Last updated: 2026-11-06
Shortwave is an AI email client built for Gmail and Google Workspace, cutting inbox triage time by roughly 45% through automatic bundling and semantic search. Its standout feature, Ghostwriter, drafts replies that sound like the sender rather than generic AI text. A separate AI Assistant chains calendar lookups and email searches together to answer multi-step questions.
About Shortwave
Shortwave is an AI-powered email client founded in 2020 by a team of ex-Google engineers, combining automation with natural language understanding for inbox management. It runs on AI models from both OpenAI and Anthropic to power inbox organization, composition, and workflow automation from a single interface. The platform integrates directly with Gmail and Google Workspace, layering in Ghostwriter for voice-matched writing, automatic email bundling, and semantic search with multi-step reasoning.
For automation beyond the inbox, Shortwave's sister product Tasklet connects to 3,000+ apps including Slack, Notion, Asana, and HubSpot, so a workflow started in email can finish in another tool entirely.
Pricing
Business is $30 per seat per month and runs Standard AI (Claude Sonnet 4.6) with 5 years of AI search history, 50 threads per AI search and 3 AI filters. Premier is $45 per seat per month and runs Advanced AI (Claude Sonnet 4.6 with adaptive thinking) with unlimited AI search history, 100 threads per search, 10 AI filters and 2x the AI usage of Business. Max is $120 per seat per month and runs Expert AI (Claude Opus 4.6 with adaptive thinking) with 3x context tokens, 150 threads per search, 50 AI filters and 6x the AI usage of Business.
The pricing page shows no annual rate. New accounts get a 14-day free trial, and the vendor FAQ lists a Free plan with core AI and productivity features whose limits are not published. Unlimited standard email search covers Gmail and Google Workspace accounts.
| Tier | Monthly price | What it includes |
|---|---|---|
| Free | Free | Free plan listed in the vendor FAQ: core AI and productivity features, no ads; limits not published on the pricing page |
| Business | $30/mo | Per seat, $30/mo; 5 years AI search history, 50 threads per AI search, 3 AI-powered filters |
| Premier | $45/mo | Per seat, $45/mo; unlimited AI search history, 100 threads per AI search, 10 AI-powered filters, 2x the AI usage of Business |
| Max | $120/mo | Per seat, $120/mo; 3x context tokens, 150 threads per AI search, 50 AI-powered filters, 6x the AI usage of Business |
Feature Comparison by Tier
| Feature | Free | Premier | Max | Business |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Price per seat per month | $0 | $45 | $120 | $30 |
| AI model tier | — | Advanced | Expert | Standard |
| AI search history | — | Unlimited | Unlimited | 5 years |
| Threads per AI search | — | 100 | 150 | 50 |
| AI-powered filters | — | 10 | 50 | 3 |
| AI usage vs Business | — | 2x | 6x | 1x |
Key Features
- Ghostwriter AI Writing Assistant: Industry-unique AI writing that learns your personal communication style from your sent emails, generating responses that sound authentically like you, not generic AI text
- AI-Powered Search & Summarization: RAG-powered semantic search that understands intent and context, with instant AI summaries at the top of every thread using multi-step reasoning for complex queries
- Intelligent Email Bundling: Automatically groups related emails into smart bundles (newsletters, promotions, updates, etc.) and learns your patterns over time without manual setup
- Team Collaboration & Shared Threads: Real-time shared email threads with live updates, private comments between team members, task assignment, and shared AI-searchable archives
- Tasklet AI Automation Agent: Launched January 2026: an AI agent layer that acts on emails automatically, drafting a reply the moment one arrives, adding a team comment, or organizing a thread into a to-do, with triggers connecting out to 3,000+ other apps
- Tiered Claude AI Engine: Basic runs Claude Haiku 4.5, Business/Standard runs Claude Sonnet 4.6, Premier/Advanced adds adaptive thinking to Sonnet 4.6, and Max/Expert runs Claude Opus 4.6 with adaptive thinking for multi-step planning across calendar lookups and email search
- Smart Email Filters & Scheduling: Write filters in plain English to automate labeling, archiving, and organization; schedule emails for delivery at optimal times and snooze with AI-suggested timing
Pros
- Superior AI assistant that feels like a true partner with multi-step reasoning and context awareness
- Recipients often can't tell Ghostwriter wrote the reply, a rare bar for AI email tools to clear
