Softwr

Project Management · head to head

Hive vs Spark Mail

Hive logo

Hive

Project Management

Project management built for speed

From
Free
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

  • Each has a real cost: Hive the free plan is capped at 200 MB of storage; 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: Hive covers Tasks, Spark Mail covers Smart Inbox.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 1 September 2026.

Where they differ

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

Attributes where Hive and Spark Mail differ
AttributeHiveSpark Mail
Pricing modelfreemiumPer user per month
PlatformsWeb, Ios, Android, DesktopmacOS, Windows, iOS, Android, Web
CategoryProject ManagementProductivity
Founded2015Unknown

Identical on both: starting price (Free), free tier (Yes), 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 Hive

  • Tasks
  • Gantt view
  • Kanban
  • Time tracking
  • Forms
  • Slack
  • Zoom
  • Google Drive

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.

Hive

  • Project and task management with multiple project viewsnot Spark Mail
  • Coordinating work, proofing and resourcing for teamsnot Spark Mail

Spark Mail

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

Where each one falls short

Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.

Hive

  • The free plan is capped at 200 MB of storage
  • The Starter plan at $5 per user per month is limited to 10 projects
  • Eight capabilities are sold as $5 per user add ons on the Teams plan, including CRM, timesheets, proofing, resourcing, advanced dashboards, external users and SSO
  • Buying SSO plus a few of those add ons therefore costs more than the $12 base seat itself
  • AI credits are metered monthly at 1,000, 3,000 and 5,000 by plan

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

Hive

Free
  • FreeFree
    • 1,000 AI credits per month
    • 200MB storage
    • Up to 10 workspace members
  • Starter$5/month
    • 3,000 AI credits per month
    • Unlimited storage
    • Up to 10 projects
  • Teams$12/month
    • 5,000 AI credits per month
    • Unlimited workspace members
    • Custom fields

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 Hive if

  • You need tasks.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Web, Ios, Android, Desktop.
  • You also want gantt view.
Hive 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 Hive or Spark Mail better?
Neither clearly leads. Hive starts at Free and Spark Mail at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Hive or Spark Mail?
Hive starts at Free and Spark Mail at Free.
Does Hive or Spark Mail run on more platforms?
Hive runs on Web, Ios, Android, Desktop. Spark Mail runs on macOS, Windows, iOS, Android, Web.
Can I use Hive for free?
Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
What is Hive best used for?
Hive is most often used for project and task management with multiple project views, coordinating work, proofing and resourcing for teams. Of those, project and task management with multiple project views and coordinating work, proofing and resourcing for teams are not what Spark Mail is typically brought in for.
What can Hive do that Spark Mail cannot?
Hive covers Tasks, Gantt view, Kanban, Time tracking. Spark Mail covers Smart Inbox, AI Copilot, AI Summaries, Team collaboration.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Hive: Is Hive free?

Hive offers a free plan with 1,000 AI credits per month, 200MB storage, and support for up to 10 workspace members. Paid plans start at $5 per user per month.

Source
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.

Hive: Does Hive offer annual billing discounts?

Hive offers 33% savings when choosing annual billing instead of monthly. Annual commitment discounts are available across all plan tiers.

Source
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.

Hive: What are Hive's add-on pricing options?

Optional add-ons are available at $5 per month each, including CRM, Finance, Proofing & Approvals, Timesheets, and Team Resourcing features.

Source
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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