A fast email app that replaces your Gmail or Outlook inbox, with AI drafts and sorting.
Productivity & Notes
Shortwave
AI email app for Gmail that searches, sorts, drafts and acts on your inbox for you.
4.2our rating
FreemiumFrom $18/mo
Quick take
- The AI search is the standout: ask a question about your email and get an answer with the threads it came from.
- Gmail and Google Workspace only. Outlook users have to route mail through Gmail, so Superhuman or Fyxer suit them better.
- Free plan is usable but has limited AI and only 90 days of search history.
- Pro is $18 a month for individuals; team plans start at $30 a seat a month.
- Replacing your email app takes a week or two to get used to.
What is Shortwave?
Shortwave is an email app that replaces the Gmail interface. It groups newsletters, promotions and updates into bundles you can clear in one go, splits your inbox into tabs, and turns emails into to-dos. Its AI assistant can search years of email in plain English ("what did the landlord say about the bond?"), summarise threads, write replies in your style, and take actions like organising, scheduling or filing from a prompt. It runs on Claude models and works on Mac, Windows, iOS, Android and the web.
Pick Shortwave over Superhuman if you live in Gmail and care most about AI search and an assistant that acts on your inbox; it is also cheaper and has a free plan. Superhuman is faster to drive by keyboard and supports Outlook natively. Fyxer is different again: it stays inside your existing Gmail or Outlook and quietly drafts replies, so you don't change apps at all.
The catch: it connects natively only to Gmail and Google Workspace. Outlook, Yahoo and other accounts work only by forwarding them into Gmail first. Changing your email app is a big habit shift, and the AI usage quota on lower plans runs out for heavy users.
Who's using it, and who it's for
- Founders
- Executives
- Consultants
- Sales people
- Small teams
Busy Gmail and Google Workspace users who want AI to search, sort and draft their email.
Key features
AI search
Ask questions about your email in plain English and get answers drawn from the right threads.
Shortwave Agent
Organises, schedules, writes and searches from a single prompt, using your email and calendar.
Bundles and splits
Groups newsletters, receipts and updates so you can clear them in one go, and splits your inbox into tabs.
Writes like you
Learns your tone from sent emails to draft replies and autocomplete sentences.
Emails as tasks
Turn emails into to-dos you can prioritise, group and annotate.
Team features
Share live threads, leave private comments, assign next steps and share prompts and templates.
How we rate it
4.2 / 5
Our rating
From using the tool ourselves. The average of the five scores.
- Ease of use
- 4.0
- Features
- 4.5
- Output quality
- 4.5
- Value for money
- 4.0
- Speed & reliability
- 4.0
How quickly someone non-technical gets value from it.
How completely it covers its own job, and how well the pieces fit together.
How good the results are before you fix them.
What you get for the price, including the free plan.
How fast it is and how often it falls over.
Shortwave pricing
Which plan should you pick?
Start on Free for a week to see if you like the app. Pro is enough for most individuals; pick Business only if you share threads with a team. Every paid plan has a 14-day free trial.
Prices in USD unless noted, checked 22 October 2026. Vendors change plans often, so confirm on their site before you buy.
Best use cases
Ways Shortwave can slot into your week.
- 1
Find that email from months ago
Ask "what did the accountant say about the BAS deadline?" and get the answer with the thread linked.
- 2
Morning inbox triage
Clear bundled newsletters and receipts in a few clicks, then work through what's left as tasks.
- 3
Draft replies in your voice
Let the AI draft responses to routine enquiries in your style, then edit and send.
- 4
Hand off a thread
Share a client thread with a colleague, add a private comment and assign the next step.
How it fits your tech stack
Pros and cons
Pros
- Excellent natural-language email search
- Assistant can act on your inbox, not just draft
- Real free plan, and cheaper than Superhuman
- Apps on every platform
- Useful team features for shared threads
Cons
- Native support for Gmail and Google Workspace only
- AI quota on lower plans runs out for heavy users
- Means switching email apps, which takes adjustment
- Free plan adds a "Sent with Shortwave" signature and keeps only 90 days of search history
Shortwave alternatives
The closest alternatives to Shortwave in the library, best rated first.
Granola
4.4
Best for client and sales calls
Compare with Shortwave
Wispr Flow
4.4
Best for dictating emails and messages
Compare with Shortwave
Notion
4.3
Best for team wikis and documentation
Compare with Shortwave
Todoist
4.3
Best for personal task management
Compare with Shortwave
Why it made the list
It has some of the best AI search and assistant features of any email app, at a lower price than Superhuman.
Shortwave FAQ
How much does Shortwave cost?
There's a free plan, and paid plans start at $18/mo. Prices checked 22 October 2026 against Shortwave's pricing page.
Is Shortwave free?
Yes, Shortwave has a free option. Start on Free for a week to see if you like the app. Pro is enough for most individuals; pick Business only if you share threads with a team. Every paid plan has a 14-day free trial.
What is Shortwave best for?
Shortwave is best for finding old emails by describing them, clearing a cluttered Gmail inbox quickly and drafting replies in your own style. Busy Gmail and Google Workspace users who want AI to search, sort and draft their email.
What are the best Shortwave alternatives?
The closest alternatives are Granola, Wispr Flow, Notion and Todoist. Granola is best for client and sales calls.
More tools in Productivity & Notes
Sorts your inbox and drafts replies in your voice before you even open your email.
Drafts, summarises and tidies up inside Docs, Slides, Sheets and Gmail, where you work.
Ambient AI that turns doctor–patient conversations into notes inside the hospital EHR.