Shortwave: what it does, who it is for and alternatives
Updated · By Robert Breen
An AI-first Gmail client that searches, summarizes and drafts replies from your whole email history. Ask questions about your inbox in plain English.
Official site: shortwave.com
What Shortwave does
Shortwave runs on iOS, Android, Mac and Windows and supports multiple Gmail accounts. You can set filters in plain English to label, star or archive mail, turn emails into to-dos, and let it check your calendar and draft scheduling emails. Teams can share threads, add private comments and assign owners, and it connects to Slack, Notion, Asana and HubSpot.
Who Shortwave is for
- Sales reps
- Customer success managers
- Executive assistants
- Recruiters
Key features
- AI filters written in plain English
- Drafts and autocomplete in your own writing voice
- Scheduling help with an integrated calendar
- Shared threads, comments and owners for teams
- Read status and link click tracking
Privacy and data
Shortwave says it passed Google's CASA Tier 2 review, encrypts data at rest with AES-256 and in transit with TLS 1.2+, and never uses your data to train third-party LLMs. Source: Shortwave’s own page. Before you put client data in, check your company’s AI rules and the plan’s data settings.
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- Guide: Superhuman alternatives
Alternatives to Shortwave
Other AI email tools in the directory.
- Gmail with Gemini Free plan Gemini in Gmail summarizes long threads, drafts replies and finds details in your inbox. Pair it with filters and labels to triage mail automatically.
- no2bounce Free plan Checks email lists for bad and risky addresses before a big send. Protects your sender reputation and bounce rate.
- Signatoro Free plan An email signature platform for people and AI agents: save your signature once, and your team, your automations and every AI agent you connect use the same one. Make and n8n fetch it with one HTTP step, and Zapier has a Get Signature step. The free plan includes the API, with a monthly limit.
- Superhuman Free trial A fast email app with AI that writes replies in your voice, splits your inbox and reminds you to follow up. Built for people who live in email.
- SaneBox Free trial Filters unimportant email out of your inbox so only what matters stays. Works with almost any email provider.
- ZeroBounce Free plan Email validation and deliverability testing so campaigns reach inboxes. Free monthly checks to start.
Frequently asked questions
- What is Shortwave?
- An AI-first Gmail client that searches, summarizes and drafts replies from your whole email history. Ask questions about your inbox in plain English. Shortwave runs on iOS, Android, Mac and Windows and supports multiple Gmail accounts. You can set filters in plain English to label, star or archive mail, turn emails into to-dos, and let it check your calendar and draft scheduling emails. Teams can share threads, add private comments and assign owners, and it connects to Slack, Notion, Asana and HubSpot.
- Who is Shortwave for?
- Shortwave fits sales reps, customer success managers, executive assistants and recruiters, and other office teams with the same job to do.
- Is Shortwave free?
- Shortwave has a free plan; paid plans add more usage or features. Plans change often, so check the official pricing page before you commit.
- What are some alternatives to Shortwave?
- Other AI email tools include Gmail with Gemini, no2bounce, Signatoro, Superhuman and SaneBox.
- Is Shortwave safe for work data?
- Shortwave says it passed Google's CASA Tier 2 review, encrypts data at rest with AES-256 and in transit with TLS 1.2+, and never uses your data to train third-party LLMs. Check your own company’s rules, and use a business plan with training turned off for client data.
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Checked against Shortwave’s official site on October 20, 2026: source 1, source 2. Spotted something out of date? Email rbreen@ynteractive.com. Listings are free; submit your AI tool.
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