The Shortwave Insider’s Guide

Everything we know about Shortwave 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.

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ToolGPAOctober 2026

Shortwave

The Insider’s Guide

AI email client for Gmail with an assistant, filters and split inbox

Every plan, grade, refund rule and rival among email apps, read from Shortwave’s own pages.

Made by Shortwave Communications, Inc. · checked Oct 4, 2026 · toolgpa.com

2.6GPA

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 Shortwave’s own pages, its app-store listings and our grades. Every fact in it is on Shortwave’s page too, where it is kept up to date. Checked Oct 4, 2026.

Part 01 · Overview

Welcome

What it is, who it suits, its grades and the ten things to know first

2.6

GPA, above 28 of the 51 other email apps we grade

Shortwave is an email client for Gmail and Google Workspace accounts built around an AI assistant that can organize the inbox, draft replies, search mail and schedule meetings from a prompt. It also offers a split inbox, bundles for bulk triage, plain-English AI filters and team features such as shared threads, private comments and assignments. Paid plans are priced per seat and differ mainly in AI quota and search limits.

To get you started, here are 9 things to know about Shortwave, taken from its own pages and our grades.

It only works with Gmail and Google Workspace.

From our report card of Shortwave

1
Best for Gmail users who want AI to run the inbox
Shortwave is a Gmail app built around an AI assistant that tidies the inbox, drafts replies, searches and books meetings from a prompt.
2
Paid plans start at $18 a month for each person
As its pricing page puts it: $18 per seat / month (Pro, the individual plan).
3
There is a free plan
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.
4
It runs on 5 platforms
Web, macOS, Windows, iOS and Android.
5
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.
6
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.
7
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.
8
A 2.6 GPA, above 28 of 51
That is against the other email apps we grade, on value, the free plan, features, ease of use and platforms.
9
Keep it
To replace Shortwave you would be making an email client: sending, receiving, threading and searching years of mail. That is not a weekend's work, with an AI app builder or without one.

Shortwave at a glance

Pricing: Free plan, from $18 per seat / month (Pro, the individual plan)
Free plan: Yes
Free trial: 14-day free trial of the paid plans
Runs on: Web, macOS, Windows, iOS, Android
Made by: Shortwave Communications, Inc.
Category: Email Apps
Our grade: 2.6 GPA, good
Store rating: 4.7 on the App Store, 744 ratings

The report card

Best for Gmail users who want AI to run the inbox

Shortwave is a Gmail app built around an AI assistant that tidies the inbox, drafts replies, searches and books meetings from a prompt. It only works with Gmail and Google Workspace. Paid plans start at $18 a seat a month, about twice this category's $8 middle, business plans run $30 to $120, and every plan caps AI with a daily quota. The free plan keeps 90 days of search and adds a Shortwave signature.

ToolGPA report cardShortwaveGraded Oct 10, 2026

Subject	Grade	Comment
Value for money	D	Pro is $18 a seat a month, where this category's middle is $8 and its dearest quarter starts at $14.99, and the business plans climb to $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	C	There's a free plan, but it's a taster: basic AI with a limited 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 trial.
Features	B	An assistant that organises, drafts, searches and schedules from a prompt, AI filters written in plain English, a split inbox, bundles for clearing newsletters in bulk, snooze, no-reply reminders, and shared threads with comments and assignments for teams. The inbox job is covered.
Ease of use	B	4.75 from about 740 App Store ratings, too few ratings for our top mark. It sits on the Gmail account you already have, and you ask the assistant in plain English instead of building filters by hand.
Platforms and integrations	A	Web, Mac, Windows, iPhone and Android, with Slack, Notion, Asana and HubSpot wired in. The catch is the mailbox rather than the device: Gmail and Google Workspace only, with Microsoft 365 and Exchange unsupported.

