HEY (built by 37signals, the same company behind Basecamp) is not a standard email provider. HEY accounts at @hey.com, and custom domain accounts via HEY for Domains, do not accept SMTP, IMAP, or POP3 connections at all. HEY runs a proprietary email interface with its own workflow concepts (The Screener, The Imbox, The Feed, Paper Trail) and only exposes access through Basecamp’s official web app, iOS app, and Android app. This guide covers what “email settings” mean for HEY, the migration and forwarding options that do exist, and the specific alternatives to consider if your workflow requires a mail client.
Setup gotcha
No IMAP/SMTPClosed ecosystem
HEY does not offer IMAP, SMTP, or POP3 access. There is no server hostname, no port, no app password that unlocks third-party mail client access. Outlook, Thunderbird, Apple Mail, K-9 Mail, and every other IMAP or POP3 client cannot connect to a HEY account. This is intentional: 37signals designed HEY around a proprietary workflow that cannot be represented as a folder hierarchy over IMAP. If a mail client is required, HEY is the wrong provider and the migration options at the end of this guide are the path forward. Reference: SMTP authentication.
Why HEY does not expose IMAP, SMTP, or POP3
HEY’s core interface is built around four concepts that have no equivalent in the IMAP protocol. The Screener approves or rejects senders on first contact (rejected senders are silently dropped for the rest of your account’s life). The Imbox holds mail from approved senders you actually want to read. The Feed collects newsletters and marketing content displayed as a scrolling stream instead of individual messages. Paper Trail groups receipts and transactional notifications into a searchable pile. IMAP represents mail as folders with messages and flags; there is no way to expose “The Feed” or “The Screener” as an IMAP folder without losing what makes them work.
Because IMAP would require flattening HEY’s data model into folders (breaking every one of its distinguishing features), 37signals has publicly stated they will not add it. The same reasoning applies to SMTP (outgoing mail through HEY goes through HEY’s servers, and HEY does not authenticate external mail clients). This is the opposite trade-off from Fastmail or Mailbox.org, both of which offer standard IMAP alongside their web apps.
How to access HEY email (the only supported ways)
Three access paths are supported, all first-party:
- Web app at
app.hey.com. Full feature set. Works in any modern browser (Chrome, Firefox, Safari, Edge). - iOS app from the App Store. Native mobile client with push notifications and full workflow support.
- Android app from Google Play. Same feature parity as iOS.
There is no macOS desktop app, no Windows desktop app, no Linux client. HEY’s design assumption is that the web app is the desktop experience. Progressive Web App installation is supported in Chrome and Edge for a more native-feeling window.
HEY for Domains: custom domain on HEY
HEY for Domains ($12/user/month, billed annually) lets a team run its own domain (you@yourcompany.com) on the HEY workflow. Setup is a DNS reconfiguration: add HEY’s MX records, SPF include, DKIM key, and DMARC record from the HEY admin console. Once DNS propagates, incoming mail routes into your team’s HEY workspace. All the same IMAP/SMTP/POP3 restrictions apply: even on custom domains, users cannot configure Outlook or Thunderbird against the HEY infrastructure.
HEY for Personal at $99/year runs only on @hey.com addresses and does not support custom domains. Users who need both HEY’s workflow and a personal-domain email must either use HEY for Domains individually, or run the personal domain elsewhere and forward into a @hey.com address.
Importing existing email into HEY
HEY supports a one-time IMAP fetch during account signup to migrate mail from an existing provider (Gmail, Outlook, Yahoo, Fastmail, etc.). This is the only IMAP interaction HEY performs and it happens from HEY’s servers pulling from your old provider, not from a mail client connecting to HEY. Enter your old provider’s IMAP hostname, port, username, and password (or app password for Gmail with 2FA) in the HEY onboarding flow. HEY imports up to the last 30 days by default, with the option to pull older mail via a full historical import.
The import is one-directional: HEY pulls mail once, but does not maintain an ongoing sync. After import, the old account continues to exist independently. Set up forwarding at the old provider (or shut down the old account, depending on your comfort with the migration).
