The Shift Insider’s Guide
Everything we know about Shift in one document: what it costs, its grades, getting a refund, getting help and what else to look at. Read it here, or keep a copy.
Shift
The Insider’s Guide
Build-your-own desktop browser for multiple inboxes, apps and Spaces
Every plan, grade, refund rule and rival among browsers, read from Shift’s own pages.
Made by Shift Technologies Inc. · checked Oct 5, 2026 · toolgpa.com
Contents
- 01WelcomeWhat it is, who it suits, its grades and the ten things to know first
- 02What it costsEvery plan, the free plan, ways to pay less and how prices have moved
- 03What it doesIts main features, where it runs, what it works with and who makes it
- 04Where it standsIts grades against its category, and whether to keep it or make your own
- 05The alternativesThe tools it is most often weighed against, side by side
- 06Quick answersThe questions people ask about it, each answered in a line or two
- 07About ToolGPAWho made this guide, what else is on the site, and how to cite it
ToolGPA put this guide together from Shift’s own pages, its app-store listings and our grades. Every fact in it is on Shift’s page too, where it is kept up to date. Checked Oct 5, 2026.
Part 01 · Overview
Welcome
What it is, who it suits, its grades and the ten things to know first
2.0
GPA, above 0 of the 15 other browsers we grade
Shift is a desktop browser for Mac and Windows from Shift Technologies Inc. that people lay out themselves: apps, bars and controls can be dragged anywhere in the window, or a template can serve as the starting layout. Spaces separate work, hobbies and projects with their own apps, tabs and extensions, and several Gmail, Outlook or Yahoo accounts stay available side by side. An optional assistant, Shift AI, is built into the sidebar and address bar.
To get you started, here are 9 things to know about Shift, taken from its own pages and our grades.
No rating on record, and the headline feature is that you build the thing yourself: apps, bars and controls dragged where you want them.
- 1
Best for several email accounts in one desktop window
Shift is a desktop browser you lay out yourself for people with several inboxes: Gmail, Outlook or Yahoo accounts side by side, with Spaces keeping each client apart.
- 2
Paid plans start at $16.67 a month when paid by the year
As its pricing page puts it: $19.99 per month, or $199.99 billed annually (Advanced).
- 3
There is a free plan
5 Spaces with 10 apps per Space, the Browser Builder and templates, and limited Shift AI usage. No credit card is needed to download.
- 4
It runs on 2 platforms
macOS and Windows.
- 5
Browser Builder and templates
Apps, bars and controls can be dragged anywhere in the window, unused controls can be removed, and templates offer ready-made layouts with the sidebar at the side, top or bottom.
- 6
Spaces
Spaces separate work, hobbies and projects, each with its own apps, tabs and extensions. Several logins for the same app can be toggled without signing out.
- 7
Multiple inboxes
Several Gmail, Outlook or Yahoo email accounts can be opened side by side, with the apps and extensions used alongside them kept in the same Space.
- 8
A 2.0 GPA, above 0 of 15
That is against the other browsers we grade, on value, the free plan, features, ease of use and platforms.
- 9
Keep it
To replace Shift you would be making a web browser. That is not a weekend's work, with an AI app builder or without one.
Shift at a glance
- Pricing
- Free plan, from $19.99 per month, or $199.99 billed annually (Advanced)
- Free plan
- Yes
- Free trial
- None stated
- Runs on
- macOS, Windows
- Made by
- Shift Technologies Inc.
- Category
- Browsers
- Our grade
- 2.0 GPA, fair
The report card
Best for several email accounts in one desktop window
Shift is a desktop browser you lay out yourself for people with several inboxes: Gmail, Outlook or Yahoo accounts side by side, with Spaces keeping each client apart. The free plan covers 5 Spaces with 10 apps each, and Shift AI is described only as limited. Past that it's $19.99 a month, against $7 for Rambox Pro. It's Mac and Windows only, team pricing isn't published, and refunds close 14 days after a payment.
