Software Alternatives, Accelerators & Startups

Retool VS HEY

Compare Retool VS HEY and see what are their differences

Retool logo Retool

Build custom internal tools in minutes.

HEY logo HEY

Email at its best, new from Basecamp.
  • Retool Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-08-04
  • HEY Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-07-06

Retool

Website
retool.com
$ Details
freemium $10.0 / Monthly (Startup)
Release Date
2017 January
Startup details
Country
United States
State
California
Founder(s)
David Hsu
Employees
10 - 19

HEY

Website
hey.com
$ Details
paid Free Trial $99.0 / Annually
Release Date
-

Retool features and specs

  • Speed of Development
    Retool allows developers to rapidly build internal tools with a drag-and-drop interface, reducing the time it takes to get functional applications up and running.
  • Integration Capabilities
    Retool supports integration with a wide range of databases, APIs, and other services, making it easier to connect different data sources and systems.
  • Customizability
    While Retool provides prebuilt components, it also allows for custom code and scripting, enabling developers to tailor applications to specific requirements.
  • Collaboration Features
    Retool supports collaborative features, such as sharing applications with team members and version control, making it easier to work in teams.
  • Security
    Retool provides robust security features, including access control and data encryption, to help protect sensitive information.

Possible disadvantages of Retool

  • Cost
    Retool can be relatively expensive compared to building internal tools from scratch or using some other platforms, potentially making it less accessible for smaller teams or startups.
  • Learning Curve
    Despite its user-friendly interface, there can be a learning curve for new users who need to become familiar with its specific functionalities and scripting capabilities.
  • Customization Limitations
    Though Retool offers customizability, there might be certain limitations compared to fully bespoke solutions, impacting highly specific or complex use cases.
  • Dependency on Retool
    Relying heavily on Retool may create a dependency that could be problematic if the company changes its pricing, features, or discontinues services.
  • Performance
    For very large datasets or highly complex operations, performance can become an issue, as it is with many platform-based solutions.

HEY features and specs

  • Privacy-focused
    HEY places a strong emphasis on user privacy. It blocks spy pixels and prevents senders from knowing when, where, and if emails are opened.
  • Clean Interface
    The user interface of HEY is minimalist and designed to reduce clutter, helping users focus on important emails.
  • Innovative Features
    HEY offers unique features like the Screener, which allows users to vet new senders, and The Feed, which collects all newsletters for easy reading.
  • Unified Platform
    Everything in HEY happens within a single, unified platform, eliminating the need for multiple email clients or add-ons.

Possible disadvantages of HEY

  • Cost
    HEY is a paid service with a yearly subscription fee, which could be a deterrent for users accustomed to free email services.
  • Limited Integration
    Compared to other email services, HEY has limited third-party integrations which might be a downside for users who rely on external apps.
  • Learning Curve
    The unique approach and innovative features may require some time to get used to, especially for users who are accustomed to traditional email systems.
  • Lack of Local Email Client Support
    HEY does not support traditional email protocols like IMAP or SMTP, meaning users cannot use it with their favorite local email clients.

Analysis of HEY

Overall verdict

  • Overall, HEY is generally regarded as a positive option for those seeking a fresh take on email management with strong privacy features. However, it may not be ideal for everyone, as it requires a subscription fee and may lack some of the advanced features offered by more established email services.

Why this product is good

  • HEY is considered good due to its emphasis on privacy, simplicity, and unique approaches to email management. The platform offers features such as the Screener, which helps filter emails from new senders; Focus & Reply, which simplifies the inbox by delaying some emails; and attachment management systems that improve overall user experience. Furthermore, HEY takes a strong stance against ad tracking and prioritizes user privacy.

Recommended for

  • Individuals who prioritize privacy and are concerned about ad tracking.
  • Users who prefer a minimalistic and streamlined email interface.
  • Those who are willing to pay a subscription fee for enhanced privacy and unique features.
  • People looking for a new way to manage their emails and are open to adapting to a different email organization system.

Retool videos

Retool - Logic Review

More videos:

  • Review - #Worth?! Ep.12 - Retool (Gameplay / Review)
  • Demo - February NY Enterprise Tech Meetup: Retool Demo

HEY videos

Hey Review: Why this $99 per year email is Superhuman's Most Exciting Challenger | Keep Productive

More videos:

  • Review - All You Need to Know About Hey.com
  • Review - HEY Email Review (and Full Tour)!
  • Review - HEY.com changed the way I emailโ€ฆ
  • Review - Why are Hey Dudes suddenly everywhere?

