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Proofpoint pricing varies by team size and features, ranging from $2 to $15 per user/month in 2026. Your actual cost depends on the tier you choose, contract length, and negotiated discounts.

Use the interactive pricing calculator to estimate your exact cost based on team size and requirements.

  • Free tier: No free tier available
  • Billing: Monthly and annual (save 15-20%)
  • Hidden costs: Add ~35% for implementation, support, and training

Proofpoint offers 4 pricing tiers: Essentials Business, Essentials Business+, Essentials Professional, Enterprise (TAP). Standard paid plans include Essentials Business at $3.03/month, Essentials Business+ at $3.36/month, Essentials Professional at $5.86/month. The Essentials Business+ plan is general users and teams.

Compared to other email security software, Proofpoint is positioned at the budget-friendly price point.

Proofpoint is a leading email security platform protecting businesses from phishing, malware, ransomware, and business email compromise. With over 8,000 enterprise customers worldwide, Proofpoint offers solutions ranging from Proofpoint Essentials for small and mid-sized businesses to advanced Targeted Attack Protection (TAP) for large enterprises.

Proofpoint Essentials starts at $36/user/year with inbound/outbound filtering, email continuity, and basic threat protection. The Professional tier ($70/year) adds unlimited email archiving, DLP, and encryption. Enterprise customers can add TAP modules for spear phishing defense, insider threat management, and advanced compliance—with pricing tailored to organization size and security needs.

Proofpoint's modular pricing allows businesses to start with core email security and add capabilities as threats evolve. Unlike competitors requiring custom quotes, Proofpoint Essentials publishes transparent pricing for SMBs while offering flexible enterprise packages for complex deployments.

All Proofpoint Plans & Pricing

Plan Monthly Annual Best For
Essentials Business $3.03 /month $36.36 /month General users and teams
Essentials Business+ $3.36 /month $40.32 /month General users and teams
Essentials Professional $5.86 /month $70.32 /month General users and teams
Enterprise (TAP) Contact Contact General users and teams
View all features by plan

Essentials Business

  • Inbound and outbound email filtering
  • Spam and virus protection
  • Email continuity
  • Basic threat protection
  • Reporting and analytics

Essentials Business+

  • All Business features
  • Predictive URL Defense
  • One-click message pull
  • Advanced BEC Defense
  • Email warning tags

Essentials Professional

  • All Advanced+ features
  • Email archiving (unlimited)
  • Data Loss Prevention (DLP)
  • Email encryption
  • Attachment defense sandboxing
  • Social media protection

Enterprise (TAP)

  • Targeted Attack Protection
  • Spear phishing protection
  • Insider Threat Management
  • Compliance solutions
  • Advanced threat intelligence
  • Custom pricing for large deployments

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Hidden Costs to Budget For

Watch for 5 hidden costs
  • Data migration services: varies by organization size
  • Professional services for implementation: custom quote
  • Guardian Pass training subscription: paid add-on
  • Premium support tier: custom pricing
  • Advanced compliance modules: additional per-user fees
Tip

Ask your Proofpoint sales rep about these costs upfront. Getting them in writing before signing can save you from surprise charges later.

Full hidden costs breakdown →

Frequently Asked Questions

01 How much does Proofpoint cost per user?

Proofpoint Essentials starts at $2-3 per user/month for small businesses with the Business plan ($36.36/year). The Professional plan with archiving and DLP costs $5.86/user/month ($70.32/year). Enterprise solutions with Targeted Attack Protection typically range from $5-15/user/month depending on modules and deployment size.

02 Does Proofpoint offer a free trial?

Yes, Proofpoint offers free trials for Essentials plans. Contact their sales team or authorized partners to request a trial. The trial typically includes access to core email filtering, threat protection, and reporting features to evaluate the platform before purchase.

03 What are the hidden costs of Proofpoint?

Beyond base licensing, consider data migration costs, professional services for complex deployments, paid Guardian Pass training subscriptions for advanced certifications, premium support tiers, and add-on modules for compliance features. Large enterprises with full Threat Protection and Insider Threat Management can exceed $100,000 annually.

04 How does Proofpoint compare to Mimecast?

Proofpoint Essentials ($3-6/user/month) is often more affordable than Mimecast ($5-15/user/month) for SMBs. Both offer tiered plans with email filtering, archiving, and DLP. Proofpoint is known for strong threat intelligence and TAP capabilities, while Mimecast offers more bundled features. Proofpoint's pricing is more transparent, while Mimecast requires custom quotes and has reported steep renewal increases.

05 Is Proofpoint worth the cost for small businesses?

Yes, for businesses needing enterprise-grade email security. Proofpoint Essentials starts at just $36/user/year with strong spam filtering, continuity, and threat protection. The Professional plan ($70/year) adds unlimited archiving and DLP—valuable for compliance. If you only need basic filtering, simpler solutions may suffice, but Proofpoint scales well as security needs grow.

06 Can I buy Proofpoint directly or through partners?

Both. Proofpoint Essentials can be purchased directly from Proofpoint or through authorized partners like Sherweb, Constant Edge, and SpamBrella. Partners often bundle setup, migration, and ongoing support. Enterprise solutions typically require working with Proofpoint's sales team or managed service providers for custom pricing and implementation.