How we make this list: we compare pricing pages, product documentation and public user reviews. Ratings come from G2, Capterra or Trustpilot, with the date we checked them.
Why teams look for a Shortwave alternative
Shortwave rebuilds Gmail into bundles, todos and AI summaries, with an assistant that drafts in your voice and searches your history conversationally. It is the closest Superhuman shape at a lower price. People look elsewhere for a few reasons. The first is the platform limit. Shortwave is Gmail and Google Workspace only, so an Outlook team cannot use it at all. The second is price shape. Pro at $18 per seat per month has no annual discount, and the Business tier at $30 is where team features sit, so the cost adds up for a team. The third is the free plan. It carries a forced "Sent with Shortwave" signature and a 90-day AI search history, which is enough to try the workflow but not enough to live on.
How we picked these 8 alternatives
We picked email apps that cover the same job as Shortwave, which is handling Gmail faster with AI help and a keyboard-first workflow. Every tool here has a published starting price checked on 15 Nov 2026 and a working vendor website. We left out Notion Mail, which shut down on 22 Sep 2026, so it is not a live alternative. Prices below are per user per month on annual billing unless stated otherwise.
Shortwave alternatives at a glance
| Tool |
Best for |
Starting price |
Free plan |
| Superhuman |
Speed and keyboard-first email |
$25 per user per month |
No, 30-day trial |
| Spark |
A polished all-round mail app |
$8.25 per user per month |
Yes |
| Missive |
Shared inboxes for teams |
$14 per user per month |
No, 30-day trial |
| Hey |
An opinionated inbox that screens senders |
$99 per year |
No, 30-day trial |
| Fyxer |
AI meeting notes and drafting |
$37 per person per month |
Yes |
| Spike |
Chat-style email on mobile and desktop |
$6 per user per month |
Yes |
| Edison Mail |
A free unified inbox on mobile |
$99.99 per year for Mail+ |
Yes |
| Canary Mail |
Apple users who want encryption extras |
$36 per year |
Yes |
Quick comparison
| Tool | Best for | Starting price | Free plan |
|---|
 Superhuman | Heavy emailers who want the fastest inbox available | $25 per user per month, billed annually (Starter; $30 per month billed monthly) | No, 30-day trial only |
 Spark | Individuals and teams that want a polished all-round mail app | $8.25 per user per month, billed annually (Plus, $99 per year) | Yes, with unlimited accounts, Smart Inbox and calendar |
 Missive | Teams that share inboxes and chat about email together | $14 per user per month, billed annually (Starter) | No free tier shown on the vendor pricing page, 30-day free trial only |
 Hey | People who want less email, not faster email | $99 per year for HEY for You ($8.25 per month equivalent, annual billing only) | No, 30-day free trial, no credit card required |
 Fyxer | People who want AI to draft replies and take meeting notes | $37 per person per month, billed annually (Pro; $49 per month billed monthly) | Yes, with 400 credits per month, a daily dashboard briefing and audio-only meeting notes |
 Spike | People who want email to feel like chat | $6 per user per month, billed annually (Pro email app; $8 per month billed monthly) | Yes, with 1 email address and 60-day search history on the email app, and Teamspace Starter free for up to 3 members |
 Edison Mail | Mobile users who want a free unified inbox | $99.99 per year for Edison Mail+ ($8.33 per month equivalent; $14.99 per month billed monthly) | Yes, with unlimited accounts, unified inbox and one-tap unsubscribe |
 Canary Mail | Apple users who want a fast client with privacy extras | $36 per year for Growth ($3 per month equivalent, yearly billing only) | Yes, free forever, with unlimited accounts and up to 2 devices |
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We review this list regularly. Vendors can request a listing, send updated pricing or ask about featured placement.