| Subject | Grade | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Value for money | D | Advanced is $19.99 a month, or $199.99 a year, which is exactly where this category's dearest tenth begins. The two apps doing the same job cost a fraction: Rambox Pro $7, Wavebox Pro $8.33 paid annually. For the gap you get unlimited Spaces, more Shift AI and support that will video-call you. |
| Free plan and trial | B | Free forever with 5 Spaces and 10 apps in each, which is 50 apps in all. A freelancer with six clients will run out of Spaces, and Shift AI is described only as limited, with no number against it. |
| Features | C | For a pile of accounts it covers the job: Spaces with their own apps, tabs and extensions, several logins per app, Gmail, Outlook and Yahoo inboxes side by side, 4,500-odd apps in the library and any Chrome extension. That's a smaller job than a browser's, and it's the whole of what Shift does. |
| Ease of use | C | No rating on record, and the headline feature is that you build the thing yourself: apps, bars and controls dragged where you want them. Templates spare you the blank page, but there are still Spaces to plan and several email accounts to sign into. |
| Platforms and integrations | C | Desktop only, and only two of them: Mac and Windows. No Linux, no phone, so whatever you build stays on that one machine. Chrome extensions and the 4,500-app library are what it reaches instead. |
An A is worth 4 points, a B 3, a C 2, a D 1 and an F nothing. The GPA is the average of the five.
Who Shift is for
- Fits if you check three or four Gmail, Outlook or Yahoo inboxes every day
- Works for keeping each client in its own Space, with its own apps, tabs and logins
Who it is not for
- Pricey if you outgrow the free plan, at $19.99 a month against $7 for Rambox Pro
- Skip it if you're on Linux or want it on your phone, as it's Mac and Windows only
- Tight if you need more than 5 Spaces, or more than 10 apps in a Space, without paying
- Watch out: free Shift AI is only described as limited, with no number given
- Watch out: team billing isn't priced publicly, and refunds are only within 14 days of a payment
Good to know
Good for
- People juggling several email accounts and app logins
- Freelancers and consultants who keep each client in its own Space
- Those who want to design their own browser layout
Worth knowing
- The free plan is limited to 5 Spaces, 10 apps per Space and limited Shift AI usage.
- Shift is available on desktop for Mac and Windows only; no Linux or mobile version is listed.
- Team setups with consolidated billing and a central dashboard are not priced publicly; the pricing page says to contact Shift.
- Refunds are offered only within 14 days of a purchase or renewal payment.
Part 02 · Pricing
What it costs
Every plan, the free plan, ways to pay less and how prices have moved
$16.67
A month to start, paid by the year. There is a free plan too
Shift has a free plan. Paid plans start at $19.99 per month, or $199.99 billed annually (Advanced).
For the gap you get unlimited Spaces, more Shift AI and support that will video-call you.
Free
$0
5 Spaces with 10 apps per Space, the Browser Builder and templates, limited Shift AI usage, and email and chatbot support.
Advanced
$19.99
per month, or $199.99 billed annually
Unlimited Spaces and apps per Space, expanded Shift AI usage and priority customer support with video calling.
The free plan
5 Spaces with 10 apps per Space, the Browser Builder and templates, and limited Shift AI usage. No credit card is needed to download.
Read from shift.com on Oct 5, 2026.
Ways to pay less
Annual discount
Save $40 with annual billing
Shift Advanced is $199.99 billed annually, against $19.99 a month. Shift's pricing page labels the annual option as a $40 saving.
Stated on shift.com
Part 03 · Features
What it does
Its main features, where it runs, what it works with and who makes it
2
Places it runs: macOS and Windows
Build-your-own desktop browser for multiple inboxes, apps and Spaces. Here is what it does, as its own site describes it, and what it covers: AI features, web browser.
That's a smaller job than a browser's, and it's the whole of what Shift does.
- Browser Builder and templates
- Apps, bars and controls can be dragged anywhere in the window, unused controls can be removed, and templates offer ready-made layouts with the sidebar at the side, top or bottom.
- Spaces
- Spaces separate work, hobbies and projects, each with its own apps, tabs and extensions. Several logins for the same app can be toggled without signing out.
- Multiple inboxes
- Several Gmail, Outlook or Yahoo email accounts can be opened side by side, with the apps and extensions used alongside them kept in the same Space.
- Shift AI
- An optional assistant summarizes pages and videos, drafts replies and answers questions using context from Spaces, apps, history and open tabs, with a separate chat in each Space.
- App library and Chrome extensions
- More than 4,500 apps can be connected from Shift's library in one click, any Chrome extension can be added, and Shift offers to add apps that are missing.
