Outlook.com vs HEY
In short: HEY wins on privacy, Outlook.com wins on price, and they tie on features. The full comparison is below, last checked 25 October 2026.
Outlook.com or HEY: which should you choose?
- Outlook.com is the better pick if you want email without paying for it; a free plan before you pay anything; and the choice of any mail app over IMAP.
- Go for HEY if you'd like a provider with no advertising business behind it; email at your own domain name; and more space for your mail: 100 GB.
| Feature | Outlook.com | HEY |
|---|---|---|
| Overall | 2.5 | 2.0 |
| Privacy | 0.0 | 0.5 |
| Price | 5.0 | 2.0 |
| Features | 4.0 | 4.0 |
| Cheapest plan | Free (Microsoft 365 Basic for more space) Free | HEY for You $99 a year (own domain: $12 per user a month) |
| Free plan | Yes, 15 GB | 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 | 1996 | 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.
How Outlook.com and HEY differ
- Cheapest plans: Outlook.com Free (Microsoft 365 Basic for more space), Free. HEY HEY for You, $99 a year (own domain: $12 per user a month).
- Outlook.com has a free plan (15 GB); HEY has no free plan.
- Space: Outlook.com gives 15 GB of storage, HEY 100 GB of storage.
- Your mail is stored in the United States and worldwide with Outlook.com, and in the United States with HEY.
- You can use your own domain with HEY, but not with Outlook.com.
- Mail apps: Outlook.com works in any mail app over IMAP; HEY only works in its own apps.
- Outlook.com (or its parent company) makes money from advertising; HEY doesn't.
Outlook.com and HEY: your questions
Is Outlook.com more private than HEY?
HEY scores 0.5 out of 5 for privacy and Outlook.com 0. HEY gives you a provider with no advertising business behind it.
Is Outlook.com cheaper than HEY?
Outlook.com costs nothing to start (Free). HEY's cheapest plan, HEY for You, is $99 a year (own domain: $12 per user a month).
Can I use my own domain with Outlook.com or HEY?
Only HEY does (On HEY for Domains). With Outlook.com your address stays on its own domain.
Where is my email stored with Outlook.com and HEY?
Outlook.com keeps it in the United States and worldwide. HEY keeps it in the United States.
Can I use Outlook.com and HEY in Apple Mail or Outlook?
Outlook.com 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 22 October 2026.
The latest headlines: Outlook.com news · HEY news.
Not sold on either? Try these
Outlook.com vs mailbox.org · HEY vs mailbox.org · Outlook.com vs Posteo · HEY vs Posteo · Outlook.com vs Proton Mail · HEY vs Proton Mail
Moving your email
Moving to Outlook.com · Moving from Outlook.com. Or see all my switching guides.