[mmh0000]

After evaluating Proton and Fastmail, I ended up in the Fastmail camp.

My solution for notes is Joplin (https://joplinapp.org/) + Fastmail's WebDev support.

Joplin is amazing, supports arbitrary file attachments of any size, optionally encrypts every thing. Has an iOS, Andriod, Linux, Mac, and Windows app. "Just works".

[rpgbr]

Did you know that Fastmail's IMAP supports notes? You can even use it for Apple Notes backend instead of iCloud. It's a shame that Apple Notes is so awful as a simple notes apps.

[10729287]

I’m a happy FastMail and Joplin user too but don’t know too much about WebDAV protocol. Is syncing fast enough to manage your notes synced between devices ? I’m syncing Joplin (and keepass) with Dropbox but would love getting rid of it and syncthing haven’t proved to be fast enough for such sensitive files (it is for cold files). What do you think ?

[mmh0000]

It works quickly, takes a few seconds to do an entire sync, happens automatically every 5 minutes and on app close, I never really think about it.

I love that I can have the same note open on both phone and computer and changes from either side will show up.

Setting up an app to connect to Fastmail's WebDav is super simple[1]

[1] https://www.fastmail.help/hc/en-us/articles/1500000277882-Re...

[ycombinete]

Won’t WebDAV sync the whole file every time? I can’t imagine webdav being superior for this than Dropbox’s block level syncing.

Especially if Joplin files are anything like OneNote files and have the whole content of a workbook as a single file.

[noman-land]

Why did you end up choosing Fastmail over Proton?

[mmh0000]

The biggest factor was support.

I emailed both Fastmail and Proton with the same question before giving them money.

For Proton, I sent the following message: Hello I am looking to move my self hosted email to a managed provider but I currently have 12 vanity domains. Even your most expensive plan doesn't allow for that many domains. Is there a way to get approved for more domains? I would like to do the Proton Unlimited plan and would be willing to prepay for two years of service.

For Fastmail is was similar but adjusted to account for their plans.

Proton took 7 days to respond, then, the response I got was just a hand-off to a different team. I never did get an actual answer.

Fastmail on the other hand responded in less than a day, and, had a trial period that let me verify everything I wanted would work.

[selykg]

Fastmail has been about the same for me with speed of response. I don't have to reach out to them often, but when I do it's always quick.

They also don't have a limit on domains. I haven't seen any price gated functionality or any limits. I don't have 12 domains, but I do have a handful and it all works quite seamlessly.

I have been with Fastmail for probably a decade or more now. Worth it.

[arp242]

There's a limit of 100 domains, plus 1 for every user in the account.

https://www.fastmail.help/hc/en-us/articles/1500000277382-Ac...

Probably mostly there to prevent rampant abuse from spammers, scammers, or people just doing really weird shit creating millions of $thing where everyone else has a few dozen or hundred.

[selykg]

That seems reasonable. But nice catch. I didn’t know that limit existed. I have 6 lol. Long way to go before that limit impacts me

[10729287]

Not OP but personnaly I preferred the traditional approach of FastMail who has been in business for long time and are doing only mail while Proton seems too gimmicky to me. Coming from VPN business (and having proved not being that reliable) didn’t help. I just don’t believe their marketing, especially the CERN confusion.

[ziddoap]

>Coming from VPN business (and having proved not being that reliable) didn’t help.

Proton started as mail only (ProtonMail, before the rebrand), not VPN.

Also, what was proven not reliable?

[10729287]

https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=28427259

[protonmail]

Firstly, yes, Proton started as an email service in 2014, and Proton VPN was added to the offer in 2017. The case shared above in fact shows that Proton's encryption provides privacy by default - none of the user's emails could be shared with law enforcement despite the data request which we had no legal grounds to contest. Of course, as any other legally operating company, we have to comply with the local law enforcement. The privacy we provide is reflected in not having access to the data to share with law enforcement, not in refusing to comply (which is not possible for anyone operating legally).

[10729287]

Thanks for the explanation. Not saying it was malicious of you, but think all this was way more blurry before this episode.

[hgyjnbdet]

I end up with them because I found it less complicated to set up my email workflow. I also liked the ability, even if not officially supported, to have my tasks/notes/events/contacts synced via there web and card dav server.

[arp242]

I like the webmail more. ProtonMail is slow and doesn't support text view. Also ProtonMail didn't exist yet, and back then FastMail was one of the few options for hosted non-crap email.

[gentleman11]

I use fastmail because at the time it had calendar and contacts, and proton at the time didn’t. Otherwise I’d use proton for the extra privacy (Eg, company isn’t in Australia)

[drunner]

I went purelymail, but yeah I agree. Same with joplin. I don't really like the ui of how notes are organized, but it does work well for what it does.