Quick verdict
Shortwave is an AI-powered email client built on top of Gmail that transforms how individuals and teams manage their inboxes. Designed for busy professionals, startup teams, and anyone drowning in email, Shortwave combines intelligent prioritization, AI-generated summaries, and smart search to cut through inbox clutter and help users focus on what actually matters. Unlike traditional email apps, Shortwave uses AI to automatically bundle related threads, surface urgent messages, and even draft replies — saving users significant time each day. Its clean, modern interface feels more like a productivity tool than a conventional inbox, with features like shared team inboxes, real-time collaboration, and powerful keyboard shortcuts that appeal to power users. Shortwave is especially well-suited for professionals who rely on Gmail and want a smarter, faster way to process high email volume without sacrificing organization or context.
Key features
- ▸AI-generated email summaries to quickly understand long threads
- ▸Smart inbox bundling that groups related emails automatically
- ▸AI-assisted reply drafting powered by natural language generation
- ▸Shared team inboxes with real-time collaboration and assignments
Pros & cons
- +Significantly reduces time spent reading and triaging email
- +Seamless Gmail integration means no migration of existing data
- +Clean, intuitive interface with strong keyboard shortcut support
- −Only works with Gmail accounts, limiting use for non-Google users
- −Some advanced features require a paid subscription to unlock
Pricing
Free plan available for individual users with core AI features
$9/month per user for advanced AI and team features
Custom pricing available for larger organizations
Who is it for
- →Managing high-volume Gmail inboxes more efficiently
- →Collaborating with small teams on shared email queues
- →Quickly catching up on long email threads using AI summaries
Frequently asked questions
Is Shortwave free?
Yes, Shortwave offers a free plan for individual users that includes core AI email features, inbox bundling, and smart search. More advanced capabilities like team inboxes and extended AI features require a paid plan.
What is Shortwave best used for?
Shortwave is best used for managing busy Gmail inboxes more efficiently. It excels at helping users quickly triage emails, understand long threads through AI summaries, and draft replies faster — making it ideal for professionals with high email volume.
What are the best alternatives to Shortwave?
Top alternatives to Shortwave include Superhuman (a premium AI email client for Gmail and Outlook), Spark by Readdle (a feature-rich email app with AI tools), and SaneBox (an AI email filtering service). Google's native Gmail with built-in AI features is also a free option.
Is Shortwave safe to use?
Shortwave connects to your Gmail account via OAuth and states that it follows industry-standard security practices. The company has published a privacy policy detailing how data is handled. As with any third-party email client, users should review the permissions granted and the privacy policy before connecting their account.
How much does Shortwave cost?
Shortwave offers a free tier for individual users. Paid plans start at approximately $9 per user per month, which unlocks advanced AI features and team collaboration tools. Enterprise pricing is available for larger organizations with custom needs.