Your inbox is overflowing. Newsletters, notifications, work emails, and spam compete for attention. Every morning you start with hundreds of unread messages. Shortwave wants to put an end to that with AI summaries, smart bundles, and a clean interface that transforms Gmail into a productivity tool.
This email client specifically targets Gmail users who want to get their inbox under control without switching to a completely new provider. But is it worth the investment, or are you better off sticking with the standard Gmail app?
Who is behind Shortwave?
Shortwave Communications was founded in 2020 by Andrew Lee, Jacob Wenger, and Jonny Dimond in San Francisco. All three previously worked at Google and Firebase, where they witnessed daily how people struggled with their inbox. When Google decided in 2019 to permanently shut down Inbox by Gmail, they left behind thousands of power users who lost their favorite email tool.
The trio saw a gap in the market. They wanted to build a spiritual successor to Google Inbox, but with modern AI technology that would make email productive again instead of overwhelming. With their experience at Google, they knew exactly which features people missed: smart bundling, automatic organization, and an interface that helps you focus on what’s important.
The company raised $1 million from renowned investors such as Lightspeed Venture Partners and Union Square Ventures. By now, a growing group of tens of thousands of users are using the tool, especially developers and startup teams looking for a smarter way to work with Gmail. The app is regularly mentioned as the best alternative for people who still miss Google Inbox.
Who is Shortwave for?
Shortwave targets power users who receive dozens to hundreds of emails daily and want to optimize their workflow. Developers appreciate features like Vim mode and markdown support. Startup teams use the shared inbox functionality to collaborate on customer inquiries. And professionals who are constantly snowed under in their inbox find peace in the AI summaries and smart bundles.
But Shortwave isn’t for everyone. Do you use Outlook for work? Then you can’t use the tool, because it only works with Gmail and Google Workspace. Do you prefer a traditional folder structure where you organize everything yourself? Then Shortwave’s bundle approach will probably go against your intuition. And if you’re a light email user who receives at most ten messages per day, the AI features are probably overkill.
What can Shortwave do?
The free version gives you access to the basic interface and limited AI functionality. For unlimited AI summaries, advanced search history, and removing the “Sent with Shortwave” signature, you need a paid plan. Here are the main features:
- AI Smart Summaries: The tool reads long email threads and gives you the key points at a glance. Useful for newsletters or discussions with ten people where you only want to know what the conclusion is.
- Smart Bundles: Similar to what Google Inbox did. Emails are automatically grouped into categories like newsletters, notifications, or social media updates. You can archive or mark entire bundles as read at once.
- Ghostwriter: An AI writing assistant that learns your writing style. Give a few keywords and it writes a complete email in your tone. Also works for quick replies to incoming messages.
- Snooze and Pin: Temporarily park emails out of your inbox and have them automatically return at a chosen time. Pin important threads at the top so they don’t disappear in the stream of new messages.
- Markdown Support: Write emails in markdown and Shortwave automatically converts it to formatted HTML. Ideal for developers who are used to this syntax.
- Vim Mode: Navigate through your inbox with keyboard commands without touching your mouse. For those who use Vim, this is a game-changer in productivity.
- Drag-and-drop tasks: Drag emails to a task list on the side of your screen. This way your inbox also becomes your to-do list, without needing a separate app.
- Shared inbox: Teams can work together in one inbox, with assignments and internal notes. Useful for support teams or general email addresses like info@.
- Advanced search: The search function uses AI to find relevant emails, even if you don’t use the exact words. You can search by context instead of just keywords.
The interface is designed minimalist. No unnecessary buttons or distractions. Everything revolves around speed and focus. The app works on web, iOS, Android, Windows and macOS, so you have access to the same experience everywhere.
What does Shortwave cost?
Shortwave offers a free plan with limited functionality. You get access to the basic interface, but your search history is limited to 90 days and AI features are limited. You also get a “Sent with Shortwave” signature under your emails. For most power users, this is too limited.
The Personal plan costs $ 7 per month with annual payment or $ 8,50 per month. With this you get unlimited search history, full AI functionality and you can remove the signature. This plan is suitable for individual users who want to seriously optimize their inbox.
For $ 14 per month (annually) or $ 18 per month you get the Pro plan. This adds features like advanced automation, priority inbox and extra AI credits for heavy users. The difference with Personal is subtle, so for most people Personal is sufficient.
