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How does ReefOffice compare to Proton, Big Tech and self-hosting?
Most private workspace tools secure your email and files on their servers. ReefOffice gives you a dedicated server you own, running your whole business: files, CRM, invoicing, documents, automation, private AI and an AI agent. Here is the honest, side-by-side picture.
Last reviewed: July 2026
| What matters | ReefOffice | Proton Workspace | Google / Microsoft 365 | Elestio (managed, per-app) | Cloudron (self-host) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| You own the server and data | ✓ A dedicated server you control | ✗ Their multi-tenant cloud | ✗ Their cloud | ~ Managed instance on their infra | ✓ Your VPS, but you run it |
| No lock-in (open-source + full export) | ✓ OSS stack, take it and self-host | ✗ Proprietary apps/formats | ✗ Proprietary | ~ OSS apps, their platform | ✓ OSS apps |
| CRM + invoicing | ✓ Dolibarr, included | ✗ | ~ Add-ons / extra cost | ~ Deploy it yourself | ~ Install it yourself |
| Document management + OCR | ✓ Paperless-ngx, included | ✗ | ~ Basic | ~ | ~ |
| Workflow automation | ✓ ReefCoral recipes, managed | ✗ | ~ Power Automate (extra) | ✗ | ~ |
| Private AI chat | ✓ Local, on your own GPU | ~ Lumo, their cloud | ✗ Scans or trains on data depending on product/settings | ✗ | ✗ |
| AI agent (autonomous, with memory) | ✓ Hermes acts across your apps | ✗ Lumo is chat only | ~ Copilot/Gemini: cloud, data scanning concerns | ✗ | ✗ |
| End-to-end zero-access encryption | ~ At rest + zero-access vault; air-gap option | ✓ Proton's core strength | ✗ | ✗ | ~ |
| EU-based, outside US CLOUD Act | ✓ | ✓ | ✗ | ~ Depends on region | ~ Your choice of host |
| Pricing model | ✓ Flat, unlimited users (fair use) | ✗ Per user / month | ✗ Per user / month | ✗ Per app instance | ~ Licence + your VPS |
| Runs without a technical person | ✓ Fully managed, no terminal | ✓ | ✓ | ~ Developer-oriented | ✗ You manage the box |
Yes = supported · Partial = supported with caveats · No = not offered. Proton's true end-to-end encryption is marked as a Proton win.
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The short version
- • Proton: best if you want true end-to-end encrypted email and collaboration as a SaaS, priced per user.
- • Google / Microsoft: deepest features, but Big-Tech data practices and US jurisdiction.
- • Self-hosting (Cloudron, DIY): full control, but you become the sysadmin.
- • ReefOffice: managed business back-office on a dedicated server you own, flat price, no lock-in.
Get a private office you actually own
A dedicated EU server running your whole business, set up and maintained for you, no terminal, no per-seat pricing. Start in minutes.