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Productivity · head to head

Canary Mail vs HEY

Canary Mail logo

Canary Mail

Productivity

Security-focused AI email client with end-to-end encryption and a lifetime purchase option

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 Canary Mail has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: Canary Mail pGP encryption only protects a message if the recipient also supports and uses PGP, so most everyday mail to non-technical contacts stays unencrypted regardless.; 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: Canary Mail covers AI Copilot, HEY covers The Screener.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 1 September 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Canary Mail and HEY actually diverge.

Attributes where Canary Mail and HEY differ
AttributeCanary MailHEY
Starting priceFree$99/year
Pricing modelPer user per year, or one-time purchasePer user per month
Free tierYesNo
PlatformsmacOS, Windows, 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 Canary Mail

  • AI Copilot
  • AI Summaries
  • Smart Search
  • PGP encryption
  • Read receipts
  • Lifetime licence

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.

Canary Mail

  • A privacy-conscious user who wants PGP encryption built into a mainstream-feeling clientnot HEY
  • Someone who wants to avoid an open-ended subscription and prefers a lifetime purchasenot HEY
  • A user who wants AI summaries without sending mail content through an unfamiliar third party indefinitelynot HEY
  • Someone consolidating several IMAP accounts into one client with unified searchnot 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 Canary Mail
  • A user overwhelmed by newsletters and receipts who wants them automatically separated from person to person conversationnot Canary Mail
  • A family that wants shared but individually addressed email under one annual plannot Canary Mail
  • A small company wanting HEY for Work on its own domain with the Screener model for the whole teamnot Canary Mail

Where each one falls short

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

Canary Mail

  • PGP encryption only protects a message if the recipient also supports and uses PGP, so most everyday mail to non-technical contacts stays unencrypted regardless.
  • Team and shared-inbox features are minimal compared with Spark or dedicated tools, so it does not suit a support team out of the box.
  • The lifetime purchase price and terms have shifted over past versions, and buyers should confirm current lifetime pricing directly before assuming it still applies.
  • AI features still require sending thread content to a processing service to generate drafts and summaries, so the privacy story is stronger for encryption than for the AI layer itself.
  • Windows and Android apps have historically received updates later than the macOS and iOS versions.

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

Canary Mail

Free
  • FreeFree
    • Unified inbox
    • Basic search
    • PGP support
  • Growth$36/year
    • AI Copilot and summaries
    • Send later
    • Inbox cleaner
  • Pro+$100/year
    • Advanced security features
    • Priority support
    • All Growth features

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 Canary Mail if

  • You need ai copilot.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on macOS, Windows, iOS, Android.
  • You also want ai summaries.
Canary Mail 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 Canary Mail or HEY better?
Neither clearly leads. Canary Mail 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, Canary Mail or HEY?
Canary Mail has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for Canary Mail and $99/year for HEY.
Does Canary Mail or HEY run on more platforms?
Canary Mail runs on macOS, Windows, iOS, Android. HEY runs on Mac, Windows, Web, iOS, Android.
Can I use Canary Mail for free?
Yes. Canary Mail has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. HEY starts at $99/year.
What is Canary Mail best used for?
Canary Mail is most often used for a privacy-conscious user who wants pgp encryption built into a mainstream-feeling client, someone who wants to avoid an open-ended subscription and prefers a lifetime purchase, a user who wants ai summaries without sending mail content through an unfamiliar third party indefinitely, someone consolidating several imap accounts into one client with unified search. Of those, a privacy-conscious user who wants pgp encryption built into a mainstream-feeling client and someone who wants to avoid an open-ended subscription and prefers a lifetime purchase are not what HEY is typically brought in for.
What can Canary Mail do that HEY cannot?
Canary Mail covers AI Copilot, AI Summaries, Smart Search, PGP encryption. HEY covers The Screener, Imbox, Feed and Paper Trail, Reply Later stack, Focus and Reply mode.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Canary Mail: Does Canary Mail host my email?

No, it is a client over Gmail, Outlook, iCloud or IMAP accounts you already have.

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.

Canary Mail: Is the lifetime licence still available?

Canary has offered a one-time lifetime purchase alongside its subscriptions; check current pricing on their site as terms have changed over time.

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.

Canary Mail: Does PGP encryption work automatically?

Only between users who both have PGP set up; it does not encrypt mail to recipients without it.

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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