HEY
Opinionated, all-in-one inbox with a built-in screener that decides who's even allowed to reach you, deliberately no AI.
Automates the decision of what deserves your attention before it ever hits the inbox, not after.
HEY takes the opposite approach to most of the other email tools on this list. Where SaneBox and Spark lean on AI to sort what's already arrived, HEY puts a screener in front of everything: the first time anyone emails you, you decide right then whether they're allowed into your inbox at all. Say no, and every future email from that sender goes straight to a separate space you never have to look at.
That's a genuinely different philosophy, deliberately no AI drafting, no AI summarising. HEY's bet is that the real problem with email isn't processing speed, it's that too much gets in the door in the first place. Screening at the point of entry means you're not triaging a flooded inbox every day, because it was never allowed to flood.
It's also a full email service, not a layer on an existing address, HEY gives you a new @hey.com address and its own client rather than sitting on top of Gmail or Outlook. That's a bigger switch than the other tools on this list ask for, worth knowing upfront if you're not ready to change your email address.
It's built by 37signals, the same team behind Basecamp, a bootstrapped and profitable company with a long track record, and it picked up sustained press attention from a public dispute with Apple over App Store policy in 2020. Pricing is flat and simple, $99 a year, one plan, no tiers to choose between.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a new email address to use HEY?
Yes, HEY provides you with a new @hey.com address and its own client rather than layering on top of an existing Gmail or Outlook account. That's a bigger commitment than tools like SaneBox or Spark Mail, which work with the email address you already have.
What does HEY's screener actually do?
The first time a new sender emails you, HEY holds it and asks you to decide: let them in, or send everything from that sender to a space you never have to check. It's a one-time decision per sender rather than an ongoing filtering rule, and it stops unwanted email before it ever reaches your main inbox.
Why doesn't HEY use AI like most other email tools?
It's a deliberate design choice by 37signals. Their position is that the core email problem is too much reaching you in the first place, not that you need help processing what's already arrived, so the screener addresses the entry point rather than adding AI to sort a flooded inbox after the fact.
How much does HEY cost?
$99 a year, flat, one plan with no tiers to pick between, a simpler pricing structure than most email tools on this list.
Who makes HEY?
37signals, the same company behind Basecamp. They're bootstrapped and profitable with a long track record, and HEY got significant press attention in 2020 from a public dispute with Apple over App Store subscription policy.
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