Alternatives if you need a mail client
Users who want privacy-focused paid mail with standard IMAP/SMTP have several options that do work with Outlook, Thunderbird, Apple Mail, and mobile clients: Fastmail (Australia, JMAP + IMAP, from $3/month), Mailbox.org (Germany, from 1 EUR/month), Posteo (Germany, 1 EUR/month flat), or Proton Mail (Switzerland, Bridge app for third-party clients on paid plans). Users who want the closed-ecosystem approach for privacy reasons have Tuta (Germany, no IMAP/SMTP) as the closest philosophical match to HEY, albeit with end-to-end encryption instead of workflow features as the differentiator.
IMAP, POP3 and SMTP Integration into Gmail
Configure Gmail with external IMAP/POP3/SMTP to send/receive emails from your custom domain through Gmail’s interface. Perfect for professionals managing multiple accounts in one place.
- Google Account β Security β App passwords (2-Step Verification must be enabled).
- Generate App Password for “Mail” β copy 16-character password.
- Gmail β Settings β See all settings β Forwarding and POP/IMAP.
- Enable IMAP β Save Changes.
- Incoming (IMAP):
[IMAP SERVER]:993 SSL| Outgoing (SMTP):[SMTP SERVER]:587 STARTTLS. - Use your full email + App Password (not regular password) for authentication.
β Gmail Result: Send/receive custom domain email directly in Gmail interface with full search/folder integration.
WordPress SMTP Plugin Configuration (WP Mail SMTP + MailPoet)
Configure SMTP in WordPress to fix email delivery issues and prevent spam folder placement. WP Mail SMTP and MailPoet ensure reliable transactional emails, contact forms, and newsletters deliver successfully.
- Install and activate WP Mail SMTP or MailPoet plugin from your WordPress dashboard.
- Navigate to WP Mail SMTP β Settings or MailPoet β Settings β Sending tab.
- Select “Other SMTP” as your mailer method from the dropdown.
- Enter SMTP settings with Port
587and STARTTLS encryption (when available). - Input your full email address and password in the authentication fields.
- Click Save Settings and send a test email to verify the configuration works.
β Result: WordPress contact forms, user registrations, and newsletter emails now deliver reliably via your SMTP server.
This configuration includes these plugins and tools within WordPress:
- HappyForms
- Elementor Forms
- Gravity Form
- WooCommerce Checkout Form
- Contact Form by BestWebSoft
- Fluent Forms
- Contact Form 7
- WPForms
- Ninja Forms
- Default WordPress Reg Form
- Forminator Forms
- Formidable Form
- WordPress Comment Form
- Mail Mint Form
Thunderbird OAuth2 Email Setup (IMAP + SMTP)
Secure IMAP & SMTP using OAuth2 token authentication in Thunderbird. This modern method eliminates password storage for enhanced security.
- Open Thunderbird β Account Settings β Account Actions β Add Mail Account.
- Enter your email address and click Continue to begin setup.
- Select IMAP protocol and choose OAuth2 authentication method.
- Thunderbird opens a browser window β log in to your provider β Grant access permissions.
- Automatic configuration applies: Incoming: use the IMAP server address from the settings table above, port 993, SSL
- Click Done β Thunderbird begins syncing folders and emails immediately.
OAuth2 advantage: Token-based authentication enhances security over traditional password methods while maintaining full functionality.
Outlook IMAP, POP3 & SMTP Setup (Auto + Manual)
Outlook configuration supports both automatic server detection and manual IMAP/POP3/SMTP settings for complete control over your email setup.
π Auto Setup (Recommended):
- Go to File β Add Account β Enter your email address + password.
- Outlook automatically detects IMAP, POP3, and SMTP server settings.
- Click Connect β setup completes in approximately 30 seconds.
βοΈ Manual Setup (Advanced Users):
- Authentication: Use your full email address + password for both servers
BlueMail Two-Factor Authentication + OAuth2 Setup
BlueMail security setup combines OAuth2 authentication with two-factor authentication (2FA) for maximum account protection.
- Open BlueMail β Account Settings β Security β Enable Two-Factor Authentication.
- Link your phone number or authenticator app for 2FA verification codes.
- Add email account β Choose OAuth2 or manual server configuration.
- Enter server details from the table above
- Complete login with 2FA code β enhanced security layer activated.
