HEY offers a fresh take on email, but its closed, "walled garden" ecosystem is a major drawback. PDG Mail matches its best features—like tracker blocking and sender screening—while strictly adhering to open standards. This gives you the freedom to use any email client you prefer via full IMAP and JMAP support. With PDG Mail, you get a modern, private email experience without being locked in, all protected by Hong Kong's strong privacy laws.
Modern Features, Open Standards
HEY's workflow has its fans, but it forces you into their proprietary apps. We believe you should always be in control. PDG Mail's full support for IMAP, JMAP, and SMTP means you can use any email client you prefer, from Outlook to Apple Mail to Thunderbird, or our own fast web and mobile apps. We provide the secure foundation; you choose the experience. True data portability is at the heart of our philosophy.
Moving Made Easy
HEY allows you to export your data at any time. Our instructions will show you how to download your email archive and import it directly into PDG Mail, so you can transition to a more open and private email platform without losing your history.
- Set up Forwarding: In your HEY account, go to Account Setup → Forwarding/Leaving and forward your mail to your new PDG Mail address.
- Export Your Data: While there, choose to Export your data. HEY will send you a link to download your emails in an MBOX file and your contacts as a vCard.
- Sign up for PDG Mail: Get your new PDG Mail account.
- Import to PDG Mail: In the PDG Mail web app, go to Settings → Import. Use our MBOX import tool to upload your email archive, and import your vCard file in the Contacts section.
Once your data is imported, it will be fully encrypted and searchable within your PDG Mail account, protected by our zero-knowledge architecture and Hong Kong's privacy laws.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does PDG Mail block email trackers like HEY?
Yes. We believe email tracking is a violation of your privacy. PDG Mail blocks tracking pixels and other surveillance techniques by default, so you can read your email without worrying about who is watching you. This is a core feature, not an optional extra.
Can I screen new senders?
While we don't have a direct "screener" feature like HEY, our powerful filtering tools and use of open standards allow for robust sender management. You can easily create rules to direct mail from new senders to a specific folder for review, effectively creating your own screener workflow. This approach gives you more flexibility to manage your inbox your way.
What makes PDG Mail a better choice for privacy?
Beyond tracker blocking, our entire service is built on a zero-knowledge framework. Your data is encrypted at rest, and we have no ability to access it. Furthermore, we are based in Hong Kong, a jurisdiction with strong data privacy laws, unlike the US where HEY is based. This provides an additional layer of legal protection for your communications against overreaching surveillance.