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Shortwave alternatives: 5 apps ranked by verified data

Facts checked Oct 25, 2026AppBreakup editorialHow we rank

Common reasons people leave Shortwave: gmail and Google Workspace only, and per-seat pricing is high for individuals. We ranked 5 alternatives by how directly each one replaces Shortwave, then by reviews, real visits and how recently each app's facts were checked against its own website. Superhuman Mail currently ranks first.

Quick comparison

#AppPricingOpen sourcePlatformsVerified factsScore
1Superhuman Mail logoSuperhuman MailPaidNoWeb, macOS, Windows +23 of 366.5
2Spark logoSparkFree plan + paidNomacOS, Windows, iOS +13 of 359.6
3Gmail logoGmailFree plan + paidNoWeb, iOS, Android4 of 457.2
4HEY logoHEYPaidNoWeb, macOS, Windows +35 of 555.3
  1. Superhuman Mail logo

    1. Superhuman MailTop pick

    Best for: Executives and heavy email users on Gmail or Outlook who value speed over price

    PaidWeb, macOS, Windows, iOS, Android

    66.5

    score / 100

    Why switch from Shortwave

    Similar premium AI inbox that also supports Outlook accounts.

    Pros

    • Very fast, keyboard-first workflow
    • Split inbox and reminders keep important threads visible
    • Strong AI drafting and inbox search

    Cons

    • Expensive, with no free plan
    • Only works with Gmail and Microsoft accounts
    • Now sold as part of a wider suite
    Visit Superhuman Mail Details and reviews
    How this score is calculated
    Editorial fit ×0.3100
    Reviews ×0.363
    Clicks (90 days) ×0.150
    Freshness ×0.1585
    Votes ×0.150

    0 counted reviews, 0 up and 0 down votes. Full formula

    Is Superhuman Mail a good Shortwave alternative?

    Verified facts

    3 of 3 verified
    Supported accounts
    Gmail and Outlook
    Checked Oct 25, 2026superhuman.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Split Inbox
    Yes
    Checked Oct 25, 2026superhuman.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Business plan (includes Mail)
    $33/member/month billed annually
    Checked Oct 25, 2026superhuman.com(opens source in a new tab)
  2. Spark logo

    2. Spark

    Best for: People and small teams who want one smart inbox across all their devices

    Free plan + paidmacOS, Windows, iOS, Android

    59.6

    score / 100

    Why switch from Shortwave

    AI features and team inboxes with a free plan and any IMAP account.

    Pros

    • Free plan with unlimited accounts and a smart inbox
    • Shared threads, private comments and joint drafting for teams
    • Native apps on Mac, Windows, iOS and Android

    Cons

    • Mail syncs through Readdle's servers
    • Best AI and team features need a per-user subscription
    • No web app
    Visit Spark Details and reviews
    How this score is calculated
    Editorial fit ×0.377
    Reviews ×0.363
    Clicks (90 days) ×0.150
    Freshness ×0.1585
    Votes ×0.150

    0 counted reviews, 0 up and 0 down votes. Full formula

    Is Spark a good Shortwave alternative?

    Verified facts

    3 of 3 verified
    Free plan
    Yes, unlimited email accounts
    Checked Oct 25, 2026sparkmailapp.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Plus price
    $10 per user/month (monthly)
    Checked Oct 25, 2026sparkmailapp.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Pro price
    $20 per user/month (monthly)
    Checked Oct 25, 2026sparkmailapp.com(opens source in a new tab)
  3. Gmail logo

    3. Gmail

    Best for: Anyone who wants a free, dependable inbox that works with Google's other apps

    Free plan + paidWeb, iOS, Android

    57.2

    score / 100

    Why switch from Shortwave

    Gmail itself now includes Gemini summaries and drafting at no extra client cost.

    Pros

    • Free account with fast search and strong spam filtering
    • Deep integration with Calendar, Drive, Meet and Gemini
    • Works with almost every third-party mail client

    Cons

    • Free storage is shared with Drive and Photos and fills up
    • Ads in the free inbox and no end-to-end encryption
    • Label-based model feels odd to people used to folders
    Visit Gmail Details and reviews
    How this score is calculated
    Editorial fit ×0.369
    Reviews ×0.363
    Clicks (90 days) ×0.150
    Freshness ×0.1585
    Votes ×0.150

    0 counted reviews, 0 up and 0 down votes. Full formula

    Is Gmail a good Shortwave alternative?

