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HEY alternatives: 5 apps ranked by verified data

Facts checked Oct 25, 2026AppBreakup editorialHow we rank

Common reasons people leave HEY: no IMAP, so you must use HEY's own apps, and opinionated design that some people find restrictive. We ranked 5 alternatives by how directly each one replaces HEY, then by reviews, real visits and how recently each app's facts were checked against its own website. Fastmail currently ranks first.

Quick comparison

#AppPricingOpen sourcePlatformsVerified factsScore
1Spark logoSparkFree plan + paidNomacOS, Windows, iOS +13 of 362.6
2Superhuman Mail logoSuperhuman MailPaidNoWeb, macOS, Windows +23 of 359.6
3Proton Mail logoProton MailFree plan + paidYesWeb, Windows, macOS +35 of 557.2
4Shortwave logoShortwavePaidNoWeb, macOS, Windows +23 of 355.3
  1. Spark logo

    1. SparkTop pick

    Best for: People and small teams who want one smart inbox across all their devices

    Free plan + paidmacOS, Windows, iOS, Android

    62.6

    score / 100

    Why switch from HEY

    Gets you a similar sender gatekeeper and smart inbox while keeping your current address.

    Pros

    • Free plan with unlimited accounts and a smart inbox
    • Shared threads, private comments and joint drafting for teams
    • Native apps on Mac, Windows, iOS and Android

    Cons

    • Mail syncs through Readdle's servers
    • Best AI and team features need a per-user subscription
    • No web app
    Visit Spark Details and reviews
    How this score is calculated
    Editorial fit ×0.387
    Reviews ×0.363
    Clicks (90 days) ×0.150
    Freshness ×0.1585
    Votes ×0.150

    0 counted reviews, 0 up and 0 down votes. Full formula

    Is Spark a good HEY alternative?

    Verified facts

    3 of 3 verified
    Free plan
    Yes, unlimited email accounts
    Checked Oct 25, 2026sparkmailapp.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Plus price
    $10 per user/month (monthly)
    Checked Oct 25, 2026sparkmailapp.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Pro price
    $20 per user/month (monthly)
    Checked Oct 25, 2026sparkmailapp.com(opens source in a new tab)
  2. Superhuman Mail logo

    2. Superhuman Mail

    Best for: Executives and heavy email users on Gmail or Outlook who value speed over price

    PaidWeb, macOS, Windows, iOS, Android

    59.6

    score / 100

    Why switch from HEY

    A premium client for Gmail or Outlook focused on speed rather than a new address.

    Pros

    • Very fast, keyboard-first workflow
    • Split inbox and reminders keep important threads visible
    • Strong AI drafting and inbox search

    Cons

    • Expensive, with no free plan
    • Only works with Gmail and Microsoft accounts
    • Now sold as part of a wider suite
    Visit Superhuman Mail Details and reviews
    How this score is calculated
    Editorial fit ×0.377
    Reviews ×0.363
    Clicks (90 days) ×0.150
    Freshness ×0.1585
    Votes ×0.150

    0 counted reviews, 0 up and 0 down votes. Full formula

    Is Superhuman Mail a good HEY alternative?

    Verified facts

    3 of 3 verified
    Supported accounts
    Gmail and Outlook
    Checked Oct 25, 2026superhuman.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Split Inbox
    Yes
    Checked Oct 25, 2026superhuman.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Business plan (includes Mail)
    $33/member/month billed annually
    Checked Oct 25, 2026superhuman.com(opens source in a new tab)
  3. Proton Mail logo

    3. Proton Mail

    Best for: Privacy-minded people and teams who want encrypted email without running servers

    Free plan + paidOpen sourceWeb, Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, Android

    57.2

    score / 100

    Why switch from HEY

    Paid or free email with end-to-end encryption and broader import tools.

    Pros

    • End-to-end and zero-access encryption by default
    • Open-source, audited apps on every major platform
    • Bundles with Proton VPN, Drive, Calendar and Pass

    Cons

    • Free plan has little storage and one address
    • Search and third-party integrations are more limited than Gmail
    • Using desktop clients needs the paid Bridge app
    Visit Proton Mail Details and reviews
    How this score is calculated
    Editorial fit ×0.369
    Reviews ×0.363
    Clicks (90 days) ×0.150
    Freshness ×0.1585
    Votes ×0.150

    0 counted reviews, 0 up and 0 down votes. Full formula

    Is Proton Mail a good HEY alternative?

