AOL Mail vs HEY
HEY wins on privacy, AOL Mail wins on price and HEY wins on features. Every fact below was checked on or before 25 October 2026.
Should you pick AOL Mail or HEY?
- AOL Mail is the better pick if you want a mailbox that costs nothing; to try it free first; and freedom to use the mail app you already like.
- HEY suits you best if you want a provider with no advertising business behind it and email at your own domain name.
| Feature | AOL Mail | HEY |
|---|---|---|
| Overall | 2.0 | 2.0 |
| Privacy | 0.0 | 0.5 |
| Price | 5.0 | 2.0 |
| Features | 3.5 | 4.0 |
| Cheapest plan | Free Free | HEY for You $99 a year (own domain: $12 per user a month) |
| Free plan | Yes | No (30-day trial) |
| Storage | Not confirmed | 100 GB |
| Your own domain | No | ✓ On HEY for Domains |
| End-to-end encryption | No | No |
| Company based in | United States | United States |
| Your data is kept in | United States | United States |
| Founded | 1993 | 2020 |
| Free trial | Free | 30 days free on HEY for You; no trial on HEY for Domains |
| Funded by advertising | Yes, or its parent company is | No |
| Works in any mail app | ✓ IMAP and SMTP | No, its own apps only |
| Calendar and contacts | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes |
| Aliases | Yes | Yes |
| Open-source apps | No | No |
| Sign up without ID | No | No |
| White label | No | No |
| Reader offer | None | None |
| Last checked | 22 October 2026 | 25 October 2026 |
Want to add another? Open this in the compare tool.
Where they differ
- Cheapest plans: AOL Mail Free, Free. HEY HEY for You, $99 a year (own domain: $12 per user a month).
- For free, AOL Mail gives you a free plan (), and HEY no free plan.
- AOL Mail comes with storage not confirmed and HEY with 100 GB of storage.
- HEY lets you bring your own domain name; AOL Mail doesn't.
- AOL Mail works in any mail app over IMAP, and HEY only works in its own apps.
- Only AOL Mail is part of an advertising business.
Questions people ask
Which is more private, AOL Mail or HEY?
HEY scores 0.5 out of 5 for privacy and AOL Mail 0. HEY gives you a provider with no advertising business behind it.
Which is cheaper, AOL Mail or HEY?
AOL Mail costs nothing to start (Free). HEY's cheapest plan, HEY for You, is $99 a year (own domain: $12 per user a month).
Do AOL Mail and HEY work with my own domain?
Only HEY does (On HEY for Domains). With AOL Mail your address stays on its own domain.
Where do AOL Mail and HEY keep my email?
Both keep it in the United States.
Do AOL Mail and HEY work in other mail apps?
AOL Mail works in any mail app over IMAP. HEY only works in its own apps.
Price changes and news
Neither price has changed since my first check on 22 October 2026.
The latest headlines: AOL Mail news · HEY news.
Alternatives to AOL Mail and HEY
AOL Mail vs mailbox.org · HEY vs mailbox.org · AOL Mail vs Posteo · HEY vs Posteo · AOL Mail vs Proton Mail · HEY vs Proton Mail
How to switch
Whichever you choose, the move follows the same steps. Pick your two providers for the steps.