Kiwi for Gmail vs Shortwave
We give Kiwi for Gmail a 2.8 GPA and Shortwave a 3.4, out of 4.0. Kiwi for Gmail grades higher on value for money. Shortwave grades higher on the free plan, features, ease of use and platforms.
Price, platforms and features side by side. The table says where each price was read and when.
Kiwi for Gmail
Desktop app that runs Gmail and Google Workspace outside the browser
Shortwave
AI email client for Gmail with an assistant, filters and split inbox
How we grade them
| 2.8GPAKiwi for GmailGood | 3.4GPAShortwaveVery good | |
|---|---|---|
| Value for money | BStarter shows as $4 a month, low for a category where the middle is about $9. But that's 1 account, and our listing couldn't confirm whether the price is for monthly or annual billing. Several accounts, which is half the point, means Pro at $6 for up to 3 or Power Pro at $8 for up to 9. | CPro is $18 a seat a month, roughly double what paid email apps usually start at, and the business plans run $30, $45 and $120. You're paying for the AI, and even then every plan caps it with a daily quota. |
| Free plan and trial | CNo free plan. There's a 7-day risk-free trial, which the pricing page states for the yearly plans. Our listing doesn't say whether you hand over a card to start it. | BThere's a free plan, but it's a taster: basic AI with a limited usage quota, 90 days of search history, up to 15 threads per AI search, and a "Sent with Shortwave" signature on your emails. The paid plans come with a 14-day free trial. |
| Features | BIt does one thing: Gmail and Google Workspace as a desktop app, with Docs, Sheets, Slides, Drive, Calendar and Chat in their own windows. The mail itself is still Gmail. The Focus-Filtered Inbox starts on Pro, and Tabbed Workspaces, global keyboard shortcuts and extensions need Power Pro. | AAn assistant that organizes, drafts, searches and schedules from a prompt, AI filters you write in plain English, a split inbox, and bundles for clearing newsletters in bulk. Teams get shared threads, private comments and assignments. Snooze and no-reply reminders are in there too. |
| Ease of use | BNo rating on record, so a B is our ceiling. It's Gmail, so there's nothing new to learn, and your accounts sit side by side without signing in and out or switching browser profiles. | A4.7 from about 740 App Store ratings. It sits on the Gmail account you already have, and telling an assistant what you want in plain English is easier than building filters by hand. |
| Platforms and integrations | BMac and Windows, with one license covering both. The site offers no mobile app or web version. Power Pro adds extensions such as Boomerang, Grammarly and Zoom. It only works with Gmail and Google Workspace accounts. | AWeb, Mac, Windows, iPhone and Android, and it connects to Slack, Notion, Asana and HubSpot. The big catch is the mailbox: Gmail and Google Workspace only. Microsoft 365 and Exchange aren't supported. |
| Best for | Gmail as a desktop app, with several accounts | Gmail users who want AI to run the inbox |
The GPA is the average of the five grades: an A is 4 points, an F is none. The full reasons are on each tool's page: Kiwi for Gmail and Shortwave. How we grade
Where they differ
- Kiwi for Gmail starts at $4 per month (Starter; monthly or annual billing basis not confirmed). Shortwave starts at $18 per seat / month (Pro, the individual plan).
- Shortwave has a free plan. Kiwi for Gmail does not, though it has a free trial.
- Only Shortwave lists a web app.
- Only Shortwave lists iOS and Android apps.
- Kiwi for Gmail also covers inbox filtering.
- Shortwave also covers chat assistant, AI search and templates.
At a glance
| Kiwi for Gmail | Shortwave | |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | Free trial | Free plan |
| Starts at | $4 per month (Starter; monthly or annual billing basis not confirmed) | $18 per seat / month (Pro, the individual plan) |
| Free plan | None | Basic AI with a limited usage quota, 90 days of search history, up to 15 threads per AI search and a "Sent with Shortwave" email signature. |
| Free trial | 7-day risk-free trial, stated for all yearly plans | 14-day free trial of the paid plans |
| Web | ||
| macOS | ||
| Windows | ||
| iOS | ||
| Android | ||
| Made by | Zive, Inc. | Shortwave Communications, Inc. |
| Price read from | kiwiforgmail.com | shortwave.com |
| Checked | Oct 6, 2026 | Oct 4, 2026 |
Who each one suits
Kiwi for Gmail
- Heavy Gmail users who want email out of the browser
- People juggling several Gmail or Google Workspace accounts
- Google Workspace users who prefer Docs and Sheets in desktop windows
Shortwave
- Gmail and Google Workspace users who want AI to triage and draft email
- Teams that want to comment on and assign email threads internally
- People who want Google Inbox-style bundles on top of Gmail
Worth knowing
Kiwi for Gmail
- It works only with Gmail and Google Workspace accounts; other email providers are not supported.
