[Compare · Email-First Hosting]

Fastmail vs HEY

Higher score

FastmailIndie

8.7/ 10

HEY

7.0/ 10

Across 4 measured dimensions: Fastmail wins 2, HEY wins 0 (2 tie / n/a)

[01]

Side by side.

8 dimensions

Metric	Fastmail	HEY
Score Winner: left	8.7	7.0
Δ 90 days	— flat	— flat
Parent & badge Winner: left	IndependentIndie	37signals
Founded	1999	2020
Best for	Anyone leaving Gmail for a custom domain	People who agree with 37signals' philosophy of email as a workflow
Price per mo Winner: left	$5.00/ mo	$8.25/ mo
Renewal multiplier	—	—
Tagline	Privacy-focused email, no Google, no ads	Opinionated workflow, $99/yr, no IMAP

[02]

What works, what doesn't.

Per provider

Fastmail4 pros · 3 cons

+ Pros

✓Independent, privacy-respecting, no ads
✓Excellent custom domain support
✓JMAP protocol is genuinely faster
✓Strong calendar/contacts integration

– Cons

✗No end-to-end encryption (vs Proton/Tutanota)
✗Australian jurisdiction concerns for some users
✗Web UI looks dated

HEY4 pros · 4 cons

+ Pros

✓Screener kills cold/marketing email at the door
✓Imbox/Feed/Paper Trail workflow is genuinely novel
✓Built by 37signals — long-term commitment to product
✓Flat $99/year, no per-mailbox seat math

– Cons

✗No IMAP, ever — you can't use your own client
✗Annual billing only, no monthly option
✗Custom domain requires separate $99 plan
✗Migrating out is intentionally difficult

Make the call

Pick one and go.

Both links are affiliate. Score doesn't move because of it.

VisitFastmail ↗Score 8.7 VisitHEY ↗Score 7.0

← Read full Fastmail review·Read full HEY review →

[03]

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