GMX vs HEY
GMX wins on privacy, GMX wins on price and they tie on features. Every fact below was checked on or before 25 October 2026.
Should you pick GMX or HEY?
- GMX is the better pick if you want your mail kept in Germany (European data centres); a mailbox that costs nothing; and a free plan to start on.
- HEY suits you best if you want a company that isn't funded by advertising; an address on your own domain; and 100 GB of storage.
| Feature | GMX | HEY |
|---|---|---|
| Overall | 3.5 | 2.0 |
| Privacy | 2.0 | 0.5 |
| Price | 5.0 | 2.0 |
| Features | 4.0 | 4.0 |
| Cheapest plan | Free Free (paid plans only for German and Austrian residents) | HEY for You $99 a year (own domain: $12 per user a month) |
| Free plan | Yes, with adverts | No (30-day trial) |
| Storage | 65 GB | 100 GB |
| Your own domain | No | ✓ On HEY for Domains |
| End-to-end encryption | No | No |
| Company based in | Germany | United States |
| Your data is kept in | Germany (European data centres) | United States |
| Founded | 1997 | 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 | Up to 10 addresses | Yes |
| Open-source apps | No | No |
| Sign up without ID | No | No |
| White label | No | No |
| Reader offer | None | None |
| Last checked | 25 October 2026 | 25 October 2026 |
Want to add another? Open this in the compare tool.
Where they differ
- Cheapest plans: GMX Free, Free (paid plans only for German and Austrian residents). HEY HEY for You, $99 a year (own domain: $12 per user a month).
- For free, GMX gives you a free plan (with adverts), and HEY no free plan.
- GMX comes with 65 GB of storage and HEY with 100 GB of storage.
- GMX keeps your mail in Germany (European data centres), while HEY keeps it in the United States.
- GMX is based in Germany and HEY in the United States, so different privacy laws apply.
- HEY lets you bring your own domain name; GMX doesn't.
- GMX works in any mail app over IMAP, and HEY only works in its own apps.
- Only GMX is part of an advertising business.
- For extra addresses, GMX has up to 10 addresses and HEY has yes.
Common questions
Which is more private, GMX or HEY?
GMX scores 2 out of 5 for privacy and HEY 0.5. GMX gives you your mail kept in Germany (European data centres).
Which is cheaper, GMX or HEY?
GMX costs nothing to start (Free (paid plans only for German and Austrian residents)). HEY's cheapest plan, HEY for You, is $99 a year (own domain: $12 per user a month).
Do GMX and HEY work with my own domain?
Only HEY does (On HEY for Domains). With GMX your address stays on its own domain.
Where do GMX and HEY keep my email?
GMX keeps it in Germany (European data centres). HEY keeps it in the United States.
Do GMX and HEY work in other mail apps?
GMX works in any mail app over IMAP. HEY only works in its own apps.
Prices and the latest news
I haven't seen either change its price since I started checking on 25 October 2026.
Not sold on either? Try these
GMX vs mailbox.org · HEY vs mailbox.org · GMX vs Posteo · HEY vs Posteo · GMX 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.