carbon.to

What It Is

Carbon is an independent software company based in Switzerland, building a privacy-first productivity suite that spans file sync, VPN, email, notes, and password management. Its core proposition is “encryption by default, local AI, and data that stays on your device,” aiming to offer a more privacy-focused alternative to Dropbox, Google Drive, Gmail, mainstream note-taking apps, and VPN tools.

Core Capabilities

The most complete information currently available is for Carbon Sync: end-to-end encryption, 10GB of free storage, local AI search, sync across Mac/Windows/iOS/Android, secure link sharing, selective sync, and 30-day version history. The VPN is planned to use accountless random IDs, no logs, WireGuard, RAM-only servers, and support for Bitcoin/Lightning. Mail, Notes, and Vault target private email, offline Markdown notes, and zero-knowledge password management respectively, all emphasizing local AI and end-to-end encryption.

Pricing and Maturity

The Early Access free plan is available via waitlist; Founder is $8/month, while Founder+ is $20/month and includes a 5-user family plan, with both highlighting lifetime price lock-in. Sync is also listed separately as free with 10GB, $8/month for 1TB, and $25/month for a 5TB team plan. VPN is priced at €5/month, or €4.50/month when paid via Lightning. However, the copy repeatedly marks features as Coming soon, and the first products are targeted for Q2 2026, making Carbon better suited for early supporters than for mission-critical production use today.

Pros and Cons

The main advantage is a clearly articulated privacy architecture: end-to-end encryption, zero knowledge, local AI, no use of data for training, and Swiss data storage are presented consistently. The product suite also covers frequent personal workflows, with relatively straightforward pricing. The drawbacks are that most modules have not yet launched, and information on enterprise permissions, compliance certifications, APIs, third-party integrations, and SLAs is limited. The so-called team capabilities currently appear to be mostly conceptual descriptions such as team management and audit logs.

Who It’s For and Access from China

Carbon is best suited to privacy-conscious individuals, families, users who need encrypted file sync, and early adopters willing to wait for the product to mature. Enterprise users that require compliance documentation, stable access from mainland China, invoices, and local payment options should evaluate it carefully. The available text does not provide details on access from mainland China. Payments appear to focus on credit cards and future Bitcoin/Lightning support, which may be less convenient than domestic SaaS options. Alternatives can be chosen by scenario, such as Chinese cloud drives, enterprise email, collaborative documents, knowledge bases, or password management tools.