HEY is a from-scratch email service built by 37signals (the makers of Basecamp) around the idea that email should work the way you want, not the way senders want. The Screener requires approval before a new sender can reach you, the Imbox holds mail from people and services you care about, Paper Trail files away receipts and confirmations, and the Feed turns newsletters into a browsable, non-intrusive stream. HEY includes an integrated calendar, blocks tracking pixels used by marketers to spy on when and where you open email, and offers HEY World for publishing a personal blog straight from your inbox. It's available as a personal @hey.com account, a family plan, or HEY for Domains for teams who want the same experience on their own custom domain.
Mailfence is a secure and private email service based in Belgium, operating under strict European privacy law where only local judges with a court order can request user information. It provides end-to-end OpenPGP-compatible encryption and digital signatures, with encryption happening in the browser so that even Mailfence cannot read user emails.
- Genuinely different approach to inbox triage compared to conventional email clients
- Strong, explicit stance against tracking pixels and data harvesting
- Clean, opinionated interface with calendar built in
- Team plan brings the same screening model to company domains
- Belgium-based with strong legal privacy protections requiring a local court order for data requests
- Full productivity suite (email, calendar, documents, contacts) included even on paid tiers, not sold as separate add-ons
- Supports standard protocols (IMAP/SMTP/POP/EAS) so it works with third-party mail clients, unlike some encrypted email rivals
- Long track record, with the service originally launched in 1999
- No free tier and no monthly option for personal accounts
- Switching your primary email to @hey.com or a new domain is a bigger commitment than trying a new client
- Team plan requires giving up the standalone @hey.com address and blog features
- Free plan storage is very limited at 1 GB total
- Paid plans are billed annually in most cases rather than offering flexible monthly billing
- Encryption only works fully between Mailfence users or via manual OpenPGP key exchange, not automatically with all outside recipients
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The Verdict
AI-generated from listing dataHEY offers a unique screened‑inbox experience with strong anti‑tracking features but requires a paid subscription, while Mailfence provides a free tier, broader productivity suite, and standard email protocols with Belgian legal privacy protections.
Key differences
- •HEY uses a proprietary screening model that blocks unknown senders; Mailfence relies on OpenPGP encryption and standard IMAP/SMTP protocols.
- •HEY has no free tier and no monthly billing for individuals; Mailfence offers a freemium plan with limited storage and annual billing for paid plans.
- •HEY’s interface is opinionated and includes built‑in calendar and blog features; Mailfence integrates calendar, documents, and contacts but works with any third‑party client.
- •HEY’s privacy focus is on blocking tracking pixels and sender screening; Mailfence’s privacy is anchored in Belgian jurisdiction and end‑to‑end encryption.
- •Team plans: HEY requires abandoning the personal @hey.com address; Mailfence allows custom domains without losing existing addresses.
Pricing & value
Mailfence offers a free tier and annual paid plans; HEY only has paid subscriptions with no free option.
Ease of use / learning curve
HEY’s opinionated UI and built‑in screening require minimal setup; Mailfence needs user‑managed OpenPGP keys for full encryption.
Features & depth
Mailfence includes calendar, document storage, contacts, and standard protocols; HEY focuses mainly on email screening and a blog.
Integrations & ecosystem
Mailfence supports IMAP, POP3S, SMTP, Exchange ActiveSync and custom domains; HEY provides only its own cloud SaaS interface.
Collaboration
Mailfence’s suite works for families and SMBs with shared docs and calendar; HEY’s team plan forces loss of personal address.
Scalability
Mailfence allows custom domains and standard protocols for larger deployments; HEY’s model is limited to its own domain.
Support
Mailfence lists knowledge base, email support, and priority support on higher plans; HEY provides no support details.
Security & privacy
Both prioritize privacy: HEY blocks tracking pixels; Mailfence offers end‑to‑end OpenPGP and Belgian legal protection.
Migration / lock‑in
Mailfence’s standard protocols ease migration; HEY’s proprietary platform makes switching harder.
Choose HEY if…
Individuals or small teams who value a screened inbox and anti‑tracking over cost and need a built‑in calendar.
Choose Mailfence if…
Privacy‑concerned users, families, or SMBs who want a free tier, standard email protocols, and a full productivity suite.
Common questions
Can I try either service for free?
HEY has no free tier; Mailfence offers a freemium plan with 1 GB total storage.
Do both services support standard email clients?
HEY is cloud‑only; Mailfence supports IMAP, POP3S, SMTP, and Exchange ActiveSync for any client.
Which service offers stronger legal privacy protection?
Mailfence is under Belgian jurisdiction requiring a local court order for data requests; HEY relies on technical anti‑tracking measures.