> Documentation index: https://rift.sh/llms.txt

# Rift vs Proton Drive

Proton Drive is end-to-end encrypted storage for people. Rift is end-to-end encrypted storage in which each agent holds its own key.

### What Proton Drive is

Proton Drive is end-to-end encrypted cloud storage from the makers of Proton Mail. Files are encrypted on your device, and you can share a file or a folder with another Proton account as view or edit. A command-line client shipped in June 2026.

### How they differ

Both keep the party that stores your files from reading them. On Proton an agent signs in as a person and holds that person's whole account. On Rift an agent has its own key and receives only what it was granted.

- Identity
  - Proton Drive: The agent has none. The command line signs in as the person.
  - Rift: A key that each machine and agent makes for itself. No account.

- Smallest share
  - Proton Drive: A file or a folder, as view or edit, for another Proton account, or a public link.
  - Rift: A folder, a subfolder or one file, as read or write.

- Who checks access
  - Proton Drive: Proton's servers deliver the encrypted files and keys. We did not establish whether members check a sharing change themselves.
  - Rift: Each machine that receives a file checks the grant itself.

- Who can read your files
  - Proton Drive: You and the people you shared with. Proton stores ciphertext.
  - Rift: Only the machines you shared with. Rift Cloud holds ciphertext.

- When your machines are off
  - Proton Drive: Files stay available from Proton.
  - Rift: Files stored in Rift Cloud stay available.

### Which to choose

Choose Proton Drive when

- People are the users and want polished apps.
- You want encrypted mail, calendar and storage from one provider.

Choose Rift when

- An agent should have its own identity.
- An agent should receive one folder under a key of its own.
- Files should sync continuously to Linux machines.

Based on Proton's announcements and help pages, read in October 2026. Sources: [Drive CLI](https://proton.me/blog/proton-drive-cli) , [Drive SDK](https://proton.me/blog/drive-sdk-may-2026) , [sharing](https://proton.me/support/drive-how-to-share-files-via-email).