Mimestream vs Shortwave

Mimestream

• Mac users whose email lives in Gmail or Google Workspace
• People with several Gmail accounts who want one unified inbox
• Households: an Individual license can be shared with immediate family

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

Mimestream

• Mac only: it requires macOS 12 Monterey or newer, and the site lists no iOS, Windows or web version.
• Built for Gmail accounts; the site does not mention support for other email providers.
• Subscription only, with no one-time purchase, and an active subscription is required to keep using the app.
• A license covers up to 5 devices, and monthly plans are not refundable.

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.

Mimestream

Gmail features in a Mac app

Powered by the Gmail API, so inbox categories, color-coded labels and Gmail-backed search behave the way they do in Gmail.

Server-side filters and vacation replies

Create and edit Gmail filters and vacation responses from inside the app instead of going to Gmail's web settings.

Multiple accounts and unified inbox

Add all of your Gmail accounts, combine them in an optional unified inbox and send from any configured Gmail alias.

Tracking prevention

Blocks email trackers from more than 75 common services.

Templates, snooze and undo send

Pre-written templates with variables, snoozing a message to return later, send and archive in one step, and reopening a draft after sending.

macOS integration

Dark mode, keyboard shortcuts, system notifications, swipe gestures, a menu bar extra, image markup and Apple silicon optimization.

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.

Mimestream

• Individual$49.99

  per year, or $4.99 billed monthly

  All of your Google accounts on up to 5 devices, with free sharing for immediate family in the same household.

• Group$49.99

  per seat / year, or $4.99 per seat billed monthly

  Everything in Individual, plus centralized billing and seat management for teams and organizations.

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.

Mimestream

• Annual discount

  About 17% less with annual billing

  The annual plan is $49.99 a year, against $4.99 a month ($59.88 over twelve months) on monthly billing. Annual plans can also be refunded within 30 days.

Shortwave

No public discounts listed.