Apple Mail IMAP Configuration (iCloud + Manual)
Setup IMAP in Apple Mail for seamless synchronization across Mac, iPhone, and iPad devices with full folder support.
- Open Apple Mail β Mail β Add Account β Other Mail Account.
- Enter your name, email address, and password β click Continue.
- Select IMAP account type β Incoming server.
- Next: Outgoing server
- Click Sign In β Mail verifies settings and begins folder synchronization.
iOS Mail App Setup (iPhone/iPad)
iPhone/iPad Mail configuration syncs IMAP folders across all Apple devices with native push notifications.
- Go to Settings β Mail β Accounts β Add Account β Other.
- Enter name, email, password β Next.
- Account Type: IMAP β Incoming:
[IMAP SERVER]Port993SSL. - Enter your outgoing SMTP server and port.
- Next β Save β iOS verifies and syncs immediately.
Push enabled automatically: new emails appear instantly on Lock Screen.
Android Mail App Configuration
Android Gmail/Email app setup works with any IMAP/SMTP provider for native device integration.
- Go to: Settings β Accounts β Add Account β Email (or Gmail app).
- Enter email + password β Next.
- Account Type: IMAP
- Outgoing server details β Require authentication.
- Next β Sign In β Android syncs contacts/calendar if enabled.
Sync interval: 15min default (battery optimized) – change in Account Sync settings.
eM Client Manual IMAP & POP3 Sync Configuration
Configure your email settings on eM Client with either automatic setup or through precise IMAP/POP3 server settings for reliable email synchronization and full folder support.
- Click New Account β Mail
Authentication requires full email address + password for both incoming and outgoing servers.Click Next β Finish β Send/Receive All Folders to begin synchronization.
Mailbird OAuth2 IMAP & SMTP Integration
Secure Mailbird setup using OAuth2 authentication eliminates password storage while providing full IMAP/SMTP functionality.
- Mailbird β Add Account β Enter your email address to begin.
- Choose Manual Setup β OAuth2 authentication method from options.
- Browser opens your provider’s login page β enter credentials β Authorize Mailbird.
- Mailbird receives access token and automatically configures IMAP/SMTP servers.
- Setup completes β full email synchronization begins automatically.
Mailspring OAuth2 IMAP Configuration
Mailspring OAuth2 setup provides secure email access without storing passwords directly in the application.
- Add new email account β Select Custom IMAP configuration option.
- Incoming
IMAP SERVERand outgoingSMTP SERVER. - Mailspring prompts OAuth2 authorization via browser window for secure login.
- Log into your provider account and grant Mailspring access permissions.
- Mailspring automatically manages authentication tokens β seamless email access established.
Postbox Manual IMAP Synchronization
Postbox IMAP setup with manual synchronization control for precise email folder management and immediate updates.
- Add IMAP account β Enter IMAP Server details.
- Outgoing SMTP with full email authentication.
- Postbox connects and displays folder structure automatically.
- Right-click any folder β Get Messages for immediate manual synchronization.
- Manual sync updates local mailbox instantly with server changes (read status, deletions, organization).
SendBlaster SMTP Configuration (Bulk Email)
Bulk email SMTP configuration in SendBlaster requires precise server authentication for reliable campaign delivery.
- Open SendBlaster β Settings β SMTP Configuration section.
- Enter SMTP Server and Port: do not forget to Enable TLS encryption.
- Authentication: Your full email address + password (required).
- Click Test Connection β verify green success indicator appears.
- Save settings β SendBlaster ready for bulk email campaigns and newsletters.
MailJerry IMAP Real-Time Synchronization
MailJerry IMAP setup enables real-time access to email folders stored on your provider’s server across all devices.
- Incoming Server and encryption required.
- Authentication: Full email address + password for secure connection.
- Enable real-time folder synchronization settings in MailJerry preferences.
- Folders update instantly with new messages, read status, and deletions across devices.
Clean.email OAuth2 Synchronization Setup
Clean.email OAuth2 setup provides secure mailbox access without sharing passwords directly with the application.
- Add new account β Select OAuth2 authorization method.
- Your provider opens login portal β enter credentials securely.
