Email clutter is a major problem.

It steals your focus and makes your workday harder.

You feel anxious every time you open your inbox, right?

This pain of constant email overload needs a real fix.

You need a tool that cuts through the noise and only shows you what matters.

Two of the top options are Sanebox & Hey Email.

In this article, we’ll compare Sanebox vs Hey Email to see which one comes out on top in 2025.

Let’s find your path to Inbox Zero.

Overview

We spent time with both Sanebox and Hey Email.

We examined their email handling, main features, and overall user experience.

This hands-on testing helps us show you a clear, honest comparison of both services.

What is Sanebox?

Sanebox is an intelligent layer on your existing email.

It uses AI to sort less important mail into folders.

This means your primary inbox stays clean and focused.

What is Hey?

Hey is an entirely new email client and service.

It lets you screen every new sender before they reach your inbox.

This shifts who is in charge of your attention.

Feature Comparison

Understanding the key differences in how these tools operate is crucial.

We will compare them on seven key points to help you decide.

1. Platform & App Access

• Sanebox works with any client or web app. You access your email via your default application, whether on your desktop or your phone. There are no dedicated native apps for iOS or Android because it works behind the scenes on your email provider’s server.
• Hey Email is a full-featured email app. You must download and navigate their bespoke interface via their excellent native apps on iOS, Android, Windows, or your browser. This means you don’t wait for third parties to support new features—it all happens within the Hey app.

2. The Core Filtering Process

• Sanebox uses AI to sort incoming messages. It moves less important stuff into a spam folder alternative, like SaneLater. To train it, you drag an email. The whole process is designed to be invisible.
• Hey Email’s primary filter is The Screener. It blocks incoming emails from new friends or senders until you explicitly approve them. This prevents spam from ever reaching your primary inbox.

3. Contact & Developer Ecosystem

• Sanebox respects your existing system. It can read your contacts list, but does not try to replace it. It is not built for the developer community and does not have a public API for deep custom integration.
• Hey Email’s isolation is a notable limitation. The lack of an API means a developer cannot easily build a bunch of powerful external tools or sync data automatically. The built-in contacts feature is a silo, meaning you must manage them separately.

4. Dealing with Unwanted Mail

• Sanebox features the SaneBlackHole. Dragging any unwelcome email here causes future messages from that sender to be automatically deleted before you ever see them. It is a one-click process to delete junk mail and stop unwanted emails.
• Hey Email’s Screener handles this on the first contact. Once you screen a sender out, they are blocked forever. You don’t have to subscribe to any new lists again without giving your consent.

5. Switching Cost & Commitment

• Sanebox has virtually no switching cost. You grant it access, and if you are not interested, you stop paying. Everything reverts to your default inbox settings.
• Hey Email requires you to commit. You are forced into switching email addresses or relying on email forwarding. If you leave, you’ll realize you need to rebuild your entire email life, which is a major time investment. This is a point I must mention.

6. Team & Business Features

• Sanebox focuses on the individual user. It can manage multiple email accounts, but it lacks the internal team sharing and collaboration tools common in other business email solutions.
• Hey Email offers a business version for custom domains. It provides tools like shared email threads and team access to central addresses (e.g., sales@) that make teamwork easier.

7. Core Experience

• Sanebox is a toolkit. You can layer its features onto the familiar feel of your current inbox. You wait for the AI to learn your habits.
• Hey Email is a new home. It forces a complete rethink of your entire email process. The overall experience of using the app is a magical combination of design and philosophy.

What to Look for When Choosing an Inbox Manager?

Here are the key factors you should examine before you decide:

• Does the email service force you into switching email addresses, or can you prefer to use your existing personal email with Gmail or Outlook?
• Do you want a full re think of your email workflow, or do you prefer to simply add all the filters to your current setup like Sanebox does?
• Check the app compatibility: will it work with Apple Mail, other email clients, and are you allowed access to third-party tools and other accounts?
• Consider the core function: do you want to screen emails before they enter your inbox (like Hey Email), or do you want an AI to sort them after they fall in?
• Look for supporting features: do you need a built-in calendar or hey calendar integration, dedicated inboxes like The Feed and Paper Trail, or better attachments handling?
• Ask yourself if you need complete control over the look and feel, or if you surely believe a background tool is the best email software for you.
• Don’t just wonder about the cost; confirm the price before you commit to the new email domain. This helps you avoid losing money later.
• The system’s “philosophy” is key: use hey for a clean break, or use Sanebox for adding magical power to your existing inbox.

Final Verdict

We looked closely at both Sanebox and Hey Email.

Both tools offer features that seem like magic.

However, our pick for the average user is Sanebox.

Why? Most people do not want to change their entire email address.

Sanebox works with your current inbox. It is less work up front.

It offers strong AI features without forcing you into a new application.

It is the perfect layer to find inbox peace. If you crave a total fresh start and a brand new email philosophy, choose Hey Email.

But if you just want your old inbox to work much better, Sanebox is the faster solution.

We tested both so you can trust our advice.

Frequently Asked Questions