Shortwave
AI-native email client with an agent that searches, drafts, and organizes
Last reviewed 2026-06-19
Shortwave is an AI-native email client built on top of Gmail by a team of ex-Google engineers who previously built Google Inbox and Firebase. It rebuilds the inbox experience (bundles, snooze, split inbox) and layers a "Shortwave Agent" that searches your mailbox in natural language, drafts and rewrites replies, summarizes threads, auto-labels via AI-powered filters, and assists with scheduling, all from a single prompt. Founded by Andrew Lee and Jonny Dimond and shipping since around 2022, Shortwave has shifted its positioning from "AI email client" to "automate your email with AI," with an agentic framing for business communications. Email drafting is review-gated (the user approves and sends), so the core is a copilot, while filters and the agent run multi-step actions you configure and observe.
What it can do
Search email in natural language
AssistantSearches your mailbox conversationally across years of history.
sourceDraft and rewrite replies
CopilotWrites, enhances, and autocompletes replies; the user reviews and sends.
sourceOrganize the inbox with AI-powered filters
SupervisedAuto-labels and triages incoming mail via filters once configured.
sourceRun multi-step tasks via the Shortwave Agent
SupervisedOrganizes, schedules, writes, and searches from a single prompt; user-initiated and observable.
source
Strengths
- +Fast natural-language email search across years of mail
- +Clean Inbox-style UX from the team that built Google Inbox
- +Genuinely agentic actions, not just chat
Limitations
- −Gmail-centric; non-Gmail support is narrower
- −Pricing is steep and annual-only ($24-$100/seat)
- −Does not disclose which underlying models it uses
Overview
Shortwave is an AI-native email client built on top of Gmail by ex-Google engineers who previously built Google Inbox and Firebase. It rebuilds the inbox and layers an AI agent over it.
What it does
The Shortwave Agent searches your mailbox in natural language, drafts and rewrites replies, summarizes threads, auto-labels via AI-powered filters, and assists with scheduling, all from a single prompt. Drafting is review-gated, while filters and the agent take multi-step actions you configure.
Integrations & setup
Built on Gmail with Google Calendar, available on web, mobile, and desktop. It markets web browsing and AI integrations; it uses "the latest AI models from top research labs" but does not name specific models.
Pricing
Paid, billed annually: Business at $24/seat/mo, Premier at $36/seat/mo, Max at $100/seat/mo, and a custom Enterprise tier, with a 14-day free trial.
Best for / not for
Best for Gmail users and teams who want a faster, AI-driven inbox. Less suited to users outside Gmail or those wanting a free tier.
Traction
Shortwave raised a reported $9M (investors include Union Square Ventures and Lightspeed).
Alternatives
Superhuman and Fyxer are the closest AI email alternatives.
What people are saying
We aggregate real LinkedIn discussion into sentiment for the agents people search most. Shortwave isn't tracked yet, want it added? Request tracking.
FAQ
Does Shortwave send emails on its own?+
No. Drafting is review-gated: the agent writes and enhances replies, but you approve and send them. Its filters and agent run multi-step actions you configure and observe, so it is a copilot in practice.
Who built Shortwave?+
A team of ex-Google engineers, including Andrew Lee (Firebase co-founder) and Jonny Dimond, who previously worked on Google Inbox and Firebase. Shortwave is positioned as a spiritual successor to the discontinued Google Inbox.
Sources
- Shortwave (official site) · accessed 2026-06-19
- Shortwave pricing · accessed 2026-06-19
- Shortwave gets $9M to bring back Google Inbox (TechCrunch) · accessed 2026-06-19
Last reviewed 2026-06-19