Softwr

Productivity · head to head

HEY vs Nitro PDF

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
Nitro PDF logo

Nitro PDF

Productivity

Edit, convert, secure, and sign PDF with annotation, OCR, and more

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.; Nitro PDF specific per-seat pricing is not published; must contact sales for individual plan pricing and volume discounts
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 1 September 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which HEY and Nitro PDF actually diverge.

Attributes where HEY and Nitro PDF differ
AttributeHEYNitro PDF
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 Nitro PDF

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

Nitro PDF

  • PDF creation, editing, annotation, and form filling for document workflowsnot HEY
  • E-signature workflows and document sending through Nitro Signnot HEY
  • Enterprise document management with compliance featuresnot 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.

Nitro PDF

  • Specific per-seat pricing is not published; must contact sales for individual plan pricing and volume discounts
  • SSO and enterprise features (Azure Information Protection) are limited to Plus tier, not available in Standard
  • Plans support up to 20 licenses online; teams needing 20+ users must contact sales

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

Nitro PDF

On request

No published plan breakdown. See the Nitro PDF 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 Nitro PDF if

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

Nitro PDF review

Questions people ask

Is HEY or Nitro PDF better?
Neither clearly leads. HEY starts at $99/year and Nitro PDF at On request, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, HEY or Nitro PDF?
HEY starts at $99/year and Nitro PDF at On request.
Does HEY or Nitro PDF run on more platforms?
HEY runs on Mac, Windows, Web, iOS, Android. Nitro PDF 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 Nitro PDF is typically brought in for.
What can HEY do that Nitro PDF 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.

Nitro PDF: What are the main Nitro PDF plans and their pricing?

Nitro offers Standard and Plus tiers for PDF tools, plus Nitro Sign for e-signatures. Standard is an annual subscription with unlimited users and basic PDF features. Plus adds SSO, domain control, and Azure Information Protection. Specific pricing requires contacting Nitro sales. A 14-day free trial is available without a credit card.

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.

Nitro PDF: What is the difference between Nitro PDF Standard and Plus?

Nitro PDF Standard includes core PDF creation, editing, annotation, OCR, AI tools, and team management. Plus adds enterprise security features including single sign-on (SSO), domain control, Azure Information Protection, Nitro Analytics, and a dedicated customer success manager for eligible customers.

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.

Nitro PDF: Is there a perpetual license option for Nitro PDF?

Yes. Nitro PDF Classic is a one-time purchase for a 3-year license at a fixed price (not published online). It runs on Windows desktop only and includes core PDF tools. The Standard and Plus tiers are annual subscriptions.

Source
Share

Related pages

More on HEY

More on Nitro PDF

Keep looking

Other head to heads