Your inbox is bursting with email threads you have to scroll through, signatures you keep reading over and over, and a pile of messages that look more like clutter than conversations. Spike approaches this differently: it turns your email into a chat interface, as if you’re simply using WhatsApp or Slack. And it doesn’t stop there – it combines email with team chat, notes, and tasks in one app.
Who is behind Spike?
Spike was founded in 2013 by Dvir Ben-Aroya and Erez Pilosof in Herzliya, Israel. Their frustration with traditional email was simple: why does communication that is often just a regular conversation look like a formal document? They wanted to transform email threads into streamlined, chat-like conversations – Conversational Email, as they called it. The idea was to remove the clutter and make email as natural as messaging.
The tool was originally launched under the name ‘Hop’, but was later renamed Spike. The company, SpikeNow Ltd., managed to raise more than 13 million dollars in funding, including a Series A round. Among the investors you’ll find well-known names like Insight Partners, Wix, NFX, and Koa Labs. Notably: even Eric Yuan, the CEO of Zoom, invested in Spike. That says something about the confidence in the vision.
More than 1 million people now actively use Spike. The company has expanded its mission: in addition to email, Spike now also offers collaboration tools such as notes and tasks, positioning itself as an all-in-one communication platform for teams and individuals.
Who is Spike for?
Spike is ideal for freelancers who want to simplify their inbox without drowning in formal email structures. SMB teams that want to chat internally as well as manage external emails will also find what they’re looking for here. And if your team uses both Slack and email and you’re wondering if that can’t be more efficient, then Spike is a logical choice.
But it’s not for everyone. Do you work in an environment where strict email folders, labels, and formal structure are essential? Then Spike can actually be confusing. The chat interface feels too informal for some, especially if you have a lot of business correspondence where protocols are important. And if you’re used to traditional email clients with extensive folder systems, the transition is quite significant.
What can Spike do?
The free version of Spike already offers a lot of functionality, but for features like unlimited storage, extensive AI capabilities, and advanced search functions, you need a paid plan. Here are the main features:
- Conversational Email: This is the core of Spike. Emails are displayed as chat messages, without signatures, headers and other clutter. You only see the content of the conversation, as if you’re messaging. It makes emailing faster and clearer.
- Magic AI: The AI assistant helps you with writing, summarizing long threads and generating responses. For example, you can summarize a long email thread in one click or have a draft written based on a few keywords.
- Unified Inbox: All email accounts – Gmail, Outlook, IMAP – come together in one inbox. You no longer have to switch between different apps or tabs.
- Priority Inbox: Spike automatically filters important messages from newsletters and notifications. You see first what really needs attention.
- Integrated notes and tasks: You can create notes and tasks directly from your inbox. Everything stays together, without needing a separate app.
- Team Channels and Groups: In addition to email, you can also create internal chat channels for your team. Think of Slack, but integrated with your email.
- Video and audio calls: You can call contacts directly from Spike, without having to go to another app.
- Super Search: A powerful search feature that lets you quickly search through all your messages, files and notes. In the free version, search history is limited to 60 days.
- Read receipts: You see when someone has opened your email, just like with WhatsApp. Useful for follow-up, but some find it a bit pushy.
- People view: Instead of threads, you see conversations per person. All emails with one contact are neatly together, which provides overview.
Spike works on virtually every platform: web, iOS, Android, Windows, and macOS. Only Linux is not supported.
What does Spike cost?
Spike has a free plan that you can use indefinitely. You then get access to one email address, 1 GB storage, and the basic AI features. The search history is limited to 60 days, which is too short for some.
For more functionality, there are paid plans. The Pro plan costs 8 dollar per month with monthly billing, or 5 dollar per month if you pay a year in advance (60 dollar total). This gives you unlimited email addresses, 10 GB storage, and more extensive AI capabilities.
The Team plan is only available with annual billing and costs 4 dollar per month per user (48 dollar per year). This is designed for small teams and offers shared workspaces and team features. The Business plan costs 16 dollar per month (or 8 dollar per month with annual billing, 96 dollar total) and adds priority support and more storage space. The Ultimate plan costs 10 dollar per month with annual billing (120 dollar total) and offers the most storage and features.
All paid plans have a 14-day trial period, so you can test the tool before you pay.
What should you watch out for?
The chat interface is convenient for informal communication, but can be confusing for formal emails. If you have business correspondence where clear structure is important, then Spike sometimes feels too casual. You miss the visual separation between different messages, which makes it difficult to find a formal quote in a thread, for example.
Another risk is that you accidentally email without a subject. Because Spike emphasizes speed and chat-like communication, it’s easy to send a message without a clear subject line. That can be confusing for recipients who don’t use Spike and simply receive a normal email.
The formatting options in the chat view are limited. If you’re used to extensive formatting in your emails – think tables, colors, or complex layouts – then you’ll come up short here. The focus is on simple, quick messages.
There is a learning curve. The way Spike works differs significantly from traditional email clients. It takes a while before you get used to the new workflow, especially if you’ve been working with Outlook or Gmail for years. Some users also report that synchronization is sometimes slow, especially when adding new accounts or with large inboxes.
Bulk actions are not always as intuitive. Deleting many emails at once or applying labels to multiple messages can be more cumbersome than in traditional clients. And the mobile interface can feel overwhelming if you have many accounts and channels – the screen quickly fills up.
Spike alternatives
If you’re unsure whether Spike is the right choice, there are alternatives that may better suit your situation:
- Slack: Choose Slack if you’re looking for purely internal team communication and don’t need email integration. Slack is designed for chat within teams, without external email. Spike actually integrates email into the chat interface, which makes it different.
- Spark Mail: Go for Spark if you want to maintain the traditional email structure but do want smart features like shared drafts and team inbox. Spark feels more like a classic email client with modern additions, while Spike changes the entire interface.
- Superhuman: Choose Superhuman if speed and keyboard shortcuts are your highest priority. Superhuman is built for power users who want to process their inbox lightning fast. Spike focuses more on conversation and collaboration than on pure speed.
Frequently asked questions
Here are answers to questions that often come up about Spike:
Does Spike replace my current email provider?
No, Spike is an email client that works on top of your existing email. You simply keep your Gmail, Outlook, or IMAP account. Spike only retrieves the messages and displays them in a different interface. Your email address stays the same.
Can people without Spike read my messages?
Yes, absolutely. Messages you send via Spike arrive at others simply as normal emails. They see no difference, including attachments and formatting. The chat interface is only visible to you.
Is Spike safe to use?
Spike uses AES-256 encryption for data storage and processes all data through secure connections. The company claims not to sell data to third parties. The servers are located in the United States, which is relevant if you work with GDPR-sensitive data.
Conclusion
Spike is a fresh take on email, especially if you’re tired of the traditional inbox and value quick, informal communication more. It works well for freelancers and small teams who want to combine email and chat without having to switch between apps. The AI features are useful and the unified inbox saves time. But if you find formal email structure important or you work in an environment where protocols are essential, then Spike can actually be confusing. Try the free version or the 14-day trial to see if the chat approach suits you.
