Is Superhuman Worth £240/Year? I Tracked Every Minute for 3 Months.
Email clients occupy an unusual position in productivity discourse. On one side: Gmail is free, works fine, and everyone uses it. On the other: people pay £240 annually for Superhuman and describe the experience in almost religious terms.
The question that nagged me: is the productivity improvement real and measurable, or is premium email a status symbol wrapped in design appreciation?
I decided to find out empirically. Three months. Three email clients. Time tracking on every email interaction. No vibes—just data.
The results were more nuanced than expected. Premium email does deliver measurable time savings—for certain email patterns. For others, it's expensive placebo. Here's everything I learned.
The Experiment Structure
Fair comparison required controlled methodology. Each email client got exclusive use for 30 days during periods of similar email volume.
I used Toggl running in the background to track time. Every time I opened email—reading, responding, processing, searching—the timer ran. This captured total email time, not just "composing" time that's easy to measure.
Metrics tracked:
Total email time: Minutes spent in email daily, weekly, monthly. Messages processed: Read, responded to, archived, deleted. Processing rate: Messages handled per minute. Zero-inbox achievement: Days ending with empty inbox. Search time: How long to find specific emails when needed. Composition time: Average time to write substantive responses.
The baseline: I receive approximately 85 emails daily on average. About 30 require response. My historical email time before the experiment averaged 2.1 hours daily—a number I found embarrassingly high.
Gmail: The Baseline
Gmail was my long-term default before the experiment. Years of usage meant familiarity with keyboard shortcuts, labels, and filters.
The Gmail Experience
Gmail is adequate. That word captures it precisely—not excellent, not terrible. It does what email needs to do without friction but without joy.
The interface is cluttered with Google's promotional elements and feature sprawl. Navigation requires more clicks than ideal. Mobile and web experiences are consistent but neither is optimised for speed.
Search is Gmail's genuine strength. Google search technology in email context means finding old messages works reliably. Complex queries with operators yield accurate results.
Keyboard shortcuts exist but require learning and aren't highlighted in the interface. Most Gmail users never discover the keyboard-driven workflow that makes it faster.
Free is genuinely free—no storage concerns for normal usage, no feature limitations that matter, no upsell pressure within the core product (though Google Workspace adds features at cost).
Gmail Data (30 Days)
Total email time: 63.2 hours (2.1 hours daily average) Messages processed: 2,550 Processing rate: 40.3 messages/hour Zero-inbox days: 4 of 30 Average search time: 18 seconds Average composition time: 3.2 minutes
The numbers confirmed my pre-experiment sense: Gmail was functional but time-consuming. The processing rate was acceptable, but total time investment felt disproportionate to the value email provided.
Superhuman: The Premium Choice
Superhuman costs $30 monthly (approximately £240 annually). The price is intentionally exclusive—a positioning strategy that creates scarcity signalling.
The Superhuman Experience
Superhuman's first impression is speed. Everything happens faster—loading, searching, navigating, composing. The interface prioritises velocity in ways Gmail doesn't attempt.
Keyboard shortcuts are central, not optional. The entire experience is designed for hands-never-leaving-keyboard operation. After initial learning (Superhuman includes excellent onboarding), the mouse becomes optional for most operations.
AI triage (called "Split Inbox") categorises incoming email automatically. Important messages, team communications, newsletters, and everything else flow to separate sections. The cognitive load of scanning a mixed inbox disappears.
Snooze and reminders are deeply integrated. "Remind me about this Thursday" becomes natural workflow—messages disappear until relevant, then resurface at the right moment.
The design is beautiful. This sounds superficial, but spending 2+ hours daily in email means aesthetics affect experience. Superhuman is genuinely pleasant to look at.
Read receipts show when recipients open your messages. This is controversial—some find it creepy—but for sales or high-stakes communication, knowing whether someone read your proposal matters.
What Superhuman Gets Wrong
The price is objectively high. £240 annually for an email client is substantial when free alternatives exist. The value proposition must be time savings—the maths needs to work.
The Google dependency is awkward. Superhuman is a layer on top of Gmail, not a replacement. Your email still lives in Google's servers. You're paying for interface, not infrastructure.
No calendar integration limits the "command centre" potential. Superhuman is email-only; schedule management requires separate tools.
The Mac/iOS exclusivity (Android came later, Windows never) limits audience.
