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Productivity · head to head

HEY vs Motion

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
Motion logo

Motion

Scheduling

Your intelligent calendar that prioritizes for you

From
$19/month
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.; Motion no free plan; starts at $19/month per user
  • They diverge on capability: HEY covers The Screener, Motion covers AI auto-scheduling.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 1 September 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which HEY and Motion actually diverge.

Attributes where HEY and Motion differ
AttributeHEYMotion
Starting price$99/year$19/month
Pricing modelPer user per monthUnknown
PlatformsMac, Windows, Web, iOS, AndroidWeb, iOS, macOS, Windows
CategoryProductivityScheduling
FoundedUnknown2019

Identical on both: free tier (No), 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 Motion

  • AI auto-scheduling
  • Task prioritization
  • Project management
  • Meeting scheduler
  • Deadline tracking
  • Google Calendar
  • Outlook
  • Zoom

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

Motion

  • Schedulingnot HEY
  • Appointment bookingnot HEY
  • Time trackingnot HEY
  • Resource managementnot HEY
  • Team coordinationnot 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.

Motion

  • No free plan; starts at $19/month per user
  • Mobile app is significantly less capable than desktop version
  • Requires adding deadlines, time estimates, and priorities to tasks to function effectively
  • Limited advanced project management features compared to dedicated PM tools like Asana or ClickUp
  • UI can feel cluttered and has a steep onboarding curve

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

Motion

$19/month
  • Pro AI$19/month
    • AI task scheduling
    • 7500 AI credits per month
  • Business AI$29/month
    • AI Employees for teams
    • 15000 AI credits per month

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 Motion if

  • You need ai auto-scheduling.
  • You work on Web, iOS, macOS, Windows.
  • You also want task prioritization.
Motion review

Questions people ask

Is HEY or Motion better?
Neither clearly leads. HEY starts at $99/year and Motion at $19/month, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, HEY or Motion?
HEY starts at $99/year and Motion at $19/month.
Does HEY or Motion run on more platforms?
HEY runs on Mac, Windows, Web, iOS, Android. Motion runs on Web, iOS, macOS, Windows.
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 Motion is typically brought in for.
What can HEY do that Motion cannot?
HEY covers The Screener, Imbox, Feed and Paper Trail, Reply Later stack, Focus and Reply mode. Motion covers AI auto-scheduling, Task prioritization, Project management, Meeting scheduler.

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.

Motion: Does Motion work offline?

Motion is a cloud-based platform that requires internet connectivity to access and use its AI scheduling features. Offline functionality is not available.

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.

Motion: Is there a free trial for Motion?

Yes, Motion offers a 7-day free trial that can be canceled anytime. The free trial does not require credit card information upfront.

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.

Motion: What calendar services does Motion integrate with?

Motion integrates with Google Calendar, Outlook, and iCloud for calendar synchronization and automatic event scheduling.

Source
Motion: Is there a mobile app for Motion?

Motion offers iOS mobile app and desktop applications, though the mobile experience has been reported as less feature-rich than the web version.

Source
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