Grade point averageGood, out of 4.02.6

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 Shortwave is for

Fits if you're on Gmail and want AI to triage your inbox and draft replies
Works for teams that want to comment on and assign email threads internally

Who it is not for

Skip it if your mail is on Microsoft 365 or Exchange, as sign-in needs Gmail or Google Workspace
Pricey if you only want a tidier inbox, at $18 a seat a month before you reach the business plans
Tight if you're staying free, with 90 days of search history and a Shortwave signature on your emails
Watch out: every plan caps AI use with a daily quota, and Business allows just 3 AI filters

Good to know

Good for

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

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.

Part 02 · Pricing

What it costs

Every plan, the free plan, ways to pay less and how prices have moved

$18

A month to start, for each person. There is a free plan too

Shortwave has a free plan. Paid plans start at $18 per seat / month (Pro, the individual plan).

You're paying for the AI, and even then every plan caps it with a daily quota.

From our grade for value for money

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.

The free plan

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.

Trying it first

14-day free trial of the paid plans

Read from shortwave.com on Oct 4, 2026.

Part 03 · Features

What it does

Its main features, where it runs, what it works with and who makes it

Places it runs: Web, macOS, Windows, iOS and Android

AI email client for Gmail with an assistant, filters and split inbox. Here is what it does, as its own site describes it, and what it covers: AI features, keyboard-first, chat assistant, AI search, templates, email client.

Web, Mac, Windows, iPhone and Android, with Slack, Notion, Asana and HubSpot wired in.

From our grade for platforms and integrations

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.

Where it runs

Web
macOS
Windows
iOS
Android

What it works with

Gmail
Slack
Notion
Asana
HubSpot
Tasklet

Shortwave is made by Shortwave Communications, Inc.

Part 04 · Standing

Where it stands

Its grades against its category, and whether to keep it or make your own

28/51

Other email apps it is graded above

Shortwave's GPA of 2.6 is higher than 28 of the 51 other email apps we grade, and level with 7.

It stands best on platforms and integrations (A, above 41 of 51) and worst on value for money (D, above 0).

Its paid plans start at $18 a month for each person, against a middle price of $4.99 for the category: 36 of the 45 others that charge start lower.

On features, ease of use and platforms it scores 3.3 out of 4. 1 tool scores higher and costs less.

Each grade against the category

Every bar is all 52 email apps we grade, cut by the letter each got. Shortwave’s own letter is outlined.

DValue for money
Above 0 of 51
CFree plan and trial
Above 4 of 51
BFeatures
Above 30 of 51
BEase of use
Above 32 of 51
APlatforms and integrations
Above 41 of 51

Price against what you get

Each dot is one of 50 email apps. Further left costs less; higher up scores better on features, ease of use and platforms. Shortwave 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 Shortwave you would be making an email client: sending, receiving, threading and searching years of mail. That is not a weekend's work, with an AI app builder or without one.

It costs $216 a year.

What you could make

Templates: an app builder makes this well.

What you could not

An email client: sending, receiving, threading and searching years of mail.
A search engine with an AI model behind it.
An AI model, which you can rent by the request but not make.
Apps for macOS, Windows, iOS and Android that stay in step with each other.
It is priced for each person, which means accounts and billing for a team.
It plugs into other products, Gmail, Slack and Notion among them.
The depth: we grade its features B, which means it covers the whole job.

What this rests on. Shortwave’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

Superhuman Mail, Spark Mail, Missive, HEY and Mimestream

The 5 tools Shortwave is most often weighed against, with where each one differs from it.

