risks have “escalated exponentially,” with the potential for every keystroke and formula to be fed into AI model training.

“This is an unacceptable trade-off,” he said. Proton Sheets provides “a robust, privacy-first alternative that puts control, security, and trust back where they belong — firmly in users’ hands.”

Proton Sheets is now generally available to Proton Drive free and paid plans.