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Productivity · head to head

HEY vs MindMeister

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
MindMeister logo

MindMeister

Productivity

Collaborative online mind mapping, free for three maps in total

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only MindMeister 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.; MindMeister the free plan allows three mind maps in total, and a map is a whole document rather than an item, so the cap is reached in a first afternoon of genuine use, making it a demonstration with no clock rather than a usable tier.
  • They diverge on capability: HEY covers The Screener, MindMeister covers Real-time collaboration.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 1 September 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which HEY and MindMeister actually diverge.

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

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 MindMeister

  • Real-time collaboration
  • Presentation mode
  • Free plan
  • File export
  • Attachments
  • Version history
  • MeisterTask handoff
  • Custom branding

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

MindMeister

  • Running a live brainstorm with people in different places, where everyone edits the same map simultaneously.not HEY
  • Teaching or training where the map doubles as the slide deck through presentation mode.not HEY
  • Structuring a project or an argument visually before it becomes a document or a plan.not HEY
  • Teams already using MeisterTask who want ideas to become tasks without transcribing them.not 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.

MindMeister

  • The free plan allows three mind maps in total, and a map is a whole document rather than an item, so the cap is reached in a first afternoon of genuine use, making it a demonstration with no clock rather than a usable tier.
  • Exporting is a paid feature, since the free plan cannot export files at all, Microsoft-format export begins at the Pro tier and compliance export at Business, so retrieving your own work in a portable form costs more than the entry subscription.
  • Pricing is per user and a map's value comes from being seen, so an organisation pays the same rate for people who only read and comment on maps as for the few who actually build them.
  • Attachments are rationed by tier at two per map on the entry plan, so using a map as a project hub rather than a sketch pushes you to a higher tier for a limit that has nothing to do with mapping.
  • Single sign-on and the administrative controls an IT department requires sit on the Business tier and involve a sales conversation, which is where a tool adopted quietly by individuals becomes an organisational purchase at several times the entry price.

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

MindMeister

Free
  • FreeFree
    • 3 mind maps
    • Unlimited collaborators
    • Templates
  • Personal$6/month
    • Unlimited mind maps
    • 2 attachments per map
    • 7-day version history
  • Pro$10/month
    • Unlimited attachments
    • Unlimited version history
    • Multiple admins
  • Business$15/month
    • Group sharing
    • Compliance exports/backups
    • SAML SSO (contact sales)

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 MindMeister if

  • You need real-time collaboration.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You also want presentation mode.
MindMeister review

Questions people ask

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

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.

MindMeister: What does the free plan allow?

Three mind maps in total, with unlimited collaborators, templates and presentation mode. It does not include file export, so maps made on the free plan stay in the browser.

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.

MindMeister: Can I export my maps?

On paid plans. The entry tier adds file export and printing, and Microsoft formats arrive at Pro. What comes out is an image, a PDF or a document, not an editable map another tool can open.

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.

MindMeister: Does it work offline?

Treat it as needing a connection. If you are running a workshop somewhere with unreliable network, export or print what you need beforehand rather than relying on the browser.

MindMeister: How does it relate to MeisterTask?

Same vendor, separate products and separate licences. Map branches can be sent into MeisterTask as tasks, which is the main reason to prefer it over a general whiteboard tool.

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