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Calendars · head to head

Google Calendar vs HEY

Google Calendar logo

Google Calendar

Calendars

Smart scheduling for the modern workforce

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 Google Calendar has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: Google Calendar no AI-driven scheduling assistance or automatic meeting time optimization; 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: Google Calendar covers Event scheduling, HEY covers The Screener.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 1 September 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Google Calendar and HEY actually diverge.

Attributes where Google Calendar and HEY differ
AttributeGoogle CalendarHEY
Starting priceFree$99/year
Pricing modelUnknownPer user per month
Free tierYesNo
PlatformsWeb, iOS, Android, macOS, WindowsMac, Windows, Web, iOS, Android
CategoryCalendarsProductivity
Founded1998Unknown

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

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 Google Calendar

  • Event scheduling
  • Multiple calendars
  • Reminders and notifications
  • Event sharing
  • Video conferencing integration
  • Gmail
  • Google Meet
  • Google Tasks

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.

Google Calendar

  • Schedulingnot HEY
  • Appointment bookingnot HEY
  • Time trackingnot HEY
  • Resource managementnot HEY
  • Team coordinationnot 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 Google Calendar
  • A user overwhelmed by newsletters and receipts who wants them automatically separated from person to person conversationnot Google Calendar
  • A family that wants shared but individually addressed email under one annual plannot Google Calendar
  • A small company wanting HEY for Work on its own domain with the Screener model for the whole teamnot Google Calendar

Where each one falls short

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

Google Calendar

  • No AI-driven scheduling assistance or automatic meeting time optimization
  • Lacks built-in appointment booking pages or payment integrations for scheduling
  • Limited mobile support for shared calendars and unreliable push notifications on phones
  • No native task management or project tracking features within the calendar interface
  • Limited offline functionality on the web (read-only mode only)
  • Strict usage limits (maximum 60 calendars, 750 shares per time period)

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

Google Calendar

Free
  • PersonalFree
    • Event scheduling
    • Sharing
    • Notifications
  • Google Workspace Business Starter$7/month
    • All personal features
    • Team collaboration
    • 30GB storage

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 Google Calendar if

  • You need event scheduling.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Web, iOS, Android, macOS, Windows.
  • You also want multiple calendars.
Google Calendar 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 Google Calendar or HEY better?
Neither clearly leads. Google Calendar 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, Google Calendar or HEY?
Google Calendar has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for Google Calendar and $99/year for HEY.
Does Google Calendar or HEY run on more platforms?
Google Calendar runs on Web, iOS, Android, macOS, Windows. HEY runs on Mac, Windows, Web, iOS, Android.
Can I use Google Calendar for free?
Yes. Google Calendar has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. HEY starts at $99/year.
What is Google Calendar best used for?
Google Calendar is most often used for scheduling, appointment booking, time tracking, resource management. Of those, scheduling and appointment booking are not what HEY is typically brought in for.
What can Google Calendar do that HEY cannot?
Google Calendar covers Event scheduling, Multiple calendars, Reminders and notifications, Event sharing. HEY covers The Screener, Imbox, Feed and Paper Trail, Reply Later stack, Focus and Reply mode.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Google Calendar: Can I use Google Calendar offline?

Yes. On the web, Google Calendar works in read-only mode offline for cached events. On iOS and Android, the Google Calendar app automatically caches recent events and lets you create, edit, and respond to events offline. Changes sync automatically when you reconnect to the internet.

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.

Google Calendar: Can I export my calendar data?

Yes. Google Calendar exports as ICS files through Settings > Import & export > Export. ICS files are readable by Outlook, Apple Calendar, Thunderbird, and most other calendar applications.

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.

Google Calendar: Does Google Calendar integrate with video conferencing?

Yes. Google Calendar integrates natively with Google Meet and Zoom. When you create an event, you can add a video conference link directly. Other platforms like Webex and GoTo Meeting can be integrated via Zapier or third-party automation.

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.

Google Calendar: Can I share my calendar with teams?

Yes. You can share individual calendars with specific people or make them publicly viewable. However, accessing shared calendars on mobile devices has limitations, and push notifications for shared calendars may not work reliably on phones.

Source
Google Calendar: Does Google Calendar work with Outlook?

No direct integration. You can manually import/export using ICS files or use third-party tools like Zapier to sync events. This is different from Outlook, which integrates seamlessly within Microsoft 365.

Source
Google Calendar: Is there a cost to use Google Calendar?

Google Calendar is free for personal use. Google Workspace plans (which include Calendar) start at $7 per user per month for business use.

Source
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