    Verified facts

    5 of 5 verified
    Free plan
    Yes
    Checked Oct 25, 2026proton.me(opens source in a new tab)
    Mail Plus price
    $4.99/month, or $3.99/month billed yearly
    Checked Oct 25, 2026proton.me(opens source in a new tab)
    Jurisdiction
    Switzerland
    Checked Oct 25, 2026proton.me(opens source in a new tab)
    Open source
    Yes, independently audited
    Checked Oct 25, 2026proton.me(opens source in a new tab)
    License (web clients)
    GPL-3.0
    Checked Oct 25, 2026github.com(opens source in a new tab)
  4. Shortwave logo

    4. Shortwave

    Best for: Gmail users who want an AI assistant deeply built into their inbox

    PaidWeb, macOS, Windows, iOS, Android

    55.3

    score / 100

    Why switch from HEY

    Bundles and AI triage on top of a Gmail account you already have.

    Pros

    • AI search and drafting across your whole mail history
    • Bundles and done-based triage inspired by Inbox by Gmail
    • Shared threads and comments for teams

    Cons

    • Gmail and Google Workspace only
    • Per-seat pricing is high for individuals
    • Relies heavily on AI processing of your mail
    Visit Shortwave Details and reviews
    How this score is calculated
    Editorial fit ×0.363
    Reviews ×0.363
    Clicks (90 days) ×0.150
    Freshness ×0.1585
    Votes ×0.150

    0 counted reviews, 0 up and 0 down votes. Full formula

    Is Shortwave a good HEY alternative?

    Verified facts

    3 of 3 verified
    Free trial
    14 days
    Checked Oct 25, 2026shortwave.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Business plan
    $30 per seat/month
    Checked Oct 25, 2026shortwave.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Premier plan
    $45 per seat/month
    Checked Oct 25, 2026shortwave.com(opens source in a new tab)

The best HEY alternative for…

The highest-ranked app in this list for each need.

Fastmail logo

Best HEY alternative for most people

Fastmail

Independent paid email that keeps standard IMAP so any app works.

Spark logo

Best HEY alternative for a free plan you can upgrade

Spark

Gets you a similar sender gatekeeper and smart inbox while keeping your current address.

Proton Mail logo

Best HEY alternative for open source

Proton Mail

Paid or free email with end-to-end encryption and broader import tools.

Superhuman Mail logo

Best HEY alternative for Mac

Superhuman Mail

A premium client for Gmail or Outlook focused on speed rather than a new address.

Shortwave logo

Best HEY alternative for Windows

Shortwave

Bundles and AI triage on top of a Gmail account you already have.

Proton Mail logo

Best HEY alternative for Linux

Proton Mail

Paid or free email with end-to-end encryption and broader import tools.

Fastmail logo

Best HEY alternative for iPhone and Android

Fastmail

Independent paid email that keeps standard IMAP so any app works.

Fastmail logo

Best HEY alternative for working in the browser

Fastmail

Independent paid email that keeps standard IMAP so any app works.

HEY alternatives: common questions

What is the best alternative to HEY?

Fastmail ranks first right now. Independent paid email that keeps standard IMAP so any app works. Spark and Superhuman Mail follow it in our ranking.

Is there a free alternative to HEY?

Yes. Spark (free plan + paid) and Proton Mail (free plan + paid) have a free option. Check each app's verified facts for current plan limits.

Is there an open-source alternative to HEY?

Yes: Proton Mail.

Which HEY alternatives work on Linux?

Proton Mail runs on Linux.

Why do people switch from HEY?

The complaints we hear most: no IMAP, so you must use HEY's own apps; opinionated design that some people find restrictive; no free plan after the trial.

How is this list ranked?

Every app is scored with the same published formula: how directly it replaces HEY, reviews (weighted by verification), visits from AppBreakup, how recently its facts were checked against its own website, and reader votes.