- Intelligent inbox organization with AI bundles and splits reduce email triage time by 45%
- Business plan costs less than most full-featured AI email competitors at this capability level
- Fast, intuitive interface with excellent keyboard support that feels more like modern chat than traditional email
- Strong team collaboration features with shared threads, real-time updates, and task tracking
Cons
- Gmail and Google Workspace only: no Outlook, Yahoo, iCloud, or other email providers supported
- Free plan limits are not published on the pricing page, and the paid tiers start at $30 per seat per month
- Unlimited AI search history and the higher AI-filter counts are locked behind the Premier and Max tiers; the entry Business plan caps out at 5 years of history and 3 filters
- Requires adopting the 'Shortwave Method': works best with intentional workflow changes rather than plug-and-play
- AI features require reading entire email content (privacy concern for some regulated industries)
- Limited native CRM integrations compared to competitors like Superhuman
Product Information
- Cloud
- Yes
- Self-Hosted
- No
- On-Premise
- No
- Training
- Documentation, Migration guides, Changelog
Data Handling
- Compliance
- CASA Tier 2 · SOC 2 Type II (via commercial contact) · GDPR aligned
Frequently Asked Questions
What are Shortwave's pricing plans in 2026?
Shortwave sells three per-seat paid plans, Business, Premier and Max, with prices listed per seat per month on its pricing page. Business includes 5 years of AI search history and 3 AI filters, Premier adds unlimited history and 10 filters, and Max moves to the top Expert model with 3x context tokens and 50 filters. A free trial is available on sign-up, and a Free plan is mentioned in the vendor FAQ.
Can you use Shortwave without paying?
Yes. Shortwave lists a Free plan that gives access to its core AI and productivity features with no ads, and new accounts can also start a 14-day free trial of the paid plans. The pricing page does not publish the Free plan's limits, so check the app before relying on it for heavy use.
Which tools compete with Shortwave in 2026?
SaneBox handles inbox triage and folder sorting without making you switch email clients. Superhuman Suite is the choice when CRM integrations and a broader productivity bundle matter more than Shortwave's Gmail-first AI writing.
Is Shortwave better than Superhuman Suite?
Shortwave costs less at every paid tier and puts more weight on Ghostwriter's voice-matched AI replies, while Superhuman Suite adds CRM and sales tooling on its higher-priced Business plan. Both offer a free entry point, Superhuman Suite bundling Grammarly and Coda features, while Shortwave's Free plan covers core AI and productivity features. The choice comes down to whether price and writing quality outrank CRM bundling.
What does it take to start using Shortwave?
Sign up at shortwave.com using a Gmail or Google Workspace address, since Shortwave only supports those two providers. Once connected, turn on Ghostwriter so it can begin learning your writing voice from the emails you send. Teams can convert any existing thread into a shared thread to start collaborating without leaving the inbox.
Top Alternatives
- Superhuman Suite: Choose Superhuman Suite when a team wants mail, docs and AI agents in one paid workspace and can stay inside its pricing.
- Fyxer: Pick Fyxer if you want an assistant that sorts and drafts inside the mail client you already use, and Shortwave if you are ready to switch clients.
- SaneBox: Pick SaneBox when sorting and snoozing on top of any mailbox is enough; pick Shortwave for AI search and drafting in a Gmail-only client.
Hokai guides that mention Shortwave
- Best Email APIs for AI Agents in 2026: Inbox or Webhook?: Six email APIs for AI agents compared: which give an agent a real inbox, what 10,000 emails each way cost, free-plan catches, retention and safety controls.
- Best AI Email Assistants in 2026: Inbox Zero Without Giving Up Control: Nine AI email assistants, from Fyxer to Poke, ranked by what they read, what they send alone and what they cost, with every price read on 5 November 2026.
- Best AI Assistant for Office Work in 2026: Which AI assistant fits an office in 2026? Compare Microsoft 365 Copilot, Gemini, ChatGPT, Claude Team and email and meeting tools with real seat prices.
- Is Microsoft Copilot Worth It? It Depends Which One You Mean: Microsoft sells four unrelated products called Copilot at four prices. Here's what changed in 2026, who it helps, who it hurts, and the real promo deadline.