Softwr

Productivity · head to head

Foxit PDF Editor vs HEY

Foxit PDF Editor logo

Foxit PDF Editor

Productivity

The #1 Alternative to Adobe Acrobat

From
$10.99/month
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

  • Each has a real cost: Foxit PDF Editor the $209.99 perpetual licence excludes the AI Assistant, Smart Redact, the Document Management System and all cloud features; HEY there is no free tier and no monthly billing option, so trying it beyond the trial means committing to a full year upfront.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 1 September 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Foxit PDF Editor and HEY actually diverge.

Attributes where Foxit PDF Editor and HEY differ
AttributeFoxit PDF EditorHEY
Starting price$10.99/month$99/year
Pricing modelsubscriptionPer user per month
PlatformsWebMac, Windows, Web, iOS, Android

Identical on both: free tier (No), 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 Foxit PDF Editor

Nothing recorded that HEY does not also cover.

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.

Foxit PDF Editor

  • Creating, editing and signing PDF documents on Windows, macOS or the webnot HEY
  • Buying a perpetual PDF editor licence instead of a subscriptionnot HEY
  • Sending documents for signature with eSign, at 150 envelopes a year on PDF Editor+not 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 Foxit PDF Editor
  • A user overwhelmed by newsletters and receipts who wants them automatically separated from person to person conversationnot Foxit PDF Editor
  • A family that wants shared but individually addressed email under one annual plannot Foxit PDF Editor
  • A small company wanting HEY for Work on its own domain with the Screener model for the whole teamnot Foxit PDF Editor

Where each one falls short

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

Foxit PDF Editor

  • The $209.99 perpetual licence excludes the AI Assistant, Smart Redact, the Document Management System and all cloud features
  • Mobile apps for iOS and Android start on PDF Editor+ at $159.99 a year, not on the entry subscription
  • The AI Assistant is capped at 20 free credits per month on the entry plan

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

Foxit PDF Editor

$10.99/month
  • PDF Editor$10.99/month
    • $131.88 per year paid in full
    • Document Management System
    • AI Assistant with 20 free credits per month
  • PDF Editor+$159.99/year
    • Everything in PDF Editor
    • iOS and Android apps
    • AI Smart Redact
  • Foxit PDF Editor 14 perpetual$209.99/one-time
    • One time purchase, no subscription
    • Editing, conversion, OCR, forms and security
    • Excludes AI Assistant, Smart Redact, DMS and cloud 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 Foxit PDF Editor if

Nothing in the data separates Foxit PDF Editor from HEY on the points above - pick on price and on how each one feels to use.

Foxit PDF Editor 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 Foxit PDF Editor or HEY better?
Neither clearly leads. Foxit PDF Editor starts at $10.99/month and HEY at $99/year, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Foxit PDF Editor or HEY?
Foxit PDF Editor starts at $10.99/month and HEY at $99/year.
Does Foxit PDF Editor or HEY run on more platforms?
Foxit PDF Editor runs on Web. HEY runs on Mac, Windows, Web, iOS, Android.
What is Foxit PDF Editor best used for?
Foxit PDF Editor is most often used for creating, editing and signing pdf documents on windows, macos or the web, buying a perpetual pdf editor licence instead of a subscription, sending documents for signature with esign, at 150 envelopes a year on pdf editor+. Of those, creating, editing and signing pdf documents on windows, macos or the web and buying a perpetual pdf editor licence instead of a subscription are not what HEY is typically brought in for.
What can Foxit PDF Editor do that HEY cannot?
HEY covers The Screener, Imbox, Feed and Paper Trail, Reply Later stack, Focus and Reply mode.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Foxit PDF Editor: How much does Foxit PDF Editor cost?

Foxit PDF Editor starts at $10.99 per month, or $131.88 per year paid in full. PDF Editor+ is $159.99 per year. A perpetual licence for Foxit PDF Editor 14 is a one time $209.99.

Source
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.

Foxit PDF Editor: Can I buy Foxit PDF Editor without a subscription?

Yes. Foxit PDF Editor 14 is sold as a one time perpetual licence at $209.99. It covers editing, conversion, OCR, forms and security, but excludes the AI Assistant, Smart Redact, the Document Management System and cloud features.

Source
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.

Foxit PDF Editor: Is there a free trial of Foxit PDF Editor?

Yes. Foxit offers a 14 day trial of PDF Editor+ with no credit card required.

Source
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.

Share

Related pages

More on Foxit PDF Editor

More on HEY

Keep looking

Other head to heads