The 8 best Shortwave alternatives
#1Superhuman
Best for: Heavy emailers who want the fastest inbox available4.7/5 on
G2 (1,309 reviews, checked Oct 2026)
Visit superhuman.com
Starting price$25 per user per month, billed annually (Starter; $30 per month billed monthly)
Free planNo, 30-day trial only
Superhuman is the tool Shortwave is most often compared with, because Shortwave was built to offer the same shape at a lower price. Superhuman gives you the full version: a split inbox, keyboard everything, read statuses, snippets and a coach who teaches the workflow in the first weeks. The Starter price of $25 per user per month billed annually is higher than Shortwave Pro, and Business at $33 is the team tier. Note the price figures here are third-party reported, because the vendor pricing page timed out on a fetch on 15 Nov 2026, though multiple Oct 2026 sources agree on the figures. For a heavy emailer whose inbox costs real time every day, Superhuman is the strongest pick. For a Gmail team on a budget, Shortwave itself or Spark costs less.
What we like- It is the fastest email client in this list, with keyboard shortcuts for everything, split inbox triage and AI drafting, plus one-to-one onboarding that teaches the workflow.
Watch out for- It is only a client layer on top of Gmail or Outlook, so you keep paying for Google Workspace or Microsoft 365 separately.
Starting price$8.25 per user per month, billed annually (Plus, $99 per year)
Free planYes, with unlimited accounts, Smart Inbox and calendar
Spark is the friendly alternative to Shortwave. It keeps a conventional inbox, adds a smart inbox that surfaces important mail, and covers snooze, send later, follow-up reminders and shared drafts for teams. Unlike Shortwave, it works with Outlook and IMAP as well as Gmail, so a mixed-platform team can standardise on it. The free plan is generous for individuals, and Plus at $8.25 per user per month is less than half the price of Shortwave Pro. The AI gap is the trade-off. Shortwave AI is the core of the product, while Spark gates its fuller AI features behind Plus. For most individuals and small teams that want a better mail app without changing how email works, Spark is the easiest switch.
What we like- The smart inbox, snooze, send later and shared drafts are polished, it works across Gmail, Outlook, Yahoo and IMAP, and the free plan covers unlimited accounts.
Watch out for- The free plan AI is sharply limited, with 5 lifetime AI meeting notes and 1 month of AI Assistant history, and Gatekeeper, Priority and the full AI Assistant require Plus.
#3Missive
Best for: Teams that share inboxes and chat about email together4.7/5 on
G2 (861 reviews, checked Oct 2026)
Visit missiveapp.com
Starting price$14 per user per month, billed annually (Starter)
Free planNo free tier shown on the vendor pricing page, 30-day free trial only
Missive is the team answer to Shortwave. Where Shortwave makes one person's Gmail faster, Missive makes a shared inbox feel like a team chat room, with colleagues commenting beside the message, assigning conversations and drafting together. It suits support, sales and operations teams whose inbox is really a queue. The Starter price of $14 per user per month covers up to 5 users, and the cap is the part to plan around, since the sixth user moves everyone to $24. Some third-party reviews mention a limited free plan for up to 3 users, but the vendor pricing page lists only the trial, so we count it as trial only. For a solo user, Missive is the wrong tool. For a team that shares an inbox, it is the strongest pick here.
What we like- Shared inboxes, team chat and tasks sit in one app, internal comments keep discussion beside the message, and the price is fair for a team tool.
Watch out for- Hard user caps force a tier jump. Starter stops at 5 users and Productive at 50, so the 6th user moves the whole team from $14 to $24 per user per month.
#4
Hey
Best for: People who want less email, not faster email
Visit hey.com
Starting price$99 per year for HEY for You ($8.25 per month equivalent, annual billing only)
Free planNo, 30-day free trial, no credit card required
Hey takes the opposite approach to Shortwave. Instead of speeding up the inbox, it changes the rules. Every new sender waits in a screener for your yes or no, accepted mail splits into an Imbox for important senders, a feed for newsletters and a paper trail for receipts. At $99 a year it costs about the same as Spark Plus while solving the volume problem rather than the speed problem. The cost is commitment. You move to a hey.com address or a custom domain, and there is no IMAP freedom to take your habits elsewhere. For someone drowning in email who is ready to change how the inbox works, Hey is the most distinctive alternative here.
