Shortwave
Shortwave is an intelligent email client that uses AI to help you organize your inbox, summarize long threads, and draft professional responses to reach inbox zero faster.
Superhuman
Superhuman is an advanced email client designed to help high-growth teams and individuals reach Inbox Zero faster through a keyboard-driven interface, AI features, and lightning-fast performance.
Quick Comparison
| Feature | Shortwave | Superhuman |
|---|---|---|
| Website | shortwave.com | superhuman.com |
| Pricing Model | Freemium | Subscription |
| Starting Price | Free | $30/month |
| FREE Trial | ✘ No free trial | ✘ No free trial |
| Free Plan | ✓ Has free plan | ✘ No free plan |
| Product Demo | ✘ No product demo | ✓ Request demo here |
| Deployment | ||
| Integrations | ||
| Target Users | ||
| Target Industries | ||
| Customer Count | 0 | 0 |
| Founded Year | 2020 | 2014 |
| Headquarters | San Francisco, USA | San Francisco, USA |
Overview
Shortwave
Shortwave is an AI-powered email client designed to transform your messy inbox into a structured workspace. It replaces the traditional list of emails with a focused view that automatically bundles related messages, such as newsletters and promotions, so you can handle them in bulk. You can snooze tasks for later, pin important conversations to the top, and use a built-in calendar to manage your schedule without leaving the app.
The platform integrates advanced AI to help you write better emails and find information instantly. You can ask the AI assistant to summarize long threads, draft replies in your unique voice, or search through your entire history using natural language. It works directly with your existing Gmail account, ensuring your data stays synced across all your devices while providing a much faster, more organized experience.
Superhuman
Superhuman is a premium email experience built for speed and efficiency. You can fly through your inbox using powerful keyboard shortcuts that eliminate the need for a mouse, saving you hours every week. The interface is intentionally minimal, removing distractions so you can focus on one conversation at a time. It works on top of your existing Gmail or Outlook account, so you don't need to change your email address to get started.
You can use built-in AI to draft high-quality replies, summarize long threads, and fix grammar instantly. The platform also includes integrated tools like read receipts, send later, and a built-in calendar to manage your schedule without leaving your inbox. It is designed specifically for professionals who handle high volumes of email and want to reclaim their time through a more intentional, faster workflow.
Overview
Shortwave Features
- AI Email Assistant Draft professional replies, summarize long conversations, and search your inbox using natural language to find exactly what you need.
- Smart Bundling Automatically group related emails like newsletters and travel updates so you can archive or skip them with a single click.
- Integrated Calendar View your schedule and join meetings directly from your inbox to manage your time without switching between different apps.
- Voice-to-Email Dictate your thoughts and let the AI transform your spoken words into perfectly formatted, professional email drafts instantly.
- Thread Summaries Get instant bulleted summaries of long email chains so you can catch up on complex discussions in seconds.
- Custom Delivery Schedules Control when specific types of emails hit your inbox to minimize distractions and protect your deep work time.
Superhuman Features
- Keyboard Shortcuts. Perform every action from archiving to snoozing in milliseconds using intuitive keyboard commands without ever touching your mouse.
- Superhuman AI. Draft entire emails from brief phrases and summarize long conversations instantly to stay on top of busy threads.
- Split Inbox. Automatically categorize your incoming mail into custom streams so you can focus on important human conversations first.
- Read Receipts. See exactly when someone opens your email and which device they used so you can time your follow-ups perfectly.
- Built-in Calendar. View your schedule and send meeting invites directly within your inbox to avoid switching between different apps.
- Instant Undo Send. Recall an email immediately after hitting send to fix a typo or add a forgotten attachment before it reaches the recipient.
Pricing Comparison
Shortwave Pricing
- 90-day search history
- Limited AI credits
- Standard email features
- Smart bundling
- Mobile and desktop apps
- Everything in Free, plus:
- Unlimited search history
- Increased AI credits
- Custom delivery schedules
- Priority support
- Advanced AI drafting
Superhuman Pricing
- Lightning-fast email experience
- Keyboard shortcuts
- Split Inbox and Snippets
- Read receipts and Send Later
- Basic AI features
- Mobile and Desktop apps
- Everything in Starter, plus:
- Shared snippets for teams
- Team-wide reporting
- Consolidated billing
- Priority support
- Administrative controls
Pros & Cons
Shortwave
Pros
- Intuitive bundling makes clearing your inbox much faster
- AI summaries accurately capture key points from long threads
- Clean interface reduces visual clutter and mental fatigue
- Seamless synchronization with your existing Gmail account
- Powerful search finds specific details using natural language
Cons
- Currently only supports Gmail and Google Workspace accounts
- Free version has a limited 90-day search history
- Learning curve for users used to traditional layouts
Superhuman
Pros
- Unmatched speed for processing large volumes of email
- Excellent keyboard shortcuts reduce repetitive strain
- Clean and beautiful interface minimizes distractions
- Highly responsive customer support and onboarding
- Effective AI tools for drafting and summarizing
Cons
- Premium price point compared to free clients
- Requires time to learn all keyboard shortcuts
- No forever-free plan available for casual users
- Limited to Gmail and Outlook accounts only