HEY is a modern, privacy-focused email and calendar service designed to reclaim your time and attention from cluttered, ad-driven platforms. Created by 37signals, the team behind Basecamp, HEY seeks to fix the fundamental issues of modern email by treating it as a valuable communication tool rather than a chore to be managed. Unlike traditional providers that rely on data mining and advertisements, HEY operates on a transparent, subscription-based model that guarantees no selling of user data or personal information. The platform is built around a distinct philosophy that emphasizes user control, intentional communication, and a calm, orderly interface.

Functionality includes an innovative approach to inbox management that helps you organize messages based on their purpose and importance. HEY replaces the traditional, chaotic inbox with several purpose-built surfaces, including the Imbox for important messages, The Feed for newsletters and long-reads, and the Paper Trail for transactional receipts and confirmations. It also features a built-in screener that allows you to decide who is permitted to email you, ensuring you only receive messages from people or services you have approved. The service includes a feature-rich, integrated calendar that treats time management as a continuous, filmstrip-like experience rather than a series of rigid, boxy appointments.

Some of the key features are:

• The Screener: A gatekeeper system that lets you approve or block new senders before they ever land in your inbox.
• Imbox: A focused area for important, immediate emails from people you truly want to hear from.
• The Feed: A dedicated, browsable space for newsletters and casual reading that keeps them out of your main inbox.
• Paper Trail: A specialized place to store receipts and transactional emails that you only need occasionally.
• Reply Later: A dedicated workflow that lets you set aside emails to answer when you have dedicated focus time.
• Shared Threads: Allows teams to collaborate on email threads without needing to forward, CC, or BCC colleagues.
• Spy Pixel Blocking: Automatically blocks trackers used by marketers to monitor your open rates and physical location.
• HEY Calendar: A modern, timeline-based calendar designed for human thinking, including features for habit tracking and journal entries.

HEY operates on a 'flow' principle rather than the relentless pursuit of Inbox Zero. Instead of archiving, emails naturally flow through your view, keeping your interface clear and orderly. The service provides a streamlined, ad-free environment across Web, Mac, Windows, Linux, iOS, and Android, and emphasizes user-centric design choices that reduce digital stress and interruptions. Users can also leverage custom domains with HEY for Domains, which adds powerful multi-user collaboration tools for teams, including shared threads, private team comments, and email aliases.

Some common use cases include:

• Personal Email: Managing daily communications with a privacy-first, ad-free email address that you own and control.
• Professional Collaboration: Using HEY for Domains to allow small businesses or teams to share email threads and discuss projects privately.
• Newsletters and Reading: Organizing all your newsletters into The Feed to read them at your own pace without cluttering your main inbox.
• Scheduling and Planning: Using the integrated HEY Calendar to carve out blocks of free time and manage daily tasks with a flexible, timeline-based view.