What we like- The screener puts every new sender on hold until you approve them, tracking pixels are blocked by default, and the Imbox, feed and paper trail split mail by purpose.
Watch out for- You cannot bring your existing Gmail or Outlook inbox. You must adopt a new @hey.com address, or pay for a custom domain on the Domains plan.
#5
Fyxer
Best for: People who want AI to draft replies and take meeting notes
Visit fyxer.com
Starting price$37 per person per month, billed annually (Pro; $49 per month billed monthly)
Free planYes, with 400 credits per month, a daily dashboard briefing and audio-only meeting notes
Fyxer is the AI assistant alternative to Shortwave. Rather than replacing your inbox, it sits beside it, drafting replies, taking meeting notes and briefing you each morning. It works with Gmail and Outlook, so it covers the platform gap Shortwave leaves. The price is the highest in this list after Superhuman Business, at $37 per person per month billed annually for Pro, and the credit metering is the part to watch. A heavy meeting schedule burns credits fast, and the Team tier at $64 is where shared features sit. For a manager or founder whose inbox and calendar are both overloaded, Fyxer is the most useful AI helper here. For someone who mainly wants a faster inbox, Spark or Superhuman fits better.
What we like- The AI drafts replies in your voice, takes meeting notes and keeps a daily briefing, and the free plan gives 400 credits a month to test it properly.
Watch out for- Usage is metered in credits, with 1 credit per recorded meeting minute, so a heavy meeting schedule can burn through Pro's 3,000 monthly credits, and Fyxer drafts replies but never sends email on your behalf.
#6Spike
Best for: People who want email to feel like chat4.6/5 on
G2 (261 reviews, checked Oct 2026)
Visit spikenow.com
Starting price$6 per user per month, billed annually (Pro email app; $8 per month billed monthly)
Free planYes, with 1 email address and 60-day search history on the email app, and Teamspace Starter free for up to 3 members
Spike is the conversational alternative to Shortwave. Where Shortwave organises Gmail into bundles and todos, Spike turns threads into chat conversations, with groups, notes, tasks and calls in the same app. It works across Gmail, Outlook and other providers, so it covers the platform gap Shortwave leaves. The Pro email plan at $6 per user per month billed annually is cheap, and the free plan is enough to test the chat model. The limit is the free tier, which covers one address with 60 days of search, and the chat model itself, which some teams find too informal for client work. For a team that finds the traditional inbox slow and formal, Spike is the most different-feeling alternative here.
What we like- Messages read like a conversation, groups work like chat rooms, and the same app covers notes, tasks and calls.
Watch out for- The free plan covers only one email address with search limited to 60 days, and a unified inbox with more than 3 addresses requires Ultimate at $12 per user per month billed annually.
Starting price$99.99 per year for Edison Mail+ ($8.33 per month equivalent; $14.99 per month billed monthly)
Free planYes, with unlimited accounts, unified inbox and one-tap unsubscribe
Edison Mail is the free alternative to Shortwave for mobile users. The core app costs nothing and covers a unified inbox across accounts, one-tap unsubscribe and smart replies, which is close to the fast-triage experience Shortwave offers on a phone. Mail+ at $99.99 a year adds the extras. Two caveats matter. The free app is funded by anonymised research drawn from users' commercial emails, which privacy-conscious buyers should weigh. And the desktop app has been retired, so Edison is mobile only now. Note the price figures here are third-party reported, because the vendor homepage shows no pricing. For a mobile-first user who wants a free unified inbox, Edison Mail is the pick. For desktop use, Spark or Superhuman fits better.
What we like- The core app is free with unlimited accounts and a unified inbox, and Mail+ adds custom swipe actions, extra themes and more storage.
Watch out for- The free app is funded by anonymised research drawn from users' commercial emails, and the desktop app has been retired, so it is mobile only now.
