Security

Should you build your own Proton Unlimited?

Encrypted email, calendar, VPN, password manager, and cloud storage

Worth subscribing · the value goes beyond code
Price $12.99/moEstimated savings $120/yrEstimated time not a true replacement; consolation build in one to two daysCategory SecurityCatalog votes 0

Do not mistake the interface for the product. Proton Unlimited's durable value is security, infrastructure, trust, which a solo one-shot build cannot reproduce responsibly. The prompt therefore builds only the closest honest personal consolation tool.

ENOriginal research content in English. Original prompt preserved in English.

The complete prompt
Build the closest honest consolation tool inspired by Proton Unlimited; do not claim to replace its structural moat.
Use exactly this stack: Go 1.24 + SQLite.
Primary job: Build a local diagnostic or backup companion for privacy suite; do not claim to replace audited security, identity, VPN, or cloud-storage infrastructure.
Start from an empty folder and create the complete working project.
Make the default mode single-user and private.
Store user data locally unless the core job requires the declared self-hosted database.
Do not add analytics, telemetry, ads, or third-party accounts.
Put every secret and external credential in .env and provide .env.example.
Use realistic sample data that is clearly labelled and easy to delete.
Implement the smallest polished interface that completes the core loop end to end.
Include clear empty, loading, validation, success, and failure states.
Add import and export so the user is not trapped in the app.
Use accessible keyboard navigation, labels, focus states, and sensible contrast.
Validate untrusted input and never log secrets or private file contents.
Deliberately exclude these paid-product advantages: calendar-provider edge cases and timezone correctness; audited cryptography and incident response; global network or redundant storage infrastructure.
Do not fake integrations, network effects, proprietary data, model quality, compliance, or security claims.
Where an external API is optional, keep the app useful without it and explain the degraded mode.
Write focused unit tests for the data model and the most important workflow.
Add one end-to-end smoke test that proves the core loop works.
Create a README with setup, permissions, architecture, data location, backup, and limitations.
Add scripts for install, development, test, build, and a production-style local run.
Run the tests and build before finishing, then fix errors rather than merely describing them.

The prompt opens pre-filled in your agent. Review it before running. · this prompt is generated from the build plan · improve it via PR

Original prompt preserved in English.

What would building your own look like?

Build a local diagnostic or backup companion for privacy suite; do not claim to replace audited security, identity, VPN, or cloud-storage infrastructure.

What you will need

Why paying can still make sense

Proton Unlimited: Security subscriptions buy professional operations, audits, response capacity, redundancy, and accountability when something goes wrong.

What you lose

xcalendar-provider edge cases and timezone correctness

xaudited cryptography and incident response

xglobal network or redundant storage infrastructure

xidentity, credit, or broker-removal operations

xrecovery guarantees and regulated trust

prior art · use these instead of building, if you’d ratherNextcloudOpen-source file sync, sharing, and collaboration server.↗SyncthingPeer-to-peer continuous file synchronization.↗
Share on X ↗"I just replaced Proton Unlimited ($12.99/mo) with one prompt"
Plans and pricing

How much does Proton Unlimited cost?

In your currency · US DollarChecked on 10/20/2026
Monthly billing
$12.99/mo
Per year
$156/yr
Annual billing
$120/yr23% cheaper than paying monthly
Buy on the official site

You complete the purchase on Proton Unlimited’s site. Vibe Radar does not handle payments.

PlanMonthlyAnnual (per month)What is included
proton free$0/user$0/user1 user; 1 email address; 1 GB storage initially, expandable to 5 GB by completing account actions; limited VPN and Pass
proton unlimited$12.99/user$9.99/user1 user; 500 GB storage; 15 email addresses; 3 custom domains; 10 VPN connections; up to 50 password vaults

Free tier1 user; 1 email address; 1 GB initial storage (up to 5 GB after account actions); limited VPN and password-manager access

Billing termsmonthly + annual; annual Unlimited is $9.99/month equivalent

Additional costsTaxes can be added; storage, addresses and users above the included personal limits require a different Proton plan, and discounted acquisition offers can renew at the then-current standard rate

Price historyProton Unlimited monthly plan: $11.99 → $12.99 (2023-07)

verified 2026-10-20 · source ↗

Build or buy

Is it cheaper to build or buy Proton Unlimited?

Adjust the numbers: hours to build, your hourly rate, running costs and the subscription price.

Subscribe
Build it yourself
Horizon
Subscribe$240
Build it yourself$2,160

Over 24 months, subscribing is cheaper.

Starting hours estimated from the analysis (not a true replacement; consolation build in one to two days). Does not price what you give up (support, integrations, security).

Frequently asked questions
Can I rebuild Proton Unlimited?

Not really. Proton Unlimited’s value is not the code: the moat survives one prompt. See the honest breakdown above.

How much does Proton Unlimited cost?

Proton Unlimited costs about $12.99/mo (Unlimited, checked 10/20/2026), which is $120 per year.

What do I lose by replacing Proton Unlimited?

Honestly: calendar-provider edge cases and timezone correctness; audited cryptography and incident response; global network or redundant storage infrastructure; identity, credit, or broker-removal operations; recovery guarantees and regulated trust. If any of those are load-bearing for you, keep paying.

Is there an open-source alternative to Proton Unlimited?

Yes: Nextcloud (Open-source file sync, sharing, and collaboration server.), Syncthing (Peer-to-peer continuous file synchronization.). Using prior art is also vibecoding; the prompt is for when you want it exactly your way.

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