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Superhuman Mail alternatives: 5 apps ranked by verified data

Facts checked Oct 25, 2026AppBreakup editorialHow we rank

Common reasons people leave Superhuman Mail: expensive, with no free plan, and only works with Gmail and Microsoft accounts. We ranked 5 alternatives by how directly each one replaces Superhuman Mail, then by reviews, real visits and how recently each app's facts were checked against its own website. Shortwave currently ranks first.

Quick comparison

#AppPricingOpen sourcePlatformsVerified factsScore
1Shortwave logoShortwavePaidNoWeb, macOS, Windows +23 of 366.5
2Spark logoSparkFree plan + paidNomacOS, Windows, iOS +13 of 362.6
3Mimestream logoMimestreamPaidNomacOS4 of 459.6
4HEY logoHEYPaidNoWeb, macOS, Windows +35 of 557.2
5Canary Mail logoCanary MailFree plan + paidNomacOS, Windows, iOS +15 of 555.3
  1. Shortwave logo

    1. ShortwaveTop pick

    Best for: Gmail users who want an AI assistant deeply built into their inbox

    PaidWeb, macOS, Windows, iOS, Android

    66.5

    score / 100

    Why switch from Superhuman Mail

    An AI-first Gmail client with similar triage tools at a lower price.

    Pros

    • AI search and drafting across your whole mail history
    • Bundles and done-based triage inspired by Inbox by Gmail
    • Shared threads and comments for teams

    Cons

    • Gmail and Google Workspace only
    • Per-seat pricing is high for individuals
    • Relies heavily on AI processing of your mail
    Visit Shortwave 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 Shortwave a good Superhuman Mail alternative?

    Verified facts

    3 of 3 verified
    Free trial
    14 days
    Checked Oct 25, 2026shortwave.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Business plan
    $30 per seat/month
    Checked Oct 25, 2026shortwave.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Premier plan
    $45 per seat/month
    Checked Oct 25, 2026shortwave.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

    62.6

    score / 100

    Why switch from Superhuman Mail

    Free to start, cross-platform, and works with 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 Compare with Superhuman MailDetails and reviews
    How this score is calculated
    Editorial fit ×0.387
    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 Superhuman Mail 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. Mimestream logo

    3. Mimestream

    Best for: Mac users whose email is entirely on Gmail or Google Workspace

    PaidmacOS

    59.6

    score / 100

    Why switch from Superhuman Mail

    A fast native Mac app for Gmail at a fraction of the cost.

    Pros

    • Uses the Gmail API, so labels and filters work properly
    • Fast, native Mac app with good keyboard support
    • Family sharing included in the individual plan

    Cons

    • Gmail and Google Workspace accounts only
    • Mac only, with iOS still in beta
    • Subscription with no free tier
    Visit Mimestream 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 Mimestream a good Superhuman Mail alternative?

    Verified facts

    4 of 4 verified
    Price
    $49.99/year or $4.99/month
    Checked Oct 25, 2026mimestream.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Free trial
    14 days
    Checked Oct 25, 2026mimestream.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Supported accounts
    Gmail only
    Checked Oct 25, 2026mimestream.com(opens source in a new tab)
    iPhone and iPad
    In beta
    Checked Oct 25, 2026mimestream.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

    57.2

    score / 100

    Why switch from Superhuman Mail

    A different take on taming email, with its own address and a screener.

    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 ×0.369
    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 HEY a good Superhuman Mail 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)
  5. Canary Mail logo

    5. Canary Mail

    Best for: Individuals who want PGP and AI features in a cross-platform client at a low price

    Free plan + paidmacOS, Windows, iOS, Android

    55.3

    score / 100

    Why switch from Superhuman Mail

    Cheaper AI-assisted client that supports any IMAP provider.

    Pros

    • Built-in PGP and an encrypted SecureSend option
    • One license covers all platforms
    • Low-cost paid tiers

    Cons

    • Smaller company, so updates can be uneven
    • Most useful features are in paid tiers
    • No web app
    Visit Canary Mail 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 Canary Mail a good Superhuman Mail alternative?

    Verified facts

    5 of 5 verified
    Free plan
    Yes
    Checked Oct 25, 2026canarymail.io(opens source in a new tab)
    Growth plan
    $3/month billed yearly
    Checked Oct 25, 2026canarymail.io(opens source in a new tab)
    Pro+ plan
    $10/month billed yearly
    Checked Oct 25, 2026canarymail.io(opens source in a new tab)
    Free trial
    7 days
    Checked Oct 25, 2026canarymail.io(opens source in a new tab)
    End-to-end encryption
    PGP
    Checked Oct 25, 2026canarymail.io(opens source in a new tab)

The best Superhuman Mail alternative for…

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

Shortwave logo

Best Superhuman Mail alternative for most people

Shortwave

An AI-first Gmail client with similar triage tools at a lower price.

Spark logo

Best Superhuman Mail alternative for a free plan you can upgrade

Spark

Free to start, cross-platform, and works with any IMAP account.

Mimestream logo

Best Superhuman Mail alternative for Mac

Mimestream

A fast native Mac app for Gmail at a fraction of the cost.

HEY logo

Best Superhuman Mail alternative for Windows

HEY

A different take on taming email, with its own address and a screener.

HEY logo

Best Superhuman Mail alternative for Linux

HEY

A different take on taming email, with its own address and a screener.

Canary Mail logo

Best Superhuman Mail alternative for iPhone and Android

Canary Mail

Cheaper AI-assisted client that supports any IMAP provider.

Shortwave logo

Best Superhuman Mail alternative for working in the browser

Shortwave

An AI-first Gmail client with similar triage tools at a lower price.

Superhuman Mail alternatives: common questions

What is the best alternative to Superhuman Mail?

Shortwave ranks first right now. An AI-first Gmail client with similar triage tools at a lower price. Spark and Mimestream follow it in our ranking.

Is there a free alternative to Superhuman Mail?

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

Is there an open-source alternative to Superhuman Mail?

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

Which Superhuman Mail alternatives work on Linux?

HEY runs on Linux.

Why do people switch from Superhuman Mail?

The complaints we hear most: expensive, with no free plan; only works with Gmail and Microsoft accounts; now sold as part of a wider suite.

How is this list ranked?

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