HEY Email vs Guesty

Side-by-side comparison of features, pricing, and ratings

Analysis reviewed Live tool data as of 2026-10-09
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At a glance

DimensionHEY EmailGuesty
Core PurposePrivacy-first email & calendar with sender controlVacation rental property management & automation
AI FeaturesSpy pixel blocking and automated sorting (Imbox, Paper Trail, Feed)AI agents for guest messaging, auto-reply, bank reconciliation (launched June 2026)
IntegrationsNone (closed ecosystem)60+ booking channels (Airbnb, Booking.com, Vrbo, etc.)
Target AudiencePrivacy-conscious professionals, solopreneurs, familiesVacation rental hosts, property managers, enterprise operators
PlatformWeb, Mac, Windows, Linux, iOS, AndroidWeb-based

Buy Guesty if you're a vacation rental host or property manager needing AI-powered automation across 60+ booking channels; buy HEY Email if you're drowning in spam and want a privacy-focused inbox with novel organizational tools. They address completely different problems—choose based on whether you manage properties or just want to take back your email.

HEY Email
HEY Email

HEY Email is 37signals' rethink of email: a Screener vets first-time senders so only people you approve ever reach your Imbox.

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Guesty
Guesty

AI-powered vacation rental software and channel manager that syncs 60+ booking channels and automates guest messaging

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Pricing
Paid
Freemium
Plans
$99/year
$179/year
$10/month
$12/month
From $9/listing/mo
Get a quote
Customized offer
Popularity
6 views
7.2k views
Skill Level
Beginner-friendly
Intermediate
API Available
Platforms
WebMobileDesktopAPICLI
WebMobile
Categories
📥 Email & Inbox Management📅 Calendar & Scheduling
🏘️ Real Estate & Property
Features
Screener: approve or block first-time senders
Imbox: inbox limited to senders you approved
Paper Trail: auto-sorts receipts, orders, and service notifications
Feed: scrollable newsletter and long-read reader
HEY Calendar with a daily Journal
Spy pixel blocking
Reply Later pile
Set Aside pile
Merge threads into one conversation
Workflows: track email through custom stages
Contact Notes: searchable notes per contact
Cover Art: custom images for seen emails
HEY World: publish an email as a public blog post
Link multiple email accounts and forward email out
AI Agents & CLI (listed as new on hey.com)
Real-time rate, availability and reservation sync across Airbnb, Vrbo, Booking.com and 60+ channels
Multi-Calendar showing every channel's reservations in one color-coded view with cleaning schedules
Unified Inbox pulling guest conversations from every booking channel into one thread
ReplyAI™ personalized AI guest reply drafts, listed as Freemium on all three tiers
Communications Workflows sending automated messages end to end across the guest journey
Saved Replies and Automated Messages for repeat guest questions
Automation Tools that create cleaning and maintenance tasks after every checkout
Multi-unit, complex and group reservation management from a single calendar
Manual reservations and personalized guest quotes
AI-powered listing descriptions and AI-driven website content creation
Direct booking website builder with no percentage-based fees on direct reservations
Mobile app for on-the-go property and task management
Guest CRM with pipeline view plus owners portal and customizable owner statements
Open API and Marketplace integrations at Pro and Enterprise tiers
Guest App and guest portal for customized stays
Integrations
Airbnb
Booking.com
Vrbo
Stripe

What real users say: HEY Email vs Guesty

Not marketing copy and not our opinion — a structured sweep of public discussion (reviews, forums, communities and video comments), showing what people praise and what they complain about for each tool.

HEY Email

42 mentions across 3 sources · 52% positive — mixed (averaged across 3 sources)

Hacker News, App Store, Lemmy

What users praise

  • • Screener puts you in full control over who reaches your inbox
  • • Imbox/Paper Trail/Feed triage eliminates spam without filters
  • • Spy pixel blocking detects and blocks email trackers automatically
  • • HEY Calendar Journal for daily notes and meeting summaries

What frustrates them

  • • Drafts often vanish without warning, a years-old unfixed bug
  • • Zero offline support—cannot read or write without internet
  • • Search is barely functional according to multiple long-term users
  • • Calendar fails to import iCal invites correctly

Researched Jul 3, 2026

Guesty

42 mentions across 4 sources · 36% positive — critical (averaged across 4 sources)

Hacker News, YouTube, Product Hunt, Bluesky

What users praise

  • • AI agent automates guest messaging based on learned preferences (ReplyAI).
  • • Multi-calendar sync across 60+ booking channels including Airbnb and Vrbo.
  • • Free Lite tier for up to 3 listings provides a risk-free trial.
  • • Open API and MCP server allow custom integrations via open-source tools.

What frustrates them

  • • Pro and Enterprise pricing not publicly disclosed — reported $65 per property.
  • • Channel-specific pricing not possible; rate changes sync everywhere.
  • • Custom automation limited compared to Yardi/WorkBeaver according to users.
  • • Some users report reliability issues post-2023 acquisition.

Researched Jul 16, 2026

Who should pick which

  • Solo vacation rental host with 2 properties
    Pick: Guesty

    Guesty's free Lite tier covers up to 3 listings with essential channel management and AI guest messaging, no cost needed.

  • Enterprise property manager with 200+ listings
    Pick: Guesty

    Guesty's enterprise solutions (custom pricing) offer AI reconciliation, multi-channel syncing, and advanced automation to scale operations.

  • Freelancer tired of spam and email overwhelm
    Pick: HEY Email

    HEY's Screener, Imbox, and Paper Trail eliminate spam and auto-sort transactional emails, reducing inbox noise dramatically.

  • Family wanting shared private email accounts
    Pick: HEY Email

    HEY for Families bundles up to 4 accounts for a flat $999/year, with full privacy and no tracking.

  • Remote team needing shared inbox on custom domain
    Pick: HEY Email

    HEY for Domains provides team email with Workflows and Reply Later, though lacks IMAP/API for integrations.

Frequently Asked Questions

HEY Email vs Guesty: which should you choose?

Buy Guesty if you're a vacation rental host or property manager needing AI-powered automation across 60+ booking channels; buy HEY Email if you're drowning in spam and want a privacy-focused inbox with novel organizational tools. They address completely different problems—choose based on whether you manage properties or just want to take back your email.

Can Guesty handle email communication for my vacation rentals?

Yes, Guesty offers a unified inbox with AI auto-reply based on learned preferences, automated guest messaging, and integration with 60+ booking channels.

Does HEY Email have a free version?

No, HEY Email is paid only: $99/year per user. There is no free tier.

Can I use Guesty for free?

Yes, Guesty offers a free Lite tier for hosts with 1–3 listings, including essential features like multi-calendar and basic guest messaging.

Does HEY Email block tracking pixels?

Yes, HEY blocks spy pixels and notifies you when an email is tracked.

What integrations does Guesty support?

Guesty integrates with 60+ channels including Airbnb, Booking.com, Vrbo, Expedia, TripAdvisor, Google Vacation Rentals, Agoda, and more.

Can I use HEY Email with my own domain?

Yes, HEY for Domains (custom domain) costs $999/year for the first 5 users, with additional users at $99/year each.

Is Guesty suitable for small hosts with 1 listing?

Yes, Guesty's free Lite tier is designed for hosts with 1–3 listings, offering basic channel sync and automation.

Does HEY Email have a calendar?

Yes, HEY includes an integrated calendar with a Journal for daily notes and meeting minutes.

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Last reviewed: July 3, 2026