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Productivity · head to head

AnyList vs HEY

AnyList logo

AnyList

Productivity

Grocery list and recipe app with fast list sorting and cross-household sharing, sold as a paid subscription

From
On request
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: AnyList it requires a paid subscription for full functionality, competing directly against Bring and Samsung Food, which are free for a similar core task.; 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: AnyList covers Real-time list sync, HEY covers The Screener.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 1 September 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which AnyList and HEY actually diverge.

Attributes where AnyList and HEY differ
AttributeAnyListHEY
Starting priceOn request$99/year
Pricing modelPer user per yearPer user per month
PlatformsiOS, Android, WebMac, 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 AnyList

  • Real-time list sync
  • Store-layout sorting
  • Recipe import
  • Meal planning calendar
  • Barcode scanning
  • Multiple list support

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.

AnyList

  • A household that grocery shops together and wants a list that instantly reflects what a partner already addednot HEY
  • Someone who wants their shopping list automatically ordered to match their regular store layoutnot HEY
  • A home cook who saves many recipes online and wants ingredients converted into a list automaticallynot HEY
  • A family planning meals for the week who wants that plan linked directly to a shopping listnot 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 AnyList
  • A user overwhelmed by newsletters and receipts who wants them automatically separated from person to person conversationnot AnyList
  • A family that wants shared but individually addressed email under one annual plannot AnyList
  • A small company wanting HEY for Work on its own domain with the Screener model for the whole teamnot AnyList

Where each one falls short

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

AnyList

  • It requires a paid subscription for full functionality, competing directly against Bring and Samsung Food, which are free for a similar core task.
  • Store-layout sorting has to be configured per store, which takes upfront setup time before it pays off.
  • Recipe import quality depends on how a source website is structured, similarly to other recipe-import tools.
  • It lacks the appliance integration that Samsung Food offers for households with Samsung smart kitchen hardware.
  • A household unwilling to pay may find a free competitor covers their needs adequately, making the subscription hard to justify.

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

AnyList

On request
  • AnyList Complete$9.99/year
    • Full recipe manager
    • Store-layout item sorting
    • Meal planning calendar

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 AnyList if

  • You need real-time list sync.
  • You work on iOS, Android, Web.
  • You also want store-layout sorting.
AnyList 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 AnyList or HEY better?
Neither clearly leads. AnyList starts at On request and HEY at $99/year, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, AnyList or HEY?
AnyList starts at On request and HEY at $99/year.
Does AnyList or HEY run on more platforms?
AnyList runs on iOS, Android, Web. HEY runs on Mac, Windows, Web, iOS, Android.
What is AnyList best used for?
AnyList is most often used for a household that grocery shops together and wants a list that instantly reflects what a partner already added, someone who wants their shopping list automatically ordered to match their regular store layout, a home cook who saves many recipes online and wants ingredients converted into a list automatically, a family planning meals for the week who wants that plan linked directly to a shopping list. Of those, a household that grocery shops together and wants a list that instantly reflects what a partner already added and someone who wants their shopping list automatically ordered to match their regular store layout are not what HEY is typically brought in for.
What can AnyList do that HEY cannot?
AnyList covers Real-time list sync, Store-layout sorting, Recipe import, Meal planning calendar. HEY covers The Screener, Imbox, Feed and Paper Trail, Reply Later stack, Focus and Reply mode.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

AnyList: Is AnyList free?

There is a free trial, but full ongoing use requires a paid subscription.

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.

AnyList: How is it different from Bring?

AnyList charges a subscription for a more capable recipe manager and store-layout sorting; Bring is free with a simpler feature set.

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.

AnyList: Does it support recipe import?

Yes, it can import recipes from websites and convert ingredients into shopping list items.

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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