Shortwave
An AI email client built on Gmail that summarises threads and schedules meetings for you.
What is Shortwave?
Shortwave is an AI-powered email client that sits on top of your existing Gmail account rather than replacing it, adding AI search, auto-summarised threads, and a built-in scheduling assistant. It's positioned as a more affordable, Gmail-native alternative to premium clients like Superhuman.
Shortwave was founded by former Google engineers who worked on Gmail's own AI features, and it shows in how tightly it integrates with Gmail rather than trying to be a standalone replacement — your existing account, labels, and history carry over untouched. The pitch is Superhuman-style AI polish without the eye-watering price tag or the need to fully migrate away from Gmail.
Key features
- AI-powered natural-language email search
- Auto-summarised email threads
- AI scheduling assistant for meetings
- Built directly on top of existing Gmail accounts
- Shared team inboxes and delegation
- AI-drafted replies
Pros
- Meaningfully cheaper than Superhuman for similar AI email features
- Works with your existing Gmail setup instead of requiring a migration
- AI search is genuinely better than Gmail's native search
Cons
- Gmail-only — no support for Outlook or other providers
- Occasional sync lag between Shortwave and Gmail's own interface
- Free tier limits make the AI features feel gated behind an upsell fast
Best for
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Alternatives to Shortwave
Superhuman
A premium, speed-obsessed email client with AI triage and auto-drafts for inbox-heavy work.
Granola
AI notepad that turns rough notes into polished meeting summaries.