Silent Scribe vs Proton Scribe: Comprehensive Comparison
Silent Scribe is purpose-built for technical documentation and docs-as-code workflows, while Proton Scribe focuses on email composition within the Proton Mail ecosystem.
Silent Scribe
Privacy-First Writing Assistant for Technical Documentation
Built specifically for developers and technical writers who need privacy-first writing assistance integrated into their docs-as-code workflow.
Proton Scribe
AI Writing Assistant for Proton Mail
Integrated AI writing assistant for Proton Mail users who need email composition help with multi-language support and privacy-conscious processing.
Last updated: October 8, 2025
Which Tool is Right for You?
Both tools excel at different use cases. Here's an honest comparison to help you choose.
Silent Scribe Ideal For
Technical Documentation & Developer Workflows
- Developers and technical writers working with GitHub, GitLab, and docs-as-code workflows
- Teams managing technical documentation in Markdown, AsciiDoc, or reStructuredText
- Organizations requiring style guide enforcement across documentation
- Users needing real-time linting in web-based IDEs and code editors
- Teams building API documentation, README files, and developer guides
- Anyone working with mixed content (prose + code blocks)
Proton Scribe Ideal For
Alternative Workflow
- Proton Mail users needing email composition assistance
- Privacy-conscious users primarily writing standard business emails
- Users wanting AI assistance without leaving their email client
- Organizations already invested in the Proton ecosystem
- Users who need multi-language email support (9+ languages)
API Documentation
Writing comprehensive API reference documentation with consistent parameter descriptions and endpoint formatting
Privacy-Compliant Business Emails
Drafting professional emails within the Proton Mail ecosystem with multi-language support
Open Source Project README
Creating installation guides, usage examples, and contribution guidelines for GitHub projects
Internal Email Communications
Writing day-to-day business emails with tone adjustment and proofreading within Proton Mail
Developer Guides & Tutorials
Technical tutorials with code examples, step-by-step instructions, and mixed prose/code content
Team Style Guide Enforcement
Ensuring consistent terminology and writing standards across documentation team
💡 Honest Assessment
These tools serve fundamentally different purposes and aren't direct competitors.Silent Scribe is built for developers and technical writers managing documentation, while Proton Scribe is designed for Proton Mail users who need email writing assistance.
Many users may benefit from using both tools for their respective strengths rather than choosing between them.
Feature-by-Feature Comparison
A comprehensive breakdown of capabilities, integrations, and requirements
Core Writing Assistance
Primary Focus
Writing Features
- Passive voice detection
- Inclusive language checking
- Terminology consistency
- Acronym governance
- Code-aware parsing
- Sentence complexity analysis
- Proofreading
- Tone adjustment
- Text expansion/contraction
- Formality controls
- Multi-language support
Code Awareness
Privacy Architecture
Processing Model
Network Requirements
Hardware Requirements for Privacy
Data Governance
Platform Integration
Supported Platforms
- GitHub web interface
- GitLab web interface
- Web-based IDEs (CodeSandbox, Repl.it, Gitpod)
- Notion, Confluence
- Any contenteditable web element
- Proton Mail web (Chromium only)
- Proton Mail desktop apps
Browser Support
Mobile Support
Version Control Integration
CI/CD Pipeline Support
Customization & Style Guides
Custom Rule Sets
Style Guide Enforcement
Vale/markdownlint Integration
Developer-Specific Features
Markdown Syntax Support
API Documentation Patterns
Docs-as-Code Workflow
README & Contributing Guide Support
Language Support
Languages
Planned Expansion
Core Writing Assistance
- Passive voice detection
- Inclusive language checking
- Terminology consistency
- Acronym governance
- Code-aware parsing
- Sentence complexity analysis
- Proofreading
- Tone adjustment
- Text expansion/contraction
- Formality controls
- Multi-language support
Privacy Architecture
Platform Integration
- GitHub web interface
- GitLab web interface