- Grant Clean.email permissions for email read/write access.
- OAuth2 token enables real-time message management, filtering, and organization.
- Setup complete β Clean.email maintains secure, ongoing mailbox synchronization.
Common IMAP/POP3/SMTP Troubleshooting
- Authentication failed: Always use your complete email address, never just the username portion.
- Port blocked by ISP: Try alternative SMTP port as fallback.
- SSL certificate errors: Ensure certificate validation is enabled in client settings.
- Slow or no IMAP sync: Check folder subscriptions and enable all folders in client settings.
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Frequently asked questions
Can I use HEY with Outlook, Thunderbird, or Apple Mail?
No. HEY does not offer IMAP, SMTP, or POP3 access on any plan (personal or HEY for Domains). Access is limited to the web app at app.hey.com and the official iOS and Android apps. This is a deliberate design decision by 37signals: HEY’s workflow (The Screener, The Imbox, The Feed, Paper Trail) cannot be represented over IMAP without breaking those features.
How much does HEY cost?
Two plans: HEY for Personal at $99/year for a @hey.com address (one user, one email address), and HEY for Domains at $12/user/month billed annually for teams on a custom domain. Both include the full HEY workflow and unlimited storage. There is no free plan.
Can I import my old email into HEY?
Yes, one time. During signup HEY offers an IMAP-based import from Gmail, Outlook, Yahoo, Fastmail, or any other IMAP provider. HEY pulls mail from your old account (last 30 days by default, historical option available) into your new @hey.com account. After import there is no ongoing sync; the migration is one-shot.
Does HEY support custom domains?
Only on HEY for Domains at $12/user/month. HEY for Personal at $99/year is @hey.com only. Setup for HEY for Domains requires updating your domain’s DNS (MX, SPF, DKIM, DMARC) to point at HEY’s infrastructure, which the HEY admin console provides step by step.
Can I forward mail from HEY to another address?
Basic forwarding is supported but limited by design. HEY’s philosophy is that mail should stay in HEY where its workflow features apply. Forwarding rules exist for edge cases (auto-forward to a personal assistant, for example) but HEY does not encourage forwarding as a regular workflow. For continuous auto-forwarding, other providers are a better fit.
Is HEY end-to-end encrypted?
No. HEY encrypts data in transit (TLS) and at rest (server-side encryption) but does not offer end-to-end encryption. Mail content is readable on HEY’s servers. Users who need E2E encryption should look at Proton Mail or Tuta instead.
What happens if HEY shuts down?
HEY provides a full data export at any time, downloadable from the account settings. If 37signals discontinues the service (no announcement of this as of 2026), users can export their entire mail history and set up forwarding at the domain level (for HEY for Domains) to move to another provider. For @hey.com addresses, the address itself would be lost if the service ends.
Where is HEY webmail?
At app.hey.com. Bookmark this URL to avoid phishing pages. Sign in with your HEY account email and password plus 2FA if enabled. Session persists across browser restarts by default; sign out from the account menu to force reauthentication.
About this guide
These HEY access details were verified against 37signals’ public documentation and the hey.com pricing page in July 2026. HEY’s protocol restrictions (no IMAP/SMTP/POP3) have been consistent since the service launched in June 2020 and are a documented product decision, not a limitation likely to change. SMTPedia re-verifies each provider quarterly.
About the Author
Alaa Β· LinkedIn
Email infrastructure specialist with 8+ years of hands-on experience in SMTP, deliverability, and email verification. Iβve configured and troubleshot mail systems across Postfix, Exchange, and cloud relays, managed IP reputation and warmup campaigns, and built verification pipelines processing millions of addresses. My work spans DNS authentication (SPF, DKIM, DMARC, BIMI), bounce handling, blocklist monitoring, and compliance frameworks including CAN-SPAM and GDPR. I write every article on SMTPedia to give email professionals, developers, and marketers the accurate, RFC-grounded reference they need.
About SMTPedia
SMTPedia is an independent email industry reference covering SMTP, IMAP, POP3, email deliverability, marketing platforms, DNS authentication, and email verification. Every article is researched from official provider documentation, IETF RFCs, and industry best practices. Settings and configurations are verified quarterly.
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