FreemiumAI productivityemailgmailproductivity

Shortwave

The smartest Gmail client available right now, but locking out Outlook users cuts the addressable market in half.

BigBang Score
66
/ 100
Pricing
Freemium
OVERVIEW

What is Shortwave?

AI-native email client that replaces Gmail's interface with a chat-like workspace. Automatically summarizes long threads, triages your inbox by priority, drafts replies in your voice, and lets you ask questions about your email history using natural language search. Built for professionals drowning in email.

EDITORIAL VERDICT

Why we scored it

The smartest Gmail client available right now, but locking out Outlook users cuts the addressable market in half.

Pros

  • +AI-generated email summaries
  • +Chat-like interface
  • +Works on all platforms
  • +Powerful search
  • +AI draft replies that match your writing style over time

Cons

  • Gmail only (no Outlook)
  • Expensive for premium tiers
  • Interface can feel cluttered
  • AI summaries can be lengthy
  • No offline mode -- requires constant internet for AI features
PRICING

How much does Shortwave cost?

Free tier limited. Business at $24/user/mo, Premier at $36/user/mo.

ALTERNATIVES

Best alternatives to Shortwave.

Same AI productivity category, ranked by BigBang Score. Click any to compare side-by-side.

Reclaim.ai
AI productivity
71

AI calendar assistant that auto-schedules tasks, habits, focus blocks, and breaks around your existing meetings. Learns your patterns to defend deep work time, enforce lunch breaks, and reschedule flexibly when conflicts appear. Built for busy managers, ADHD minds, and anyone whose calendar is a warzone.

Notion AI
AI productivity
70

AI layer built into Notion that summarizes notes, drafts content, extracts action items, and answers questions across your workspace. Uses your existing pages and databases as context. Best for teams already running their ops in Notion who want AI without switching tools.

Granola
AI productivity
69

AI-powered meeting notepad that augments your own notes instead of replacing them with a bot. You type rough notes during a meeting and Granola fills in gaps using local audio transcription, adds structure, and extracts action items. Ideal for managers and consultants who want AI help without an awkward bot joining the call.

FAQ

Shortwave - frequently asked.

Quick answers used by AI search engines and Google's People Also Ask.

Got a question about Shortwave?

The four answers here cover what most readers ask. For deeper context, the full review above includes pricing, pros and cons, and side-by-side alternatives.