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Alternatives · Email

HEY alternatives

HEY compared with 6 alternatives: Proton Mail, Superhuman Mail, Spark Mail, Shortwave, SaneBox and 1 more.

HEY is a paid product with a free trial, starting at $99 per year (HEY for You, annual billing only). 3 of the 6 alternatives are free or have a free plan. 2 more offer a free trial.

6 tools · Listings checked up to Oct 5, 2026 · Where the facts come from

At a glance

ToolPriceFree planRuns on
HEYThis toolFree trial · from $99/yrTrial onlyWeb, macOS, Windows, Linux, iOS, Android
Proton MailFree plan · from $3.99/moYesWeb, macOS, Windows, Linux, iOS, Android
Superhuman MailFrom $25/moNoWeb, macOS, Windows, iOS, Android, Browser extension
Spark MailFree plan · from $8.25/moYesmacOS, Windows, iOS, Android
ShortwaveFree plan · from $18/moYesWeb, macOS, Windows, iOS, Android
SaneBoxFree trial · from $6.99/moTrial onlyWeb, iOS, Android
FastmailFree trial · from $3/moTrial onlyWeb, macOS, Windows, Linux, iOS, Android

How each one differs from HEY

  1. Proton Mail

    End-to-end encrypted email service based in Switzerland

    • Proton Mail starts at $3.99 per month, billed every 12 months ($47.88); $4.99 billed monthly. HEY starts at $99 per year (HEY for You, annual billing only).
    • Proton Mail has a free plan. HEY does not, though it has a free trial.
    • Proton Mail is open source and end-to-end encrypted, according to its own site.
    • HEY also covers templates.

    Suits: People who want an email provider that cannot read their messages

    Proton Mail vs HEYProton Mail pricing and details

  2. Superhuman Mail

    Keyboard-driven email client for Gmail and Outlook with built-in AI

    • Superhuman Mail starts at $25 per member / month, billed annually ($30 billed monthly). HEY starts at $99 per year (HEY for You, annual billing only).
    • Only Superhuman Mail lists a browser extension.
    • Only HEY lists a Linux app.
    • Superhuman Mail also covers booking links.
    • HEY also covers templates.

    Suits: People on Gmail or Outlook who work through a high volume of email

    Superhuman Mail vs HEYSuperhuman Mail pricing and details

  3. Spark Mail

    Email client with a unified smart inbox, AI tools and team features

    • Spark Mail starts at $8.25 per user / month, billed annually ($99 / year). HEY starts at $99 per year (HEY for You, annual billing only).
    • Spark Mail has a free plan. HEY does not, though it has a free trial.
    • Only HEY lists a web app.
    • Only HEY lists a Linux app.
    • Spark Mail also covers meeting notes and shared inbox.

    Suits: People juggling several email accounts across desktop and phone

    Spark Mail vs HEYSpark Mail pricing and details

  4. Shortwave

    AI email client for Gmail with an assistant, filters and split inbox

    • Shortwave starts at $18 per seat / month (Pro, the individual plan). HEY starts at $99 per year (HEY for You, annual billing only).
    • Shortwave has a free plan. HEY does not, though it has a free trial.
    • Only HEY lists a Linux app.
    • Shortwave also covers chat assistant and AI search.
    • HEY also covers calendar.

    Suits: Gmail and Google Workspace users who want AI to triage and draft email

    Shortwave vs HEYShortwave pricing and details

  5. SaneBox

    AI email filtering that works inside the email app you already use

    • SaneBox starts at $6.99 per month, or $58.99 per year (App Store in-app prices). HEY starts at $99 per year (HEY for You, annual billing only).
    • Only HEY lists macOS, Windows and Linux apps.
    • SaneBox also covers inbox filtering and workflow automation.
    • HEY also covers templates, calendar and email client.

    Suits: People who want to keep their current email app and add smarter filtering

    SaneBox vs HEYSaneBox pricing and details

  6. Fastmail

    Paid, ad-free email with calendar, contacts and custom domains

    • Fastmail starts at $3 per user / month, billed yearly (Basic); Individual is $5, billed yearly. HEY starts at $99 per year (HEY for You, annual billing only).
    • HEY also covers templates.

    Suits: People leaving free, ad-funded email for a paid private service

    Fastmail vs HEYFastmail pricing and details

Limits worth knowing in HEY

  • HEY is its own email provider, not a client for Gmail or Outlook; existing mail history is not imported, only forwarded going forward.
  • IMAP and POP are not supported, so HEY works only in its own apps.
  • HEY for You is billed annually only, and HEY for Domains is billed monthly with no free trial.
  • There is no free plan.
HEY pricing and details

Common questions

What are the alternatives to HEY?

The alternatives to HEY in this directory are Proton Mail, Superhuman Mail, Spark Mail, Shortwave, SaneBox and Fastmail. Each one has a side-by-side comparison with HEY.

Is there a free alternative to HEY?

Yes. Proton Mail, Spark Mail and Shortwave have a free plan alongside paid ones.

Is there an open-source alternative to HEY?

Proton Mail is described as open source on its own site.

When were these prices checked?

Each listing shows its own date. On this page they run from Oct 4, 2026 to Oct 5, 2026. Vendors change prices without notice, so confirm on their site before you buy.

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