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Claude vs Lumo by Proton

Two fact sheets from our own research, side by side — pricing, platforms, API access and status re-checked by us rather than quoted from the vendors. Claude starts at $17, Lumo by Proton at $9.99. Both have a free tier. Only Claude ships a public API.

ClaudeAssistant focused on long documents and code workLumo by ProtonA privacy-focused AI chat assistant from Proton with zero-access encryption on conversations.

Side by side

FactClaudeLumo by Proton
CategoryGeneral-purpose AI ChatbotsGeneral-purpose AI Chatbots
Pricing modelFreemiumFreemium
Starts at$17 month$9.99 month
Public APIYesNo
PlatformsWeb, iOS, Android, macOS, Windows, APIWeb, iOS, Android
CompanyAnthropicProton AG
Launched2023—
Last verifiedSep 6, 2026Sep 1, 2026

What our research says

Claude

The one to pick if your work is long documents or code; for casual chat the free tier is fine and the paid seat mostly buys headroom rather than new abilities.

Pros

  • Long-context handling is the reason most people switch to it
  • Same models reachable from chat, desktop app and API
  • Free tier is a usable product rather than a token trial
  • Annual billing brings the Pro seat down to $17/mo

Cons

  • Pro usage limits bite during sustained coding work
  • The step above Pro is $100/mo Max, a five-fold jump
  • No image generation, unlike most rivals at the same price
  • claude.ai blocks automated access, so scripted use has to go via the API

Lumo by Proton

Lumo's differentiator is genuinely structural rather than a marketing claim: Proton AG built its reputation on zero-access encrypted email and applies the same model here, plus a Tor option for account-free use. The free plan's limits on history and image generation are tight enough that regular users will likely need Plus fairly quickly.

Pros

  • Zero-access encryption is a real architectural claim backed by Proton's existing email/VPN business, not new marketing copy
  • Guest access over Tor works without any account at all
  • Available on web, iOS, and Android rather than browser-only

Cons

  • Free plan caps message history, image generation, and projects tightly enough to push regular users to Plus
  • Annual billing ($9.99/mo) is meaningfully cheaper than the $12.99 monthly rate, which isn't obvious until checkout

Which one fits

Choose Claude if you need

  • Developers working through large codebases or using Claude Code
  • Anyone reading and reasoning over long documents, contracts or papers
  • Users who want a desktop app that reaches local data through MCP

Choose Lumo by Proton if you need

  • Users who already trust Proton's privacy model and want an AI chat under the same guarantees
  • Anyone wanting to try AI chat anonymously via Tor without creating an account

More comparisons

All Claude alternatives →Browse all General-purpose AI Chatbots →