Runbox vs HEY
On privacy it's Runbox. On price it's Runbox. On features it's Runbox. Here's everything side by side, last checked 25 October 2026.
Runbox or HEY: which should you choose?
- Runbox is the better pick if you want your mail kept in Norway; the lower price ($34.95 a year); and freedom to use the mail app you already like.
- HEY suits you best if you want more room (100 GB, against 10 GB).
| Feature | Runbox | HEY |
|---|---|---|
| Overall | 3.5 | 2.0 |
| Privacy | 3.0 | 0.5 |
| Price | 4.0 | 2.0 |
| Features | 4.5 | 4.0 |
| Cheapest plan | Mini $34.95 a year | HEY for You $99 a year (own domain: $12 per user a month) |
| Free plan | No (30-day trial) | No (30-day trial) |
| Storage | 10 GB | 100 GB |
| Your own domain | ✓ Up to 5 | ✓ On HEY for Domains |
| End-to-end encryption | No | No |
| Company based in | Norway | United States |
| Your data is kept in | Norway | United States |
| Founded | 2000 | 2020 |
| Free trial | 30 days free, then a 60-day refund | 30 days free on HEY for You; no trial on HEY for Domains |
| Funded by advertising | No | No |
| Works in any mail app | ✓ IMAP and SMTP | No, its own apps only |
| Calendar and contacts | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes |
| Aliases | 100 aliases | Yes |
| Open-source apps | ✓ Yes | 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.
The key differences
- Cheapest plans: Runbox Mini, $34.95 a year. HEY HEY for You, $99 a year (own domain: $12 per user a month).
- Runbox comes with 10 GB of storage and HEY with 100 GB of storage.
- Runbox keeps your mail in Norway, while HEY keeps it in the United States.
- Runbox is based in Norway and HEY in the United States, so different privacy laws apply.
- Runbox works in any mail app over IMAP, and HEY only works in its own apps.
- For extra addresses, Runbox has 100 aliases and HEY has yes.
Runbox and HEY: your questions
Which is more private, Runbox or HEY?
Runbox scores 3 out of 5 for privacy and HEY 0.5. Runbox gives you your mail kept in Norway and open-source apps.
Which is cheaper, Runbox or HEY?
Runbox is cheaper. Its Mini plan is $34.95 a year, against $99 a year (own domain: $12 per user a month) for HEY's HEY for You. Check the renewal price before you pay, as some first-year prices go up.
Do Runbox and HEY work with my own domain?
Yes, both do. Runbox: Up to 5. HEY: On HEY for Domains.
Where do Runbox and HEY keep my email?
Runbox keeps it in Norway. HEY keeps it in the United States.
Do Runbox and HEY work in other mail apps?
Runbox 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: Runbox news · HEY news.
Not sold on either? Try these
Runbox vs mailbox.org · HEY vs mailbox.org · Runbox vs Posteo · HEY vs Posteo · Runbox vs Proton Mail · HEY vs Proton Mail
Switching between them
Moving to Runbox · Moving from Runbox. Or see all my switching guides.