- It is a desktop app for Mac and Windows only; the site offers no mobile app or web version.
- Starter is limited to 1 account and Pro to 3; using up to 9 accounts and Tabbed Workspaces needs Power Pro.
- Prices sit behind a Monthly/Annually switch on the pricing page, and the 7-day trial is stated for yearly plans.
Shortwave
- Sign-in requires Gmail or Google Workspace. Microsoft 365 and Exchange are not supported, and other providers only work by forwarding mail to Gmail.
- Paid plans start at $18 per seat a month for individuals and $30 on the business plans, and AI usage on every plan is capped by a daily quota.
- The Business plan limits AI search to 5 years of history and allows 3 AI filters.
- Native apps cover Mac, Windows, iOS and Android; other platforms rely on the web app.
Key features
Kiwi for Gmail
- Gmail as a desktop app
- Runs Gmail in its own Mac or Windows application instead of a browser tab, and one license gives the same interface on both platforms.
- Several accounts side by side
- Starter covers 1 Gmail or Workspace account, Pro up to 3 and Power Pro up to 9, used together without signing in and out or switching browser profiles.
- Focus-Filtered Inbox
- Narrows the inbox to mail from today, the past 2 days or the past week, and to Important, Unread, Starred or messages with attachments. Included from the Pro plan.
- Workspace apps in their own windows
- Google Docs, Sheets, Slides, Drive, Calendar and Chat open as separate desktop windows, and a recent-documents list reopens files across all of your accounts.
- Tabbed Workspaces
- Groups related documents and windows into tabs by project, urgency or account so they are one click apart. Available on the Power Pro plan.
- XO assistant
- A GPT-4 powered assistant inside Kiwi that drafts emails, summarizes meeting notes and outlines documents. It requires an active Kiwi subscription.
Shortwave
- AI assistant
- Prompt the assistant to organize the inbox, write in your own voice, search mail or schedule a meeting. It can also browse the web and analyze attachments.
- AI filters
- Describe a rule in plain English and it labels, stars or archives incoming mail. Business includes 3 AI filters, Premier 10 and Max 50.
- Split inbox and bundles
- Divide the inbox into tabs by sender, label or custom query, and triage promotions, newsletters and updates in bulk as bundles.
- AI search
- Ask questions across your mail instead of keyword searching. Business reaches back 5 years and reads up to 50 threads per search; Premier removes the history limit.
- Team collaboration
- Share a live thread with teammates, discuss it in private comments, assign emails with a done status, and keep shared labels, snippets and saved prompts.
- Scheduling and follow-ups
- The assistant checks availability, creates calendar events and writes scheduling emails. Snooze, delivery schedules and no-reply reminders are also included.
Plans
Kiwi for Gmail
Starter$4
per month as displayed; monthly or annual basis not confirmed
Gmail and Google Workspace as a desktop app for 1 account, with one license covering both Mac and Windows.
Pro$6
per month as displayed; monthly or annual basis not confirmed
Up to 3 accounts, plus the Focus-Filtered Inbox, the Zen Switch do-not-disturb mode, an at-a-glance widget and a desktop Google Meet app.
Power Pro$8
per month as displayed; monthly or annual basis not confirmed
Up to 9 Gmail and Workspace accounts, plus Tabbed Workspaces, global keyboard shortcuts, cloud search and extensions such as Boomerang, Grammarly and Zoom.
Kiwi for TeamsCustom
Discounted pricing for groups of users, with a team admin portal for user management and billing, and priority support contacts.
Shortwave
Free$0
Basic AI with a limited usage quota, 90 days of standard and AI search history, and up to 15 threads per AI search.
Pro$18
per seat / month
For individuals: standard AI, full standard search history, 3 years of AI search history, AI web browsing and personalized AI writing.
Business$30
per seat / month
Standard AI with a daily usage quota, 5 years of AI search history, up to 50 threads per AI search and 3 AI filters.
Premier$45
per seat / month
Advanced AI with twice the Business usage, unlimited AI search history, up to 100 threads per AI search and 10 AI filters.
Max$120
per seat / month
Expert AI with six times the Business usage, up to 150 threads per AI search and 50 AI filters.
Ways to pay less
Kiwi for Gmail
- Other savings
Discounted pricing for teams
The pricing table lists Kiwi for Teams with discounted pricing for groups of users. The amount is not published; teams request a quote or demo through a form.
Shortwave
No public discounts listed.
