Shortwave
Email management software
- Features
- Ease of use
- Ease of management
- Quality of support
- Affordability
- Market presence
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$24 per seat per month, billed annually
Free TrialFree version
Small
Medium
Large
- Information technology and software
- Media and communications
- Professional services (engineering, legal, consulting, etc.)
What is Shortwave
Shortwave is an email client and inbox management tool that connects to Gmail/Google Workspace accounts to help individuals and teams organize, triage, and respond to email. It focuses on workflow features such as bundling messages, reminders, and collaboration-oriented capabilities like shared conversations and internal notes. The product also includes AI-assisted functions for summarizing threads and drafting replies, aimed at reducing time spent reading and writing email.
Gmail-native connectivity
Shortwave is designed around Gmail/Google Workspace accounts, which simplifies onboarding for organizations already standardized on Google email. It preserves common Gmail concepts (threads, labels) while adding an alternative interface for triage and follow-up. This can reduce the need for separate routing or forwarding rules compared with add-ons that operate only as overlays.
Workflow-focused inbox organization
The product provides structured ways to process email, such as bundling related messages, setting reminders, and managing follow-ups. These features support inbox-zero style workflows without requiring a separate task manager for basic email-driven work. For users comparing email clients and add-ons in this category, the emphasis is on day-to-day triage rather than only scheduling or analytics.
AI assistance for reading/writing
Shortwave includes AI features that can summarize long threads and help draft responses. This is useful for high-volume inboxes where scanning and composing consume significant time. AI functions are integrated into the email workflow rather than being a separate tool, which can reduce context switching.
Gmail-centric platform scope
Shortwave’s core integration is with Gmail/Google Workspace, which can limit fit for organizations standardized on Microsoft email or mixed environments. Teams that require deep Outlook/Exchange support may need a different tool or a parallel workflow. This constraint can be material for IT-managed deployments with heterogeneous mail systems.
Email client change management
Adopting Shortwave typically means changing the primary email interface, not just adding a lightweight extension. Users accustomed to native Gmail or other established clients may face a learning curve and workflow disruption. Some organizations prefer tools that layer on top of existing clients to minimize retraining.
AI and privacy considerations
AI-based summarization and drafting can raise governance questions around data handling, retention, and acceptable use, especially in regulated industries. Buyers often need clarity on what content is processed, where it is processed, and what controls exist for administrators. If AI features are central to the value proposition, limitations or policy restrictions can reduce overall benefit.
Plan & Pricing
| Plan | Price | Key features & notes |
|---|---|---|
| Business | $24 per seat/month (billed annually) | Full standard search history; Standard intelligence; 5 years AI search history; Max 50 threads per AI search; 3 AI-powered filters; AI integrations & web browsing; AI autocomplete, summaries & attachment analysis; read statuses, link tracking, snippets. |
| Premier | $36 per seat/month (billed annually) | Everything in Business plus advanced intelligence; 2x more AI usage; Unlimited AI search history; Max 100 threads per AI search; 10 AI-powered filters; smarter AI answers with 2x context tokens; premium support. |
| Max | $100 per seat/month (billed annually) | Everything in Premier plus expert intelligence; 6x more AI usage; Max 150 threads per AI search; 50 AI-powered filters; 3x context tokens for smarter answers; live 1:1 training. |
| Enterprise | Custom pricing | Contact sales for larger organizations with advanced integration, compliance, security, or support requirements. |
