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Productivity · head to head

Bluemail vs HEY

Bluemail logo

Bluemail

Productivity

Free multi-account email client from Blix with unified inbox, smart filters and calendar

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
HEY logo

HEY

Productivity

Flat annual subscription email service from 37signals, with its own hey.com domain and a distinctive Screener

From
$99/year
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only Bluemail has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: Bluemail its AI features are minimal next to Spark or Canary, so users specifically wanting AI drafting or summaries will find it thin.; HEY there is no free tier and no monthly billing option, so trying it beyond the trial means committing to a full year upfront.
  • They diverge on capability: Bluemail covers Unified inbox, HEY covers The Screener.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 1 September 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Bluemail and HEY actually diverge.

Attributes where Bluemail and HEY differ
AttributeBluemailHEY
Starting priceFree$99/year
Pricing modelquotePer user per month
Free tierYesNo
PlatformsWindows, macOS, Linux, iOS, AndroidMac, Windows, Web, iOS, Android

Identical on both: user rating (Not yet rated), category (Productivity).

What each one covers

Drawn from each product's published feature list. An absence here means we hold no record of it - not that the product lacks it.

Only in Bluemail

  • Unified inbox
  • Smart filters
  • Colour-coded accounts
  • Integrated calendar
  • Snooze and reminders
  • Business tier

Only in HEY

  • The Screener
  • Imbox, Feed and Paper Trail
  • Reply Later stack
  • Focus and Reply mode
  • Screen sharing style clips
  • No tracking pixels

What people use each for

The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.

Bluemail

  • Someone with five or more email accounts across providers who wants one free unified inboxnot HEY
  • A user who wants automatic mail sorting without configuring rules by handnot HEY
  • An IT team evaluating a lower-cost alternative to Outlook for a mixed-provider organisationnot HEY
  • A budget-conscious user who does not need AI drafting or PGP encryption, just consolidationnot HEY

HEY

  • Someone who wants to replace Gmail or iCloud Mail entirely with an email service built around approving senders before they reach the inboxnot Bluemail
  • A user overwhelmed by newsletters and receipts who wants them automatically separated from person to person conversationnot Bluemail
  • A family that wants shared but individually addressed email under one annual plannot Bluemail
  • A small company wanting HEY for Work on its own domain with the Screener model for the whole teamnot Bluemail

Where each one falls short

Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.

Bluemail

  • Its AI features are minimal next to Spark or Canary, so users specifically wanting AI drafting or summaries will find it thin.
  • The interface exposes a large number of settings and toggles, which makes initial setup slower than more opinionated clients.
  • Business pricing is not published, so an organisation has to go through a sales conversation to learn total cost.
  • Free-tier support is largely community forum and help articles rather than direct responsive support.
  • Some optional cloud features, such as certain sync and backup functions, have historically required a paid add-on despite the base app being free.

HEY

  • There is no free tier and no monthly billing option, so trying it beyond the trial means committing to a full year upfront.
  • Adopting HEY means changing your actual email address, not just installing a new client, which is a bigger migration than switching apps on an existing address.
  • The Screener and categorisation model is a real departure from a standard inbox, and some users take time to adjust or find it gets in the way for high volume mail.
  • Short vanity addresses carry steep additional annual fees, up to 999 US dollars a year for a two character address.
  • It does not connect to or manage existing Gmail, Outlook or iCloud accounts, so it cannot be used as a general client the way Mimestream or Apple Mail can.

Pricing, plan by plan

Bluemail

Free
  • Bluemail$undefined/month
    • Free for individual use, unlimited accounts
    • Business tier priced per seat, contact sales
    • Optional cloud sync add-ons

HEY

$99/year
  • HEY for You$99/year
    • One hey.com email address
    • Screener, Imbox, Feed and Paper Trail
    • Billed annually only, no monthly option
  • HEY for Families$179/year
    • Covers up to five family members
    • Same features as HEY for You per member
  • HEY for Work$12/month
    • Per user, for organisations on a company domain
    • Admin controls for a team

Which should you pick?

Choose Bluemail if

  • You need unified inbox.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, Android.
  • You also want smart filters.
Bluemail review

Choose HEY if

  • You need the screener.
  • You work on Mac, Windows, Web, iOS, Android.
  • You also want imbox, feed and paper trail.
HEY review

Questions people ask

Is Bluemail or HEY better?
Neither clearly leads. Bluemail starts at Free and HEY at $99/year, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Bluemail or HEY?
Bluemail has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for Bluemail and $99/year for HEY.
Does Bluemail or HEY run on more platforms?
Bluemail runs on Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, Android. HEY runs on Mac, Windows, Web, iOS, Android.
Can I use Bluemail for free?
Yes. Bluemail has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. HEY starts at $99/year.
What is Bluemail best used for?
Bluemail is most often used for someone with five or more email accounts across providers who wants one free unified inbox, a user who wants automatic mail sorting without configuring rules by hand, an it team evaluating a lower-cost alternative to outlook for a mixed-provider organisation, a budget-conscious user who does not need ai drafting or pgp encryption, just consolidation. Of those, someone with five or more email accounts across providers who wants one free unified inbox and a user who wants automatic mail sorting without configuring rules by hand are not what HEY is typically brought in for.
What can Bluemail do that HEY cannot?
Bluemail covers Unified inbox, Smart filters, Colour-coded accounts, Integrated calendar. HEY covers The Screener, Imbox, Feed and Paper Trail, Reply Later stack, Focus and Reply mode.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Bluemail: Is Bluemail really free?

Yes, for individual use with unlimited accounts; the paid tier is Blue Mail for Business, aimed at teams.

HEY: Can I use HEY with my existing Gmail address?

No. HEY provides its own hey.com email address; it is not a client layered over an existing Gmail or other account.

Bluemail: Does it support Gmail and Outlook together?

Yes, it unifies accounts from any of the major providers plus generic IMAP and SMTP in one inbox.

HEY: Is there a free plan?

No. HEY offers a trial but bills annually only, with no free tier and no month to month option for individuals.

Bluemail: Does it have AI features like Spark or Canary?

Only basic smart filtering; it does not offer AI drafting or thread summarisation at the level of those competitors.

HEY: What is the Screener?

A feature that holds mail from any new sender until the user explicitly approves them, before it appears in the inbox at all.

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