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to Retool and HEY)
No Code
100 100%
0% 0
Email
0 0%
100% 100
Developer Tools
100 100%
0% 0
Email Clients
0 0%
100% 100

User comments

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Reviews

These are some of the external sources and on-site user reviews we've used to compare Retool and HEY

Retool Reviews

Top 5 Dynobase alternatives you should know about - March 2025 Review
The choice ultimately depends on your environment and use case. Many teams use a combination of tools: for example, Dynomate for developers, and a Retool app for operations or support teams. By understanding the strengths of each alternative, you can select the tool (or combination of tools) that best integrates with your AWS workflow, making DynamoDB development smoother...
Source: www.dynomate.io
React UI Components Libraries: Our Top Picks for 2023
Retool offers extensive documentation and support. Its support is available on its Discourse forum, Slack (if you are a Retool power user), Intercom for live chat, and dedicated support for enterprise customers.
Source: kinsta.com
ILLA Cloud vs. Retool vs. Bubble - Unveiling the Best Low-Code Platforms
In the quest for the best low-code platform, Retool, Bubble, and ILLA Cloud all offer unique features and capabilities. While Retool shines with its self-hosted option and Bubble contributes to the open-source community, ILLA Cloud stands out as a powerful and flexible low-code platform. With its comprehensive feature set, affordable pricing models, and self-hosted...
Top 9 Low-Code Tools for 2023 for low-code development
Retool is a powerful low-code platform that enables developers to build internal tools and apps with ease. It offers a drag-and-drop interface and a wide range of pre-built components for seamless development. Retool integrates with various data sources and external services, allowing users to fetch data, perform calculations, and display results in real-time. Its...
Superblock vs Retool: A Comprehensive Comparison for Low-code development Platforms
Retool caters to a diverse audience, including developers, product managers, and business professionals. Developers benefit from Retool's low-code capabilities, allowing them to build applications quickly without sacrificing customization. Product managers can leverage Retool to streamline internal workflows and enable teams to be more productive. Business professionals can...

HEY Reviews

ProtonMail Compares Apple to Mafia, Says App Was Forced Into In-App Purchases in 2018
Apple apparently told ProtonMail "out of the blue" that it was required to add an in-app purchase option to stay in the โ€ŒApp Storeโ€Œ. Similar to the situations with HEY and Wordpress earlier this year, ProtonMail had a mention of paid plans in the app, which prompted Apple to ask for the same subscription options to be offered via in-app purchase.

Social recommendations and mentions

Based on our record, Retool should be more popular than HEY. It has been mentiond 104 times since March 2021. We are tracking product recommendations and mentions on various public social media platforms and blogs. They can help you identify which product is more popular and what people think of it.

Retool mentions (104)

View more

HEY mentions (24)

  • How Solid Queue Became the Rails 8 default, and More on Open Source Maintainership
    Seven gems to manage background jobs. The team looked at what they were running and said "this can't be right." That became the brief for Solid Queue. Rosa got picked for the project, built it in production at Hey first, iterated on it for months, and shipped it into Rails 8. She keeps calling it luck. I don't think it's luck. - Source: dev.to / about 1 month ago
  • The death of cloud centralization: Last decadeโ€™s internet had a gravity problem
    Basecamp: After using clouds from both Amazon and Google extensively over the past 15 years, we finally had enough of the outrageous bills and the ever-increasing complexity. So in 2023, we pulled Basecamp, HEY, and five other heritage apps out of AWS and onto our own hardware โ€” without adding any new staff. - Source: dev.to / 11 months ago
  • From React to Hotwire - Part II - [EN]
    Attending the latest edition of Rails World and watching the talk by DHH made me realize that generating views on the backend with Rails was no longer synonymous with slow, ugly interfaces that do not care about UX. With Hotwire, through Turbo and Stimulus, it was possible to create applications as complex as Gmail, Hey, or Slack, Campfire. And this became even more surreal with Turbo 8. - Source: dev.to / about 2 years ago
  • HEY.com Review: A Game-Changer or A Gimmick?
    In June 2020, Basecamp decided to take on the giants of email service providers with the launch of HEY.com, aiming to revolutionize the way we interact with our inboxes. Touted as the email service for those who love email but hate its clutter, HEY.com has certainly generated buzz. But does it live up to the hype? Let's delve into its features, usability, and overall value proposition. - Source: dev.to / over 2 years ago
  • Don't upload your PWA to the app stores
    HEY is a big company, with financial resources and a large social media following. If even they feel bullied by Apple, just imagine what it's like for smaller app developers. And HEY is not even a PWA โ€“ it's a native app. - Source: dev.to / over 2 years ago
View more

What are some alternatives?

When comparing Retool and HEY, you can also consider the following products

Airtable - Airtable works like a spreadsheet but gives you the power of a database to organize anything. Sign up for free.

Mailo - Mailo is an email client where you can send and receive emails to and from anyone with an email address.

Bubble.io - Building tech is slow and expensive. Bubble is the most powerful no-code platform for creating digital products.

Soverin - Soverin is the honest email service that doesnโ€™t sell your data.

Appsmith - Appsmith is an open source web framework for building internal tools, admin panels, dashboards, and workflows.

Horde - Horde Groupware is a free, enterprise ready, browser based collaboration suite.