The Business plan costs $ 24 per month with annual payment or $ 30 per month. This is intended for teams and offers shared inboxes, admin controls and priority support. For a business email client, this is on the pricey side, especially since you can only use Gmail accounts.
New users get 14 days free to try out all features. After the trial ends, your account is automatically converted to the free plan, so you keep access to your emails but lose the advanced functionality.
What should you watch out for?
The biggest stumbling block is the limited compatibility. Shortwave only works with Gmail and Google Workspace. Do you use Outlook, iCloud Mail or another provider? Then you simply cannot use the tool. For many business users, this is a dealbreaker, because companies often work with Microsoft 365.
The price for business use is high. $ 30 per month per user for an email client that only works with Gmail feels expensive compared to alternatives. Small teams can quickly spend hundreds of dollars per month, while traditional email clients are often free.
The learning curve is steeper than you expect. Shortwave has its own philosophy about how to deal with email. Bundles instead of folders, snoozing instead of marking, tasks instead of flags. If you’re used to a traditional workflow, you need to adjust your way of working. Some users find this refreshing, others frustrating.
The mobile app can feel overwhelming. On a small screen, all features and buttons are sometimes difficult to reach. The desktop experience is much smoother, which means you may fall back on the standard Gmail app on the go.
Some users report sync issues where emails don’t appear immediately or actions are delayed. This doesn’t happen often, but when it does it’s annoying because email is a critical tool you need to be able to rely on.
Shortwave alternatives
Shortwave is not the only player in the smart email client market. Here are the main alternatives and when you would choose them:
- Superhuman: Choose this if speed is your absolute top priority. Superhuman is blazing fast and minimalist, but costs $ 30 per month and has fewer AI features than Shortwave. It focuses purely on efficiency through keyboard shortcuts and a stripped-down interface.
- Spark Mail: Go for this if you use multiple email providers. Spark supports Gmail, Outlook, iCloud, and IMAP, making it much more versatile. The design is more traditional and less radical than Shortwave, which works better for some users.
- Canary Mail: Choose this if privacy and encryption are essential. Canary has built-in PGP support and emphasizes security. The AI features are more limited, but your data remains completely private without going through external servers.
Each of these tools has its own philosophy. Shortwave sits between Superhuman and Spark: smarter than Superhuman through the AI, but more limited than Spark through the Gmail-only focus.
Frequently asked questions
Here are answers to the most frequently asked questions about Shortwave:
Does Shortwave work with Outlook?
No, Shortwave currently only supports Gmail and Google Workspace accounts. No plans have been announced to add Outlook or other providers. If you use Outlook for work, you cannot use Shortwave.
Is Shortwave safe?
Yes, Shortwave is officially verified by Google and meets their strict security requirements. However, your emails do go through their servers for the AI functionality, which means your data is not fully end-to-end encrypted like with some privacy-focused alternatives.
What happens to my data after the trial period?
Your account will automatically be converted to the free plan. You’ll keep access to all your emails, but search history will be limited to the last 90 days and AI features will be limited. You won’t lose any data, only functionality.
Can I use Shortwave without internet?
The desktop apps have limited offline functionality. You can read emails that were previously synchronized, but AI features and sending new messages require an internet connection. The mobile apps work similarly.
How is Shortwave different from the standard Gmail app?
Shortwave adds AI summaries, smart bundling, integrated task management, and advanced automation. The interface has been redesigned for speed and focus. Gmail is free but doesn’t offer these productivity features.
Conclusion
Shortwave is a solid choice for Gmail users who want to transform their inbox with AI and smart organization. The tool delivers what it promises: less time in your inbox, faster responses, and a calmer overview. For power users who process dozens of emails daily, the AI summaries and bundles can truly save time.
But the limitation to only Gmail is a major drawback. If your organization uses Outlook or you have multiple email accounts with different providers, you can’t use Shortwave as a central hub. The price for business use is also on the high side, especially compared to free alternatives.
Use the 14-day trial to test whether the workflow suits you. If after two weeks you notice that you’re getting through your inbox faster and feeling less stressed about email, it’s worth the investment. If not, you can just stick with the free plan or look for an alternative that better fits your situation.