- Download scanning and site checks
- Downloads are screened through Avira's file reputation service, visited URLs are checked with Google Web Risk, and passwords are encrypted and stored locally.
Where it runs
- macOS
- Windows
What it works with
- Gmail
- Outlook
- Yahoo Mail
Shift is made by Shift Technologies Inc.
Part 04 · Standing
Where it stands
Its grades against its category, and whether to keep it or make your own
0/15
Other browsers it is graded above
Shift's GPA of 2.0 is higher than 0 of the 15 other browsers we grade, and level with 1.
It stands best on free plan and trial (B, above 4 of 15) and worst on value for money (D, above 0).
Its paid plans start at $16.67 a month when paid by the year, against a middle price of $7.08 for the category: 7 of the 7 others that charge start lower.
On features, ease of use and platforms it scores 2.0 out of 4. 13 tools score higher and cost less.
Each grade against the category
Every bar is all 16 browsers we grade, cut by the letter each got. Shift’s own letter is outlined.
- DValue for moneyAbove 0 of 15
- BFree plan and trialAbove 4 of 15
- CFeaturesAbove 0 of 15
- CEase of useAbove 0 of 15
- CPlatforms and integrationsAbove 0 of 15
Price against what you get
Each dot is one of 15 browsers. Further left costs less; higher up scores better on features, ease of use and platforms. Shift is the marked dot.
What paid plans start at, a month (each step along is roughly double) →
Keep it, or make your own?
Whether this is something you could build for yourself with an AI app builder, and what you would give up.
Keep it
To replace Shift you would be making a web browser. That is not a weekend's work, with an AI app builder or without one.
That makes this kind of software worth paying for, not this one in particular: 14 of the 15 other browsers grade higher. It costs $199.99 a year.
What you could not
- A web browser.
- A real app for macOS and Windows. Something home-made would be a web page.
- AI features, unless you pay a model provider for each request yourself.
What this rests on. Shift’s listing: what it does, where it runs, what it plugs into and what it costs. It is a judgement about the kind of software this is. We have not built a replacement for it, and making your own means looking after it too. How we decide, and every tool’s verdict.
Part 05 · Alternatives
The alternatives
The tools it is most often weighed against, side by side
Wavebox, Rambox, Arc, Vivaldi and Google Chrome
The 5 tools Shift is most often weighed against, with where each one differs from it.
- 2.2GPA
Wavebox
Free plan · from $8.33/mo
Desktop browser that keeps many web apps and accounts signed in.
- Only Wavebox lists a Linux app.
- 2.4GPA
Rambox
Free plan · from $7.00/mo
Workspace app that runs many web apps and accounts in one window.
- Only Rambox lists a Linux app.
- Rambox also covers window management.
- 3.4GPA
Arc
Free
Chromium-based browser with Spaces, Profiles and Split View.
- Only Arc lists iOS and Android apps.
- 3.8GPA
Vivaldi
Free
Customizable browser with built-in mail, calendar and feed reader.
- Only Vivaldi lists Linux, Android and iOS apps.
- Vivaldi is end-to-end encrypted, according to its own site.
- Vivaldi also covers notes, calendar, email client, screenshots and rSS reader.
- 3.6GPA
Google Chrome
Free
Google's free browser for desktop and mobile, with Gemini built in.
- Only Google Chrome lists Linux, iOS and Android apps.
- Google Chrome also covers password manager and passkeys.
Part 06 · Questions
Quick answers
The questions people ask about it, each answered in a line or two
13
Questions, each answered in a line or two
The short version of everything above, for when you only need the answer. Each one is told in full in its part of the guide.
Is Shift free?
Shift has a free plan. 5 Spaces with 10 apps per Space, the Browser Builder and templates, and limited Shift AI usage.
How much does Shift cost?
Shift lists 2 plans. Free: $0.
What platforms does Shift work on?
Shift is available on macOS and Windows.
Does Shift offer any discounts?
Shift publicly lists the following: Save $40 with annual billing.
Does Shift have an Android app?
No Android app was listed when its pages were read on Oct 5, 2026. Shift is listed for macOS and Windows.
Does Shift have an iPhone app?
No iPhone app was listed when its pages were read on Oct 5, 2026. Shift is listed for macOS and Windows.
Is Shift open source?
