Softwr

Productivity · head to head

HEY vs Time Doctor

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
Time Doctor logo

Time Doctor

Productivity

Employee time tracking and productivity monitoring

From
$3/addon
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.; Time Doctor specific plan prices not published on pricing page, must contact sales
  • They diverge on capability: HEY covers The Screener, Time Doctor covers Time tracking with timer.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 1 September 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which HEY and Time Doctor actually diverge.

Attributes where HEY and Time Doctor differ
AttributeHEYTime Doctor
Starting price$99/year$3/addon
Pricing modelPer user per monthsubscription
PlatformsMac, Windows, Web, iOS, AndroidWeb, IOS, Android, MacOS, Windows
FoundedUnknown2011

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 Time Doctor

  • Time tracking with timer
  • Activity monitoring
  • Screenshots
  • GPS tracking
  • Webcam monitoring
  • Reports and invoicing
  • Mobile apps
  • Team management

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

Time Doctor

  • Employee time tracking and productivity monitoringnot HEY
  • Remote and hybrid team managementnot HEY
  • Workforce analytics for resource optimizationnot HEY
  • Payroll integration for enterprisesnot 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.

Time Doctor

  • Specific plan prices not published on pricing page, must contact sales
  • Software Cost Insights add-on costs $3 per user per month
  • Historical data retention limited to 3 months on Basic tier
  • No pricing transparency for video recording and benchmarks add-ons

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

Time Doctor

$3/addon
  • Basic$null/month
    • Automatic tracking
    • Projects and tasks management
    • Screenshots
  • Standard$null/month
    • Everything in Basic
    • Schedules
    • Attendance
  • Premium$null/month
    • Everything in Standard
    • AI benchmarks
    • Video recording
  • Enterprise$null/month
    • All features
    • Private cloud
    • Customizable dashboards

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 Time Doctor if

  • You need time tracking with timer.
  • You work on Web, IOS, Android, MacOS, Windows.
  • You also want activity monitoring.
Time Doctor review

Questions people ask

Is HEY or Time Doctor better?
Neither clearly leads. HEY starts at $99/year and Time Doctor at $3/addon, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, HEY or Time Doctor?
HEY starts at $99/year and Time Doctor at $3/addon.
Does HEY or Time Doctor run on more platforms?
HEY runs on Mac, Windows, Web, iOS, Android. Time Doctor runs on Web, IOS, Android, 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 Time Doctor is typically brought in for.
What can HEY do that Time Doctor cannot?
HEY covers The Screener, Imbox, Feed and Paper Trail, Reply Later stack, Focus and Reply mode. Time Doctor covers Time tracking with timer, Activity monitoring, Screenshots, GPS tracking.

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.

Time Doctor: Is there a free trial for Time Doctor?

Yes, Time Doctor offers two weeks of free access to all Premium plan features without requiring 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.

Time Doctor: What are Time Doctor's add-on costs?

Software Cost Insights costs $3 per user per month. HRIS and Payroll integrations each cost $200 per integration. Benchmarks AI, Meeting Insights, and Video Recording pricing is not listed.

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.

Time Doctor: How long does Time Doctor retain employee data?

Data retention varies by plan: Basic tier retains 3 months of historical data, while Premium and Enterprise tiers retain 2 years.

Source
Time Doctor: Does Time Doctor offer annual billing discounts?

Yes, customers who pay annually receive two months free, equivalent to a 16.6% discount on the subscription cost.

Source
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