Softwr

Productivity · head to head

HEY vs Anvil

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
Anvil logo

Anvil

Productivity

PDF workflow tools for developers

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only Anvil 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.; Anvil free and AI Pack plans restrict interactive signing to UI-only access
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 1 September 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which HEY and Anvil actually diverge.

Attributes where HEY and Anvil differ
AttributeHEYAnvil
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 Anvil

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

Anvil

  • PDF automation for document workflowsnot HEY
  • E-signature solutions for legal documentsnot HEY
  • Data collection through mobile webformsnot HEY
  • Insurance and healthcare document processingnot HEY
  • Real estate and financial document automationnot 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.

Anvil

  • Free and AI Pack plans restrict interactive signing to UI-only access
  • HIPAA compliance and embedded builders require Enterprise tier
  • No native Salesforce or HubSpot integrations, Zapier only

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

Anvil

Free
  • FreeFree
    • 2 user seats
    • Unlimited templates
    • Unlimited submissions and e-sign packets
  • AI Pack$99/month
    • 5 user seats
    • API access to Document AI
    • 50-page Document AI limit
  • Product Pack$425/month
    • 5 user seats
    • All AI Pack features
    • White-labeling
  • Enterprise$null/custom
    • Unlimited user seats
    • White-label builders
    • Advanced security (HIPAA/BAA/DPA, SSO)

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 Anvil if

  • You want to start without paying.
Anvil review

Questions people ask

Is HEY or Anvil better?
Neither clearly leads. HEY starts at $99/year and Anvil at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, HEY or Anvil?
Anvil has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at $99/year for HEY and Free for Anvil.
Does HEY or Anvil run on more platforms?
HEY runs on Mac, Windows, Web, iOS, Android. Anvil runs on Web.
Can I use Anvil for free?
Yes. Anvil 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 Anvil is typically brought in for.
What can HEY do that Anvil 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.

Anvil: Does Anvil offer a free plan?

Yes, Anvil's free plan includes unlimited Etch e-signature packets (dashboard only), dashboard-only PDF filling with Document AI, 2,500 free credits for PDF generation, and 500 free PDF-filling API calls.

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.

Anvil: What is the cheapest paid plan?

The AI Pack tier costs $99/month ($79/month annually) and includes 5 user seats, API access to Document AI features, and 50-page document tagging limit.

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.

Anvil: What additional fees does Anvil charge?

Beyond subscription plans, Anvil charges usage-based fees: $0.10 per PDF fill/generation (2,500 included), $1.00 per workflow submission (25 included), and $1.50 per e-sign packet (25 included). Volume discounts up to 55% off are available.

Source
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