2.2GPA
Superhuman Mail
From $25/mo
Keyboard-driven email client for Gmail and Outlook with built-in AI.
- Shortwave has a free plan. Superhuman Mail does not.
- Only Superhuman Mail lists a browser extension.
- Shortwave also covers chat assistant, AI search and templates.
Shortwave and Superhuman Mail compared in full
3.0GPA
Spark Mail
Free plan · from $8.25/mo
Email client with a unified smart inbox, AI tools and team features.
- Only Shortwave lists a web app.
- Shortwave also covers chat assistant and AI search.
- Spark Mail also covers meeting notes, calendar and shared inbox.
Shortwave and Spark Mail compared in full
2.6GPA
Missive
Free trial · from $14/mo
Team email client with shared inboxes, internal chat and rules.
- Shortwave has a free plan. Missive does not, though it has a free trial.
- Shortwave also covers chat assistant, AI search and templates.
- Missive also covers tasks, shared inbox and workflow automation.
Shortwave and Missive compared in full
2.4GPA
HEY
Free trial · from $99/yr
Email service and calendar with sender screening, from 37signals.
- Shortwave has a free plan. HEY does not, though it has a free trial.
- Only HEY lists a Linux app.
- Shortwave also covers chat assistant and AI search.
Shortwave and HEY compared in full
2.0GPA
Mimestream
Free trial · from $49.99/yr
Native Mac email client built on the Gmail API.
- Shortwave has a free plan. Mimestream does not, though it has a free trial.
- Only Shortwave lists a web app.
- Only Shortwave lists Windows, iOS and Android apps.
Shortwave and Mimestream compared in full

Part 06 · Questions

Quick answers

The questions people ask about it, each answered in a line or two

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 Shortwave free?

Shortwave has a free plan. 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.

How much does Shortwave cost?

Shortwave lists 5 plans. Free: $0.

What platforms does Shortwave work on?

Shortwave is available on Web, macOS, Windows, iOS and Android.

How is Shortwave rated?

Shortwave's iPhone and iPad app averages 4.7 out of 5 from 744 ratings on the App Store in the United States, as read on Oct 5, 2026.

Does Shortwave have a Linux app?

No Linux app was listed when its pages were read on Oct 4, 2026. Shortwave is listed for Web, macOS, Windows, iOS and Android.

Is Shortwave open source?

Shortwave is not described as open source on its own site, as read on Oct 4, 2026.

What does Shortwave integrate with?

Shortwave's listing names Gmail, Slack, Notion, Asana, HubSpot and Tasklet.

Does Shortwave have a free trial?

Yes. 14-day free trial of the paid plans.

Who makes Shortwave?

Shortwave is made by Shortwave Communications, Inc.

What are the alternatives to Shortwave?

The closest alternatives to Shortwave in our directory are Superhuman Mail, Spark Mail, Missive, HEY and Mimestream.

How does Shortwave compare with other email apps?

Shortwave's GPA of 2.6 is higher than 28 of the 51 other email apps we grade, and level with 7.

Is Shortwave good value for money?

ToolGPA grades Shortwave D for value for money. Its paid plans start at $18 a month for each person, against a middle price of $4.99 for the category: 36 of the 45 others that charge start lower.

Could I make my own version of Shortwave?

To replace Shortwave you would be making an email client: sending, receiving, threading and searching years of mail.

Where this guide comes from

The prices, plans, platforms and features were read from Shortwave’s own pages on Oct 4, 2026, and the grades were given on Oct 10, 2026. Graded from this listing, whose facts were read from Shortwave's own pages on 4 October 2026, and its App Store rating. Also tested with a demo account on 2026-09-27.

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 Shortwave Communications, Inc. Prices change, so check shortwave.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

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, "Shortwave: The Insider's Guide", checked Oct 4, 2026. https://toolgpa.com/tools/shortwave

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Send them this guide: toolgpa.com/tools/shortwave/guide

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See our other guides

The best-graded email apps after Shortwave, each with an Insider's Guide of its own.

ToolGPA

Choosing software? Every tool graded, every price dated.

Compare tools at toolgpa.com ›

Everything in this guide is ToolGPA’s own summary of what Shortwave’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. Shortwave is a trademark of its owner, and this guide is not made, paid for or approved by Shortwave Communications, Inc. Prices and plans change: check shortwave.com before you buy.