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Productivity · head to head

HEY vs Spark Mail

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
Spark Mail logo

Spark Mail

Productivity

AI-assisted email client from Readdle with a Smart Inbox and team collaboration features

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only Spark Mail 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.; Spark Mail several sync features route mail metadata and, for some features, credentials through Readdle servers, which is a materially different trust model from a local-only IMAP client.
  • They diverge on capability: HEY covers The Screener, Spark Mail covers Smart Inbox.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 1 September 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which HEY and Spark Mail actually diverge.

Attributes where HEY and Spark Mail differ
AttributeHEYSpark Mail
Starting price$99/yearFree
Free tierNoYes
PlatformsMac, Windows, Web, iOS, AndroidmacOS, Windows, iOS, Android, Web

Identical on both: pricing model (Per user per month), 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 Spark Mail

  • Smart Inbox
  • AI Copilot
  • AI Summaries
  • Team collaboration
  • Send later and snooze
  • Multi-account unified inbox

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

Spark Mail

  • A freelancer juggling Gmail and Outlook accounts who wants one AI-assisted inboxnot HEY
  • A small support team sharing a single inbox with internal notes before replyingnot HEY
  • Someone who wants drafts and summaries generated without switching to a new mail hostnot HEY
  • A user who wants notification triage without writing their own filtersnot 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.

Spark Mail

  • Several sync features route mail metadata and, for some features, credentials through Readdle servers, which is a materially different trust model from a local-only IMAP client.
  • It is a client over accounts you still pay for elsewhere, so the total cost is Spark plus whatever Gmail, Outlook or Fastmail plan you already hold.
  • The free tier lacks AI Copilot and summaries, so the features it is best known for sit behind the paid plan.
  • Team features are basic next to dedicated shared-inbox tools like Front or Help Scout, so a support team scaling past a few agents will likely outgrow it.
  • Windows and Android versions have historically lagged the macOS and iOS apps in feature parity.

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

Spark Mail

Free
  • BasicFree
    • Unlimited accounts
    • Smart Inbox
    • Basic send later
  • Premium$7.99/month
    • AI Copilot and summaries
    • Unlimited snooze and send later
    • Priority support
  • Premium Teams$10/month
    • Shared inboxes
    • Delegation and internal comments
    • Admin controls

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 Spark Mail if

  • You need smart inbox.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on macOS, Windows, iOS, Android, Web.
  • You also want ai copilot.
Spark Mail review

Questions people ask

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

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.

Spark Mail: Does Spark host my email?

No. It is a client that connects to Gmail, Outlook, iCloud or any IMAP account; you still need a mail host.

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.

Spark Mail: Does Spark store my email credentials on its servers?

For some features, including cross-device snooze and send-later sync, yes. It is part of how those features stay consistent across devices.

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.

Spark Mail: Is there a one-time purchase option?

No, Spark is subscription only for individuals and teams; the base client is free but AI and unlimited scheduling need Premium.

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