Shift is not described as open source on its own site, as read on Oct 5, 2026.
What does Shift integrate with?
Shift's listing names Gmail, Outlook and Yahoo Mail. A listing names up to eight integrations, so it may connect to more.
Who makes Shift?
Shift is made by Shift Technologies Inc.
What are the alternatives to Shift?
The closest alternatives to Shift in our directory are Wavebox, Rambox, Arc, Vivaldi and Google Chrome.
How does Shift compare with other browsers?
Shift's GPA of 2.0 is higher than 0 of the 15 other browsers we grade, and level with 1.
Is Shift good value for money?
ToolGPA grades Shift D for value for money. Its paid plans start at $16.67 a month when paid by the year, against a middle price of $7.08 for the category: 7 of the 7 others that charge start lower.
Could I make my own version of Shift?
To replace Shift you would be making a web browser. That is not a weekend's work, with an AI app builder or without one.
Where this guide comes from
The prices, plans, platforms and features were read from Shift’s own pages on Oct 5, 2026, and the grades were given on Oct 10, 2026. Graded from this listing, whose facts were read from Shift's own pages on 5 October 2026. Also tested with a demo account on 2026-06-24.
Every tool we list gets five grades, A to F, each with its reason, and a GPA that averages them. How each is decided is at toolgpa.com/grades. This guide is ToolGPA’s own work; it is not made, paid for or approved by Shift Technologies Inc. Prices change, so check shift.com before you buy.
Part 07 · About
About ToolGPA
Who made this guide, what else is on the site, and how to cite it
3,189
Tools graded, in 94 categories
ToolGPA grades software the way a school report grades a pupil: five subjects, a letter for each with the reason written beside it, and a GPA that averages them. Prices, plans and platforms are read from each maker’s own pages and dated, so you always know how fresh a figure is.
Every grade, review and ranking on ToolGPA is our own judgement. No company can pay for a grade or change one. Every tool on the site has a guide like this one, free to download and pass on. It all lives at toolgpa.com.
3,189
tools graded
94
categories
426
price changes on record
579
apps priced in 12 countries
What else is on toolgpa.com
- Shift, kept up to dateEverything in this guide, with prices and grades as they are todaytoolgpa.com/tools/shift
- How grades are givenThe rules behind every letter and every GPAtoolgpa.com/grades
- Value chartsWhat each tool costs against what it scores, for every categorytoolgpa.com/charts
- CompareAny two tools side by side, plan by plantoolgpa.com/compare
- Price changesEvery price rise and cut on record, each with its sourcetoolgpa.com/price-changes
- Prices by countryWhat apps cost on the App Store in 12 countriestoolgpa.com/prices-by-country
- Pay lessEvery public discount: yearly billing, students, nonprofitstoolgpa.com/save
- Keep or makeWhich tools are worth paying for, and which you could build yourselftoolgpa.com/keep-or-make
Scan for the live page
Prices and grades as they are today
Quoting this guide?
Please name ToolGPA and link to the live page, so readers can check the figures for themselves:
ToolGPA, "Shift: The Insider's Guide", checked Oct 5, 2026. https://toolgpa.com/tools/shift
Know someone choosing between browsers?
Send them this guide: toolgpa.com/tools/shift/guide
ToolGPA elsewhere: youtube.com/@toolgpa
See our other guides
The best-graded browsers after Shift, each with an Insider's Guide of its own.
- Browsers Insider's GuideEvery one of the 16 browsers we grade, compared
- Brave Insider's GuideOpen-source browser that blocks ads and trackers by default3.8 GPA
- Firefox Insider's GuideFree, open-source browser from Mozilla with tracker blocking built in3.8 GPA
- Vivaldi Insider's GuideCustomizable browser with built-in mail, calendar and feed reader3.8 GPA
Choosing software? Every tool graded, every price dated.
Compare tools at toolgpa.com ›Everything in this guide is ToolGPA’s own summary of what Shift’s pages, its app-store listings and public reviews said on the dates shown. Grades are our judgement under the rules at toolgpa.com/grades. Every grade, review and ranking on ToolGPA is our own judgement. No company can pay for a grade or change one. Shift is a trademark of its owner, and this guide is not made, paid for or approved by Shift Technologies Inc. Prices and plans change: check shift.com before you buy.