Superhuman Data (30 Days)
Total email time: 51.6 hours (1.72 hours daily average) Messages processed: 2,480 Processing rate: 48.1 messages/hour Zero-inbox days: 18 of 30 Average search time: 7 seconds Average composition time: 2.4 minutes
The data showed real improvement. Total email time dropped by 23 minutes daily—11.6 hours monthly. The processing rate increased 19%. Zero-inbox days jumped from 4 to 18.
The ROI calculation: 11.6 hours monthly × £40/hour (conservative professional rate) = £464 monthly value. Against £20 monthly cost, the return is substantial—if you value your time at professional rates.
Hey: The Opinionated Alternative
Hey costs $99 annually (approximately £99/year). Created by Basecamp, Hey takes strong positions about how email should work.
The Hey Experience
Hey is opinionated in ways that either resonate deeply or frustrate completely.
The Screener requires approving senders before their emails appear in your inbox. Unknown senders go to "The Screener" where you decide: "yes, show me emails from this person" or "no, never show me emails from them." This radically reduces inbox noise—but requires upfront curation that some find tedious.
Three folders replace infinite organisation: Imbox (important, misspelling intentional), Feed (newsletters and non-urgent content), and Paper Trail (receipts and automated messages). You can't create custom folders. This constraint either clarifies or infuriates.
Reply Later is a core workflow. Important emails that need response but not immediately go to a dedicated section. The separation between "read now" and "respond later" is explicit.
No read receipts, no tracking, minimal analytics. Hey positions against surveillance email features.
The interface is clean and distinctive. Design aesthetic is strong, though the Basecamp style won't appeal to everyone.
What Hey Gets Wrong
The rigidity is significant. If the three-folder system doesn't match your mental model, you can't adapt it. Hey assumes their workflow is correct; your job is to adopt it.
Power features are limited. Complex filtering, detailed search operators, integration with other tools—the features that power users rely on are minimal or absent.
The ecosystem is closed. Hey email requires Hey apps. Can't use other email clients with Hey accounts. This creates lock-in that feels constraining.
Hey Data (30 Days)
Total email time: 55.3 hours (1.84 hours daily average) Messages processed: 2,510 Processing rate: 45.4 messages/hour Zero-inbox days: 22 of 30 Average search time: 12 seconds Average composition time: 2.7 minutes
Hey reduced email time by 8 minutes daily compared to Gmail—less than Superhuman but meaningful. The Screener's upfront filtering meant fewer messages demanding attention; zero-inbox days were highest of all three platforms.
However, the workflow felt constrained. Messages I wanted to organise differently fought the three-folder structure. Power user habits from Gmail didn't translate. The productivity gain felt like it came with freedom sacrifice.
The ROI Calculation
The question isn't "which is best" but "which delivers return on investment for your situation."
Time Saved vs Cost
Gmail: Free. Baseline time: 63.2 hours/month.
Superhuman: £20/month. Time: 51.6 hours/month. Savings: 11.6 hours monthly. Break-even hourly rate: £1.72/hour (£20 ÷ 11.6 hours). If your time is worth more than £1.72/hour, Superhuman delivers positive ROI.
Hey: £8.25/month. Time: 55.3 hours/month. Savings: 7.9 hours monthly. Break-even hourly rate: £1.04/hour (£8.25 ÷ 7.9 hours). Even lower break-even.
The Real Calculation
Time savings alone don't capture the full value proposition. Other factors:
Cognitive load: Superhuman's AI triage reduced the mental effort of email processing. This is harder to measure but genuinely valuable.
Zero-inbox psychology: Ending days with processed inbox affected mood and stress. The psychological value of completion is real.
Search speed: Finding old emails 11 seconds faster sounds trivial, but across dozens of searches monthly, it accumulates.
Composition speed: Superhuman's snippets and shortcuts accelerated response composition measurably.
For me, the subjective experience improvement exceeded the objective time savings. Email shifted from dreaded obligation to manageable task.
Who Should Choose What
The data suggests different choices for different situations.
Stay with Gmail If:
Email volume is moderate (under 50 daily). Budget constraints are real—free matters. You've optimised Gmail with keyboard shortcuts and filters. You need calendar and email integrated (Gmail + Google Calendar). You're in a Google Workspace organisation.
Choose Superhuman If:
Email volume is high (50+ daily, especially 100+). Time is genuinely valuable—£240/year is negligible against time saved. You want beautiful, fast interface and will actually use keyboard shortcuts. You're on Apple platforms (Mac/iOS). Inbox overwhelm is affecting your work.
