Softwr

Productivity · head to head

HEY vs Lazy

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
Lazy logo

Lazy

Productivity

Simple task management that actually works

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only Lazy has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: HEY there is no free tier and no monthly billing option, so trying it beyond the trial means committing to a full year upfront.; Lazy access restricted behind extended waitlist
  • They diverge on capability: HEY covers The Screener, Lazy covers Today focus.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 1 September 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which HEY and Lazy actually diverge.

Attributes where HEY and Lazy differ
AttributeHEYLazy
Starting price$99/yearFree
Pricing modelPer user per monthfreemium
Free tierNoYes
PlatformsMac, Windows, Web, iOS, AndroidWeb, iOS
FoundedUnknown2019

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 HEY

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

Only in Lazy

  • Today focus
  • Simple task lists
  • Natural language input
  • Widgets
  • Keyboard shortcuts
  • Calendar
  • Shortcuts
  • iCloud sync

What people use each for

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

HEY

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

Lazy

  • Productivitynot HEY
  • Collaborationnot HEY
  • Task managementnot HEY
  • Organizationnot HEY

Where each one falls short

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

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.

Lazy

  • Access restricted behind extended waitlist
  • Mobile app read-only, limiting full-time mobile use
  • Slow product development cycle with limited feature updates
  • Customer support difficult to reach with poor ticketing system

Pricing, plan by plan

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

Lazy

Free
  • FreeFree
    • Unlimited tasks
    • Today focus
    • Basic lists
  • Pro$4/month
    • Recurring tasks
    • Calendar sync
    • Themes

Which should you pick?

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

Choose Lazy if

  • You need today focus.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Web, iOS.
  • You also want simple task lists.
Lazy review

Questions people ask

Is HEY or Lazy better?
Neither clearly leads. HEY starts at $99/year and Lazy at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, HEY or Lazy?
Lazy has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at $99/year for HEY and Free for Lazy.
Does HEY or Lazy run on more platforms?
HEY runs on Mac, Windows, Web, iOS, Android. Lazy runs on Web, iOS.
Can I use Lazy for free?
Yes. Lazy has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. HEY starts at $99/year.
What is HEY best used for?
HEY is most often used for someone who wants to replace gmail or icloud mail entirely with an email service built around approving senders before they reach the inbox, a user overwhelmed by newsletters and receipts who wants them automatically separated from person to person conversation, a family that wants shared but individually addressed email under one annual plan, a small company wanting hey for work on its own domain with the screener model for the whole team. Of those, someone who wants to replace gmail or icloud mail entirely with an email service built around approving senders before they reach the inbox and a user overwhelmed by newsletters and receipts who wants them automatically separated from person to person conversation are not what Lazy is typically brought in for.
What can HEY do that Lazy cannot?
HEY covers The Screener, Imbox, Feed and Paper Trail, Reply Later stack, Focus and Reply mode. Lazy covers Today focus, Simple task lists, Natural language input, Widgets.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

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.

Lazy: What integrations does Lazy support?

Lazy integrates with Notion for direct content capture, includes GPT integration for AI-powered note analysis, and supports content clipping from articles, Twitter, videos, and other web sources.

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.

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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