    Verified facts

    4 of 4 verified
    Free storage
    15 GB shared with Drive and Photos
    Checked Oct 25, 2026support.google.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Workspace free trial
    14 days
    Checked Oct 25, 2026workspace.google.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Workspace Starter storage
    30 GB pooled per user
    Checked Oct 25, 2026workspace.google.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Business version
    Custom domain, no ads, 99.9% uptime guarantee
    Checked Oct 25, 2026google.com(opens source in a new tab)
  4. HEY logo

    4. HEY

    Best for: People who want to opt in to who can email them and enjoy an opinionated workflow

    PaidWeb, macOS, Windows, Linux, iOS, Android

    55.3

    score / 100

    Why switch from Shortwave

    A different way to tame the inbox, using a screener rather than AI.

    Pros

    • Screener stops unwanted first-time senders
    • Blocks spy pixels and separates newsletters and receipts
    • Apps on every platform including Linux

    Cons

    • No IMAP, so you must use HEY's own apps
    • Opinionated design that some people find restrictive
    • No free plan after the trial
    Visit HEY Details and reviews
    How this score is calculated
    Editorial fit ×0.363
    Reviews ×0.363
    Clicks (90 days) ×0.150
    Freshness ×0.1585
    Votes ×0.150

    0 counted reviews, 0 up and 0 down votes. Full formula

    Is HEY a good Shortwave alternative?

    Verified facts

    5 of 5 verified
    HEY for You price
    $99 per year
    Checked Oct 25, 2026hey.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Free trial
    30 days
    Checked Oct 25, 2026hey.com(opens source in a new tab)
    HEY for Domains price
    $12 per user/month
    Checked Oct 25, 2026hey.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Owner
    37signals
    Checked Oct 25, 2026hey.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Screener
    Yes
    Checked Oct 25, 2026hey.com(opens source in a new tab)

The best Shortwave alternative for…

The highest-ranked app in this list for each need.

Superhuman Mail logo

Best Shortwave alternative for most people

Superhuman Mail

Similar premium AI inbox that also supports Outlook accounts.

Spark logo

Best Shortwave alternative for a free plan you can upgrade

Spark

AI features and team inboxes with a free plan and any IMAP account.

Mimestream logo

Best Shortwave alternative for Mac

Mimestream

A cheaper, native Mac client for Gmail without the heavy AI focus.

HEY logo

Best Shortwave alternative for Windows

HEY

A different way to tame the inbox, using a screener rather than AI.

HEY logo

Best Shortwave alternative for Linux

HEY

A different way to tame the inbox, using a screener rather than AI.

Gmail logo

Best Shortwave alternative for iPhone and Android

Gmail

Gmail itself now includes Gemini summaries and drafting at no extra client cost.

Superhuman Mail logo

Best Shortwave alternative for working in the browser

Superhuman Mail

Similar premium AI inbox that also supports Outlook accounts.

Shortwave alternatives: common questions

What is the best alternative to Shortwave?

Superhuman Mail ranks first right now. Similar premium AI inbox that also supports Outlook accounts. Mimestream and Spark follow it in our ranking.

Is there a free alternative to Shortwave?

Yes. Spark (free plan + paid) and Gmail (free plan + paid) have a free option. Check each app's verified facts for current plan limits.

Is there an open-source alternative to Shortwave?

None of the 5 alternatives in this list is open source.

Which Shortwave alternatives work on Linux?

HEY runs on Linux.

Why do people switch from Shortwave?

The complaints we hear most: gmail and Google Workspace only; per-seat pricing is high for individuals; relies heavily on AI processing of your mail.

How is this list ranked?

Every app is scored with the same published formula: how directly it replaces Shortwave, reviews (weighted by verification), visits from AppBreakup, how recently its facts were checked against its own website, and reader votes.