HEY

37signals' paid email service that screens new senders and sorts mail into the Imbox, Feed and Paper Trail.

Verified facts: 5 of 5
Alternatives ranked: 5
Approved reviews: 0
Visits sent from here: 0

About HEY

HEY is an email service from 37signals, the company behind Basecamp. Instead of one inbox, it screens anyone who emails you for the first time: you approve them or never hear from them again. Approved mail goes to the Imbox, newsletters to a skimmable Feed, and receipts to the Paper Trail. It blocks tracking pixels, includes a calendar, and lets you set aside or bundle messages. HEY for You is a personal plan with an @hey.com address; HEY for Domains is a per-user business plan on your own domain. Both are paid after a free trial. There are apps for the web, Mac, Windows, Linux, iOS and Android. The catch is that HEY is its own world: it does not support IMAP, so you cannot use other mail apps, and the opinionated workflow does not suit everyone. Many users keep an old address forwarding into HEY while they move contacts over.

Best for: People who want to opt in to who can email them and enjoy an opinionated workflow.

What works

Screener stops unwanted first-time senders
Blocks spy pixels and separates newsletters and receipts
Apps on every platform including Linux

Why people leave

No IMAP, so you must use HEY's own apps
Opinionated design that some people find restrictive
No free plan after the trial

Top HEY alternatives

See all 5

1
Fastmail
Independent paid email that keeps standard IMAP so any app works.
66.5
2
Spark
Gets you a similar sender gatekeeper and smart inbox while keeping your current address.
62.6
3
Superhuman Mail
A premium client for Gmail or Outlook focused on speed rather than a new address.
59.6
4
Proton Mail
Paid or free email with end-to-end encryption and broader import tools.
57.2
5
Shortwave
Bundles and AI triage on top of a Gmail account you already have.
55.3

Why people left HEY

In reviewers' own words, from reviews of the apps they moved to. These are their opinions, not ours.

No switching stories yet. If you moved away from HEY, review the app you switched to and tell us why.

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HEY: common questions

Is HEY free?

No, HEY is a paid product. HEY for You price: $99 per year (checked on HEY's own site).

Is HEY open source?

No, HEY is not open source. Open-source alternatives include Proton Mail.

What platforms does HEY run on?

HEY is available for Web, macOS, Windows, Linux, iOS and Android.

What are the best alternatives to HEY?

The highest-ranked HEY alternatives right now are Fastmail, Spark and Superhuman Mail. See the full ranked list for pricing, platforms and verified facts.

See all 5 HEY alternatives

HEY facts

5 of 5 verified

HEY for You price: $99 per year; Checked Oct 25, 2026hey.com(opens source in a new tab); “HEY for You The personal email + calendar service with a highly desirable @hey.com email address $99 per year”
Free trial: 30 days; Checked Oct 25, 2026hey.com(opens source in a new tab); “Try HEY free for 30-days”
HEY for Domains price: $12 per user/month; Checked Oct 25, 2026hey.com(opens source in a new tab); “$12 per user, per month Get started with HEY for Domains”
Owner: 37signals; Checked Oct 25, 2026hey.com(opens source in a new tab); “take on email + calendar, from 37signals”
Screener: Yes; Checked Oct 25, 2026hey.com(opens source in a new tab); “Screen emails like you screen your calls The first time someone emails you they land in The Screener .”