Quick Overview
- 1#1: Superhuman - An ultra-fast AI-powered email client designed to triple your productivity by streamlining inbox management for professionals.
- 2#2: Shortwave - AI-driven email client that bundles threads, summarizes emails, and automates responses to achieve inbox zero.
- 3#3: SaneBox - AI-based email filtering tool that automatically sorts, snoozes, and cleans your inbox to reduce overload.
- 4#4: Hey - A redesigned email service that screens, feeds, and organizes messages to eliminate inbox clutter.
- 5#5: Spark - Intelligent email app with smart inbox sorting, team collaboration, and automation features across devices.
- 6#6: Front - Shared team inbox platform for collaborative email management, integrations, and customer support workflows.
- 7#7: Missive - Team email app combining shared inboxes, chat, tasks, and automation for efficient collaboration.
- 8#8: Clean Email - Inbox cleanup tool that auto-finds and bulk-deletes unwanted emails, unsubscribes, and organizes messages.
- 9#9: Boomerang - Gmail extension for scheduling emails, setting reminders, and tracking responses to improve follow-ups.
- 10#10: Mailbutler - Productivity add-on for email clients offering reminders, scheduling, templates, and analytics.
We ranked these tools based on key factors like AI functionality, ease of use, core features (automation, organization, collaboration), and value, ensuring each entry excels in meeting the demands of today’s fast-paced professional environment.
Comparison Table
Navigating email management software? This comparison table breaks down tools like Superhuman, Shortwave, SaneBox, Hey, and Spark, highlighting key features, usability, and unique strengths to help you find the fit for your workflow. From speed to organization, each entry offers clear insights to simplify your inbox journey.
| # | Tool | Category | Overall | Features | Ease of Use | Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Superhuman An ultra-fast AI-powered email client designed to triple your productivity by streamlining inbox management for professionals. | specialized | 9.5/10 | 9.8/10 | 9.2/10 | 8.7/10 |
| 2 | Shortwave AI-driven email client that bundles threads, summarizes emails, and automates responses to achieve inbox zero. | general_ai | 9.2/10 | 9.5/10 | 8.8/10 | 9.0/10 |
| 3 | SaneBox AI-based email filtering tool that automatically sorts, snoozes, and cleans your inbox to reduce overload. | general_ai | 8.7/10 | 9.0/10 | 9.2/10 | 8.0/10 |
| 4 | Hey A redesigned email service that screens, feeds, and organizes messages to eliminate inbox clutter. | other | 8.7/10 | 9.2/10 | 9.5/10 | 8.0/10 |
| 5 | Spark Intelligent email app with smart inbox sorting, team collaboration, and automation features across devices. | specialized | 8.7/10 | 9.0/10 | 9.2/10 | 8.1/10 |
| 6 | Front Shared team inbox platform for collaborative email management, integrations, and customer support workflows. | enterprise | 9.1/10 | 9.5/10 | 8.8/10 | 8.4/10 |
| 7 | Missive Team email app combining shared inboxes, chat, tasks, and automation for efficient collaboration. | enterprise | 8.7/10 | 9.2/10 | 8.5/10 | 8.0/10 |
| 8 | Clean Email Inbox cleanup tool that auto-finds and bulk-deletes unwanted emails, unsubscribes, and organizes messages. | specialized | 8.2/10 | 9.0/10 | 8.5/10 | 7.8/10 |
| 9 | Boomerang Gmail extension for scheduling emails, setting reminders, and tracking responses to improve follow-ups. | specialized | 8.2/10 | 8.0/10 | 9.4/10 | 7.7/10 |
| 10 | Mailbutler Productivity add-on for email clients offering reminders, scheduling, templates, and analytics. | specialized | 8.3/10 | 8.5/10 | 9.0/10 | 8.0/10 |
An ultra-fast AI-powered email client designed to triple your productivity by streamlining inbox management for professionals.
AI-driven email client that bundles threads, summarizes emails, and automates responses to achieve inbox zero.
AI-based email filtering tool that automatically sorts, snoozes, and cleans your inbox to reduce overload.
A redesigned email service that screens, feeds, and organizes messages to eliminate inbox clutter.
Intelligent email app with smart inbox sorting, team collaboration, and automation features across devices.
Shared team inbox platform for collaborative email management, integrations, and customer support workflows.
Team email app combining shared inboxes, chat, tasks, and automation for efficient collaboration.
Inbox cleanup tool that auto-finds and bulk-deletes unwanted emails, unsubscribes, and organizes messages.
Gmail extension for scheduling emails, setting reminders, and tracking responses to improve follow-ups.
Productivity add-on for email clients offering reminders, scheduling, templates, and analytics.
Superhuman
specializedAn ultra-fast AI-powered email client designed to triple your productivity by streamlining inbox management for professionals.
