Gmail vs HEY
In short: HEY wins on privacy, Gmail wins on price, and they tie on features. The full comparison is below, last checked 25 October 2026.
Gmail or HEY: which should you choose?
- Gmail 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 is the better pick if you want a company that isn't funded by advertising; email at your own domain name; and more space for your mail: 100 GB.
| Feature | Gmail | HEY |
|---|---|---|
| Overall | 2.5 | 2.0 |
| Privacy | 0.0 | 0.5 |
| Price | 5.0 | 2.0 |
| Features | 4.0 | 4.0 |
| Cheapest plan | Free (Google One 100 GB for more space) Free; 100 GB about £1.59–£1.99 a month | HEY for You $99 a year (own domain: $12 per user a month) |
| Free plan | Yes, 15 GB shared with Drive | No (30-day trial) |
| Storage | 15 GB | 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 and worldwide | United States |
| Founded | 2004 | 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 | Plus addressing only | 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.
How Gmail and HEY differ
- On price: Gmail Free (Google One 100 GB for more space) at Free; 100 GB about £1.59–£1.99 a month, against HEY HEY for You at $99 a year (own domain: $12 per user a month).
- For free, Gmail gives you a free plan (15 GB shared with Drive), and HEY no free plan.
- Gmail comes with 15 GB of storage and HEY with 100 GB of storage.
- Gmail keeps your mail in the United States and worldwide, while HEY keeps it in the United States.
- HEY lets you bring your own domain name; Gmail doesn't.
- Gmail works in any mail app over IMAP, and HEY only works in its own apps.
- Only Gmail is part of an advertising business.
- For extra addresses, Gmail has plus addressing only and HEY has yes.
Questions people ask
Which is more private, Gmail or HEY?
HEY scores 0.5 out of 5 for privacy and Gmail 0. HEY gives you a company that isn't funded by advertising.
Which is cheaper, Gmail or HEY?
Gmail costs nothing to start (Free; 100 GB about £1.59–£1.99 a month). HEY's cheapest plan, HEY for You, is $99 a year (own domain: $12 per user a month).
Do Gmail and HEY work with my own domain?
Only HEY does (On HEY for Domains). With Gmail your address stays on its own domain.
Where do Gmail and HEY keep my email?
Gmail keeps it in the United States and worldwide. HEY keeps it in the United States.
Do Gmail and HEY work in other mail apps?
Gmail works in any mail app over IMAP. HEY only works in its own apps.
Recent price changes
No price changes for either since 22 October 2026. I check regularly and add any change here with its date.
The latest headlines: Gmail news · HEY news.
Also worth a look
Gmail vs mailbox.org · HEY vs mailbox.org · Gmail vs Posteo · HEY vs Posteo · Gmail vs Proton Mail · HEY vs Proton Mail
How to switch
Moving to Gmail · Moving from Gmail. Or see all my switching guides.