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Productivity · head to head

HEY vs Mailbrew

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
Mailbrew logo

Mailbrew

News

Your personalized daily digest from across the web

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only Mailbrew 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.; Mailbrew free tier has limited digest count, source limits, and length restrictions
  • They diverge on capability: HEY covers The Screener, Mailbrew covers Custom digests.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 1 September 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which HEY and Mailbrew actually diverge.

Attributes where HEY and Mailbrew differ
AttributeHEYMailbrew
Starting price$99/yearFree
Pricing modelPer user per monthUnknown
Free tierNoYes
PlatformsMac, Windows, Web, iOS, AndroidWeb
CategoryProductivityNews
FoundedUnknown2019

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 HEY

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

Only in Mailbrew

  • Custom digests
  • Multiple sources
  • Email delivery
  • Scheduling
  • Content filtering
  • Twitter
  • Reddit
  • RSS

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 Mailbrew
  • A user overwhelmed by newsletters and receipts who wants them automatically separated from person to person conversationnot Mailbrew
  • A family that wants shared but individually addressed email under one annual plannot Mailbrew
  • A small company wanting HEY for Work on its own domain with the Screener model for the whole teamnot Mailbrew

Mailbrew

  • Content curationnot HEY
  • News aggregationnot HEY
  • Information managementnot 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.

Mailbrew

  • Free tier has limited digest count, source limits, and length restrictions
  • Requires upfront configuration and personalization effort to find settings suited to individual needs
  • Shows all sources without deduplication, potentially resulting in duplicate content in digests
  • Depends on upstream third-party APIs (Twitter, Reddit, YouTube) that can change terms or rate limits independently

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

Mailbrew

Free
  • FreeFree
    • Multiple digest sources
    • Email digest delivery
    • Limited digest count
  • Paid$undefined/mo
    • Unlimited digests
    • Unlimited sources
    • No length limits

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 Mailbrew if

  • You need custom digests.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You also want multiple sources.
Mailbrew review

Questions people ask

Is HEY or Mailbrew better?
Neither clearly leads. HEY starts at $99/year and Mailbrew at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, HEY or Mailbrew?
Mailbrew has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at $99/year for HEY and Free for Mailbrew.
Does HEY or Mailbrew run on more platforms?
HEY runs on Mac, Windows, Web, iOS, Android. Mailbrew runs on Web.
Can I use Mailbrew for free?
Yes. Mailbrew 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 Mailbrew is typically brought in for.
What can HEY do that Mailbrew cannot?
HEY covers The Screener, Imbox, Feed and Paper Trail, Reply Later stack, Focus and Reply mode. Mailbrew covers Custom digests, Multiple sources, Email delivery, Scheduling.

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.

Mailbrew: Is Mailbrew free?

Yes, Mailbrew is free to use as of 2026 after Evernomic's acquisition in November 2025. Free tier includes limited digest count, source limits, and length caps. Paid tier offers unlimited digests, sources, and no length limits.

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.

Mailbrew: What sources can Mailbrew monitor?

Mailbrew supports RSS feeds, Twitter/X, Reddit, YouTube, Google News, newsletters, and custom integrations.

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.

Mailbrew: How does Mailbrew deliver content?

Mailbrew collects content from multiple sources into scheduled email digests. You receive digests at your chosen time with a summary of new items from all your sources.

Source
Mailbrew: Can I access Mailbrew on mobile?

Mailbrew offers a browser-based interface for viewing digests and managing sources, but a dedicated mobile app is not mentioned in available documentation.

Source
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