Softwr

Productivity · head to head

HEY vs MindManager

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
MindManager logo

MindManager

Productivity

Visualize your path to success

From
On request
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • 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.; MindManager actual prices are not displayed on the pricing page despite having a clear tier structure
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 1 September 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which HEY and MindManager actually diverge.

Attributes where HEY and MindManager differ
AttributeHEYMindManager
Starting price$99/yearOn request
Pricing modelPer user per monthquote
PlatformsMac, Windows, Web, iOS, AndroidWeb

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 HEY

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

Only in MindManager

Nothing recorded that HEY does not also cover.

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

MindManager

  • Visualizing scattered ideas into organized strategiesnot HEY
  • Planning meetings with collaboration toolsnot HEY
  • Creating Gantt charts and process mapsnot HEY
  • Organizing information across multiple diagram typesnot 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.

MindManager

  • Actual prices are not displayed on the pricing page despite having a clear tier structure
  • Enterprise plan requires contacting sales for quote
  • Specific annual subscription rates are not shown on public pages

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

MindManager

On request

No published plan breakdown. See the MindManager review.

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 MindManager if

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

MindManager review

Questions people ask

Is HEY or MindManager better?
Neither clearly leads. HEY starts at $99/year and MindManager at On request, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, HEY or MindManager?
HEY starts at $99/year and MindManager at On request.
Does HEY or MindManager run on more platforms?
HEY runs on Mac, Windows, Web, iOS, Android. MindManager runs on Web.
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 MindManager is typically brought in for.
What can HEY do that MindManager cannot?
HEY covers The Screener, Imbox, Feed and Paper Trail, Reply Later stack, Focus and Reply mode.

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.

MindManager: How much does MindManager cost?

MindManager offers Essentials, Professional, and Enterprise tiers with annual subscription pricing, but specific dollar amounts are not displayed on the public pricing page. Click the 'Buy now' button to see current rates.

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.

MindManager: Is there a free trial for MindManager?

Yes, MindManager offers a 30-day fully functional free trial for desktop versions without requiring upfront payment.

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.

MindManager: What is included in the Professional plan?

The Professional plan includes the complete desktop and web experience and is marked as the Best Value tier. It offers a one-time purchase option in addition to annual subscription.

Source
MindManager: Can educators and students get a discount?

Yes, MindManager provides a specialized Education tier for students and educators with unspecified pricing.

Source
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