How to Build Your Own hey-email
Replace hey-email with a custom build. Email reimagined for the modern workplace
Build Difficulty: 5/5
Build a working replacement in a weekend with AI tools
Estimated Timeline
Based on 41 features at Weekend Project difficulty, expect about One weekend with AI-assisted development.
Recommended Tech Stack
Full-stack React framework with API routes and server components
PostgreSQL database, auth, and real-time subscriptions
Utility-first styling for rapid UI development
Transactional and marketing email delivery
Key Features to Replicate
Top features across 8 categories. See all 41 features
Organization(9 features)
Extract specific sections of long emails and save them separately for quick reference.
Group related emails together in conversation threads for cleaner organization.
Track changes to emails and view previous versions of edited messages.
Automatically sort emails into categories to help you focus on what matters most.
Create custom labels and organize emails with hierarchical folder structures.
+4 more in this category
Productivity(8 features)
Perform actions on multiple emails at once like moving, deleting, or labeling.
Schedule emails to be sent at optimal times for maximum recipient engagement.
Pre-built email templates for common scenarios to speed up composition.
Use customizable keyboard shortcuts to navigate and manage emails faster.
Set emails aside to reply when you have time without losing them in your inbox.
+3 more in this category
Security(5 features)
Track all account activities and user actions for security and compliance purposes.
Automatically backup all emails and attachments for data recovery and compliance.
Encrypt sensitive emails so only recipients with the correct key can read them.
Advanced machine learning-based spam and phishing detection to keep your inbox safe.
Secure your account with two-factor authentication using authenticator apps or SMS.
Customization(3 features)
Use your own domain for email addresses instead of the default hey.com domain.
Reduce eye strain with a dark theme option across all Hey interfaces.
Create and manage multiple email signatures with automatic context-based switching.
Integration(3 features)
View calendar events and meeting information directly within email conversations.
Forward emails to external addresses or apps with full message preservation.
Connect your Hey account to third-party email clients using standard protocols.
Analytics(2 features)
Track when recipients read your emails and provides insights on engagement.
See when recipients have opened and read your important emails.
Collaboration(2 features)
Add shared notes to emails for team discussions and annotations.
Allow team members to collaborate on shared email addresses and conversations.
File Management(2 features)
Organize, preview, and manage all your attachments from a centralized location.
Automatically track all attachments and documents shared with you in one searchable place.
Cost Calculator
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Build It Yourself
Total Cost Comparison
DIY hosting estimate based on Vercel + Supabase free/pro tiers (~$20/mo). Build time estimated from 41 features at very easy complexity.