Choose Hey If:
You resonate with the opinionated workflow (Screener, three folders). Privacy matters—no tracking, no receipts. You want a fresh start rather than Gmail optimisation. The Basecamp philosophy appeals generally. You're willing to adapt your workflow to the tool.
Avoid Superhuman If:
Email volume is low—the time savings won't materialise. £240/year creates budget stress. You need Android or Windows (limited support). You require calendar integration.
Avoid Hey If:
You need custom folder organisation. You rely on power features (complex filters, integrations). You're unwilling to use the Screener workflow. You need to use non-Hey email clients.
The Keyboard Shortcut Factor
A confession: some of my Gmail time was artificially high because I wasn't using keyboard shortcuts consistently.
I retested Gmail for one week with disciplined keyboard shortcut usage. Results improved meaningfully: processing rate increased from 40 to 46 messages/hour. Total time dropped from 2.1 to 1.9 hours daily.
This matters because Superhuman's benefits come partly from forced keyboard-first interaction. Gmail with keyboard discipline closes some of the gap—though Superhuman still outperformed optimised Gmail.
The takeaway: before paying for premium email, verify you've actually optimised free email. Many users haven't.
Configuration and Setup
Getting maximum value from each platform requires setup investment.
Gmail Optimisation
Enable keyboard shortcuts: Settings → Keyboard shortcuts → On. Learn critical shortcuts: e (archive), r (reply), a (reply all), c (compose), j/k (navigate), / (search). Set up filters: Route routine emails to skip inbox. Use labels strategically: Project-based labels, not category-based. Configure notifications: Disable most; email shouldn't be interrupt-driven. Consider extensions: Boomerang, Mixmax, or similar add features.
Setup time: 2-3 hours for meaningful optimisation.
Superhuman Optimisation
Complete onboarding: The 30-minute onboarding is excellent. Don't skip it. Configure Split Inbox: Customise categories for your email patterns. Create snippets: Template responses for common emails. Set up shortcuts: Customise keyboard shortcuts for your workflow. Configure notifications: Superhuman's defaults are good; adjust as needed.
Setup time: 1-2 hours including onboarding.
Hey Optimisation
Process Screener initially: The first session approving/blocking senders takes time. Configure Feed: Move appropriate senders to Feed vs Imbox. Learn Reply Later: Make it habitual for non-urgent important emails. Accept the constraints: Fighting Hey's philosophy creates friction.
Setup time: 1-2 hours for Screener processing, ongoing adjustment.
Migration Considerations
Switching email clients carries minimal data risk—email stays in Gmail/server—but workflow disruption is real.
Gmail to Superhuman
Migration: Instant. Superhuman connects to Gmail; all email accessible immediately. Learning curve: Moderate. Keyboard-first takes adjustment. Reversibility: Complete. Stop using Superhuman; Gmail unchanged.
Gmail to Hey
Migration: Moderate complexity. Forward Gmail or switch address to Hey. Learning curve: Steep. Fundamental workflow change required. Reversibility: Complicated. Hey email addresses require Hey apps.
Superhuman to Gmail
Migration: Instant. Just stop using Superhuman; Gmail still has everything. Adjustment: Returning to slower interface after speed may feel painful.
Key Takeaways
Superhuman delivered 23 minutes daily time savings in my testing—11.6 hours monthly worth approximately £464 at professional hourly rates against £20 monthly cost. ROI is positive if you value time.
Hey delivered 8 minutes daily savings with more constrained workflow. Lower cost (£99/year) means positive ROI with lower time value threshold.
Gmail optimised with keyboard shortcuts and filters closes some performance gap with premium options. Verify you've optimised free before paying for premium.
Email volume determines value. At 85 daily emails, premium tools delivered measurable savings. At 30 daily emails, the absolute time savings would be smaller and potentially not worth the cost.
Workflow fit matters beyond features. Hey's opinionated approach either resonates or frustrates—trying before committing is essential.
Keyboard-first interaction is learnable. Superhuman forces it; Gmail allows it. Either way, learning keyboard shortcuts delivers significant efficiency improvement.
The psychological benefits—completed inbox, reduced cognitive load, pleasant interface—are real but harder to measure. They mattered to my experience beyond raw time metrics.
Zero-inbox achievement correlated with email tool sophistication: Gmail 4 days, Hey 22 days, Superhuman 18 days. The tools that make processing easier enable the behaviour that feels better.
Chaos complements any email tool by tracking the tasks and follow-ups that emerge from email. Reading email surfaces work; capturing that work in a system ensures it gets done rather than buried under the next inbox arrival.