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Shortwave alternatives · Email

Alternatives to Shortwave with a one-time purchase

The Shortwave listing shows no one-time purchase. 5 of the 51 other email apps in this directory can be bought with a one-time purchase.

Shortwave has a free plan. Paid plans start at $18 per seat / month (Pro, the individual plan). All of them are free or have a free plan.

5 tools · Listings checked up to Oct 9, 2026 · Where the facts come from

How each one differs from Shortwave

  1. Canary Mail

    AI email client with PGP encryption for Mac, iOS, Windows, Android

    • Canary Mail starts at $36 per year (Growth), shown as $3 per month billed yearly. Shortwave starts at $18 per seat / month (Pro, the individual plan).
    • Only Shortwave lists a web app.
    • Canary Mail is end-to-end encrypted, according to its own site.
    • Canary Mail can be bought with a one-time purchase.
    Canary Mail pricing and details

  2. eM Client

    Desktop email client for Windows and Mac with calendar and chat

    • eM Client starts at $39.95 per year (Personal subscription, up to 3 devices). Shortwave starts at $18 per seat / month (Pro, the individual plan).
    • Only Shortwave lists a web app.
    • eM Client can be bought with a one-time purchase.
    • eM Client also covers notes, tasks and calendar.
    eM Client pricing and details

  3. Mailbird

    Desktop email client for Windows and Mac with a unified inbox

    • Mailbird starts at $34.49 per year (Premium Yearly Plan, US Mac App Store in-app price). Shortwave starts at $18 per seat / month (Pro, the individual plan).
    • Only Shortwave lists a web app.
    • Only Shortwave lists iOS and Android apps.
    • Mailbird can be bought with a one-time purchase.
    Mailbird pricing and details

  4. Airmail

    Customizable email client for iPhone, iPad and Mac

    • Airmail starts at $7.99 per month, or $39.99 per year (US App Store in-app prices). Shortwave starts at $18 per seat / month (Pro, the individual plan).
    • Only Shortwave lists a web app.
    • Only Shortwave lists Windows and Android apps.
    • Airmail can be bought with a one-time purchase.
    Airmail pricing and details

  5. FairEmail

    Open source, privacy-oriented email client for Android

    • FairEmail starts at $7.49 one-time (pro features, US Google Play in-app purchase). Shortwave starts at $18 per seat / month (Pro, the individual plan).
    • Only Shortwave lists a web app.
    • Only Shortwave lists macOS, Windows and iOS apps.
    • FairEmail is open source and end-to-end encrypted, according to its own site.
    FairEmail pricing and details

Common questions

Is there an alternative to Shortwave that you buy once?

Yes. Canary Mail, eM Client, Mailbird, Airmail and FairEmail can be bought with a one-time purchase.

Can you buy Shortwave once instead of subscribing?

The Shortwave listing shows no one-time purchase. The listing was checked on Oct 4, 2026 against the pages it cites.

When was this checked?

Each listing shows its own date. On this page they run from Oct 4, 2026 to Oct 9, 2026. Vendors change prices and plans without notice, so confirm on their site before you buy.

This page is built from the listings. A tool is here because its listing says so, and the order is how close each is to Shortwave: the alternatives its listing names first, then the tools that share the most features with it.