- Web-based IDEs (CodeSandbox, Repl.it, Gitpod)
- Notion, Confluence
- Any contenteditable web element
- Proton Mail web (Chromium only)
- Proton Mail desktop apps
Customization & Style Guides
Developer-Specific Features
Language Support
Real-World Scenario Walkthroughs
See exactly how each tool handles common workflows in practice
Silent Scribe
- 1Open GitHub repository in browser
- 2Begin editing README.md in web editor
- 3Extension activates automatically
- 4Real-time feedback on passive voice in installation instructions
- 5Detects inconsistent terminology ("configuration file" vs "config file")
- 6Flags undefined acronym "API" on first use
- 7Sentence complexity warnings for dense setup instructions
- 8Validates code block formatting
- 9All processing happens instantly (zero network latency)
- 10Commit changes directly with documentation in same PR as code
Proton Scribe
- 1Not applicable - tool only works in Proton Mail
- 2Would need to draft README in email composer
- 3Copy/paste to GitHub
- 4Loses all context and workflow integration
- 5Complete workflow disruption
Pricing & Value Comparison
Transparent breakdown of costs, tiers, and what you get with each tool
Silent Scribe Pricing
Product-led growth: Start free, upgrade when you see value
Free
per forever- Full functionality for individual users
- Unlimited document processing
- All core linting features
- Local processing
- No hardware restrictions
Team
- Shared style guides
- Team analytics
- Priority support
- CI/CD integration
Enterprise
- Custom rule development
- Dedicated support
- On-premise deployment options
- SLA guarantees
Proton Scribe Pricing
Included with select plans or available as add-on
Included Plans
- Proton Visionary ($29.99/month)
- Proton Family
- Proton Duo
- Proton Lifetime (legacy)
Business Add-on
per per user/month- 14-day trial
- Added to Business plan
Single User Plans
- Not available for Proton Unlimited subscribers
- Must upgrade to Duo/Family ($15.99/month) from Unlimited ($9.99/month)
- Adds $72/year cost for single users
Trial
- Available for Plus/Unlimited users
- Server-side processing only (unless hardware compatible)
Important Pricing Note
Proton Scribe is notably not available for single-user Proton Unlimited subscribers, which has been a point of user frustration. To access Proton Scribe, Unlimited users must upgrade to multi-user plans (Duo, Family) designed for multiple people.
Silent Scribe has no such restrictions—individuals get full access to the free tier without forced plan upgrades.
💰 12-Month Cost Comparison
Silent Scribe (Individual)
Free tier for individuals
Proton Scribe (Via Proton Duo Upgrade)
Additional cost to access from Unlimited plan
Platform Availability
Where each tool works today and what's coming in the future
Silent Scribe
Available across developer tools and documentation platforms
Available Now
- Chrome, Edge, Opera, BraveAny Chromium browser
- GitHub web interfaceNative integration
- GitLab web interfaceNative integration
- Web-based IDEsCodeSandbox, Repl.it, Gitpod
- NotionEditing mode
- ConfluenceCloud editor
- Any contenteditable elementWorks anywhere you can type
Coming Soon
- Firefox supportPhase 2
- VS Code extensionPhase 2
- JetBrains IDE integrationPhase 3
Proton Scribe
Exclusive to Proton Mail ecosystem
Available Now
- Proton Mail webChromium browsers only for local mode
- Proton Mail desktopWindows, Mac, limited Linux
On Roadmap
- Mobile appsOn roadmap, no timeline
Not Supported
- FirefoxLocal processing not supported (WebGPU limitations)
- Non-Proton platformsOnly works in Proton Mail
- Documentation platformsNot designed for docs
- Code editors or IDEsEmail-only focus
📱 Platform Strategy Difference
Silent Scribe prioritizes developer platforms and documentation tools, focusing on where technical writing happens (GitHub, GitLab, web IDEs).
Proton Scribe is exclusively integrated into the Proton Mail ecosystem, designed specifically for email composition rather than documentation workflows.
Frequently Asked Questions
Get answers to common questions about Silent Scribe vs Proton Scribe
Ready to Choose the Right Tool?
Whether you're writing technical documentation or composing emails, both tools offer privacy-first AI assistance tailored to their specific use cases.
Last updated: 2025-10-04