Softwr

Productivity · head to head

HEY vs Vowel

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
V

Vowel

Communication

AI-powered meetings that make everyone more productive

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only Vowel 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.; Vowel the Internet Archive's capture of Vowel's homepage on 4 January 2021 showed the video conferencing/transcript tool was in a 'Request access' waitlist phase with no pricing figure published.
  • They diverge on capability: HEY covers The Screener, Vowel covers Video conferencing.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 1 September 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which HEY and Vowel actually diverge.

Attributes where HEY and Vowel differ
AttributeHEYVowel
Starting price$99/yearFree
Pricing modelPer user per monthsubscription
Free tierNoYes
PlatformsMac, Windows, Web, iOS, AndroidWeb, Macos, Windows
CategoryProductivityCommunication
FoundedUnknown2020

Identical on both: 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 Vowel

  • Video conferencing
  • Auto transcription
  • AI meeting summaries
  • Action item detection
  • Searchable recordings
  • Slack
  • Notion
  • Asana

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

Vowel

  • Team meetingsnot HEY
  • All-handsnot HEY
  • Client callsnot HEY
  • Onboardingnot 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.

Vowel

  • The Internet Archive's capture of Vowel's homepage on 4 January 2021 showed the video conferencing/transcript tool was in a 'Request access' waitlist phase with no pricing figure published.

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

Vowel

Free
  • FreeFree
    • Unlimited meetings
    • Auto transcription
    • 40-min group meetings
  • Business$16.49/month
    • Unlimited AI features
    • Unlimited recording storage
    • Custom vocabulary
  • EnterpriseFree
    • SSO/SAML
    • Dedicated support
    • Custom integrations

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 Vowel if

  • You need video conferencing.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Web, Macos, Windows.
  • You also want auto transcription.
Vowel review

Questions people ask

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

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.

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.

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.

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