#8Canary Mail
Best for: Apple users who want a fast client with privacy extras4.5/5 on
G2 (53 reviews, checked Oct 2026)
Visit canarymail.io
Starting price$36 per year for Growth ($3 per month equivalent, yearly billing only)
Free planYes, free forever, with unlimited accounts and up to 2 devices
Canary Mail is the Apple specialist in this list. It gives Mac and iPhone users a fast client with PGP encryption, read tracking controls and an AI assistant, and it connects to Gmail, iCloud, Outlook and IMAP accounts. Growth at $36 a year is the cheapest paid plan in this list, and the free plan covers unlimited accounts on up to 2 devices. The limits are platform and tiers. It is Apple only, so Windows and Android users are out, and the privacy features that justify the switch sit on Pro+ at $100 a year. There is also no monthly billing, so the smallest commitment is a year. For an Apple user who wants a polished client with encryption extras, Canary Mail is the pick. For a mixed-platform team, Spark fits better.
What we like- It is a fast, native-feeling client for Mac and iPhone with PGP support built in, read tracking controls and an AI assistant for summaries and drafts.
Watch out for- No monthly billing option at all, and the free plan is capped at 2 devices, while PGP encryption, SecureSend and phishing protection require the $100 per year Pro+ plan.
How to choose the right Shortwave alternative
Start with your mailbox. If you run on Outlook, Shortwave was never an option, and Superhuman, Spark, Missive, Fyxer, Spike, Edison Mail and Canary Mail all work with Outlook or IMAP. If the problem is speed and volume on Gmail, Superhuman at $25 is the premium answer and Spark Plus at $8.25 is the budget answer. If the problem is sharing an inbox with a team, Missive at $14 is the pick. If the problem is too much mail rather than slow mail, Hey at $99 a year changes the rules instead of the speed. If you want AI to handle drafting and meeting notes rather than a new inbox, Fyxer at $37 is the assistant-shaped answer. Try the finalist on your real inbox for a week. Email tools feel different with your own mail, and a week of real use shows whether the new workflow sticks.
Frequently asked questions
Is Shortwave free?
Yes, Shortwave has a free plan with basic AI, 90 days of AI search history and a forced "Sent with Shortwave" signature. The Pro plan costs $18 per seat per month, billed monthly only, and Business at $30 per seat per month is the team tier. There is no annual discount on Pro.
Which Shortwave alternative is cheapest?
Canary Mail Growth at $36 a year is the cheapest paid plan. Spark Plus at $8.25 a month billed annually and Spike Pro at $6 a month billed annually are the cheapest monthly options. Spark, Fyxer, Spike, Edison Mail and Canary Mail all have free plans, so the cheapest way to start is free on any of those.
Which alternative is best for Gmail users?
Superhuman is the best fit for Gmail power users who want the fastest client and are willing to pay $25 a month. Spark is the best fit for a friendlier smart inbox with team features at $8.25 a month. Both leave your Gmail account untouched underneath, so trying them risks nothing but an afternoon.
Which alternative works with Outlook?
Superhuman, Spark, Missive, Fyxer, Spike, Edison Mail and Canary Mail all work with Outlook or IMAP accounts. Shortwave is Gmail and Google Workspace only, so an Outlook team should rule it out and pick from this list instead.
Do I need to change my email address to switch?
No, if you choose a client. Superhuman, Spark, Missive, Spike, Edison Mail and Canary Mail all run over your existing Gmail or Outlook account. Yes, in effect, if you choose a provider such as Hey, though a custom domain on Hey means you never change addresses again, since the domain moves with you between providers for life.
Sources we checked (8)
- https://superhuman.com
- https://sparkmailapp.com/pricing
- https://missiveapp.com/pricing
- https://hey.com/pricing
- https://www.fyxer.com/pricing
- https://spikenow.com/pricing
- https://edisonmail.com/
- https://canarymail.io/pricing
Is your product missing or out of date?
We review this list regularly. Vendors can request a listing, send updated pricing or ask about featured placement.
Shihab Mia · Founder, Rankite
Shihab has 5+ years in B2B and SaaS SEO. He writes Rankite's software buying guides from pricing pages, documentation and public user reviews. More about Shihab.