Ultra-fast 100ms response time with keyboard-driven navigation that makes email feel instantaneous
Superhuman is a premium email client built for Gmail and Outlook users, emphasizing extreme speed and productivity with features like keyboard shortcuts, AI-powered inbox triage, and automated workflows. It reimagines email management by loading messages in 100ms, offering instant search, snooze, reminders, and split inboxes to help users clear their inbox faster. Designed for high-volume professionals, it turns email overload into efficient command-center control.
Pros
- Blazing-fast performance with 100ms load times and instant search
- Powerful keyboard shortcuts and AI features like auto-summaries and reply suggestions
- Intuitive triage tools including snooze, reminders, and follow-up automation
Cons
- High cost at $30/user/month
- Steep learning curve for full shortcut mastery
- Limited to Gmail/Outlook with fewer integrations than enterprise suites
Best For
Busy executives and power users who process hundreds of emails daily and prioritize speed over cost.
Pricing
$30 per user per month (billed annually) or $36 monthly; 14-day free trial available.
Shortwave
general_aiAI-driven email client that bundles threads, summarizes emails, and automates responses to achieve inbox zero.
AI-powered Bundles that automatically group related emails into topics with smart summaries
Shortwave is an AI-powered email client that transforms Gmail inboxes by automatically bundling related emails into intelligent topics, providing summaries, and prioritizing key messages to combat inbox overload. It features a unique split-view interface for focusing on action items while maintaining full context, along with AI-assisted composing, reminders, and seamless integrations with Google Calendar and Tasks. Designed for modern productivity, it supports multiple Gmail accounts in a unified, fast-loading interface with mobile apps for iOS and Android.
Pros
- AI-driven bundling groups emails by topic for effortless organization
- AI summaries and adaptive replies save significant time
- Lightning-fast interface with split inbox for better focus
Cons
- Primarily optimized for Gmail with limited support for other providers
- Advanced team features require paid Pro plan
- Occasional AI inaccuracies or sync delays in beta-like stages
Best For
Gmail-heavy professionals and teams seeking AI to automate inbox triage and boost productivity.
Pricing
Free for individuals; Pro at $14/user/month (billed annually); Enterprise custom pricing.
SaneBox
general_aiAI-based email filtering tool that automatically sorts, snoozes, and cleans your inbox to reduce overload.
SaneBlackHole: Instantly banish unwanted senders to a void folder where their emails disappear forever with one click.
SaneBox is an AI-powered email management tool that automatically filters and prioritizes incoming emails by moving low-priority messages to folders like SaneLater and SaneNews, keeping the inbox focused on important communications. Users can train the AI by simply dragging emails, and it integrates seamlessly with major providers like Gmail, Outlook, and Apple Mail. Additional features include Snooze to postpone emails, Reminders for follow-ups, and disposable aliases to control spam at signup.
Pros
- Intelligent AI sorting that learns from user behavior
- Quick setup and seamless integration with popular email clients
- Powerful tools like Snooze, Reminders, and SaneBlackHole for spam control
Cons
- Requires paid subscription after 14-day trial, no permanent free tier
- Occasional misclassifications requiring manual training
- Limited advanced reporting or team collaboration in lower tiers
Best For
Busy professionals and executives handling high email volumes who need automated prioritization without complex setup.
Pricing
Starts at $7/month (or $36/year) for core features, up to $36/month for premium plans with aliases and advanced tools; 14-day free trial.
Hey
otherA redesigned email service that screens, feeds, and organizes messages to eliminate inbox clutter.
The Screener, which holds emails from new senders until you explicitly approve them, drastically cutting spam and noise.
Hey.com is a premium email service that reimagines inbox management with a focus on reducing overwhelm through innovative triage tools like The Screener, Focus, The Feed, and Imbox. It filters and prioritizes emails automatically without complex rules, presenting important messages first while archiving the rest. Designed by the Basecamp team, it emphasizes minimalism, sender control, and features like Paper Trail for tracking forwards.
Pros
- Highly intuitive interface that simplifies email triage
- Unique anti-spam tools like The Screener and one-click sender blocking
- Effective at achieving inbox zero without manual effort
Cons
- No free tier or trial beyond initial setup
- Limited integrations with third-party apps and calendars
- Opinionated design may not suit power users needing advanced search or labels
Best For
Busy professionals overwhelmed by email volume who want a fresh, low-maintenance alternative to Gmail or Outlook.
Pricing
$99/year per user for personal plan; $12/month billed annually, with family and super plans at higher tiers.
Spark
specializedIntelligent email app with smart inbox sorting, team collaboration, and automation features across devices.
AI-powered Smart Inbox that automatically prioritizes and categorizes emails to focus on what's important
Spark is a modern email client that consolidates multiple email accounts (Gmail, Outlook, etc.) into a unified, visually appealing interface with smart prioritization. It offers features like AI-powered inbox sorting, snoozing, scheduled sends, templates, and team collaboration tools such as shared inboxes and comments. Designed for productivity, it helps users focus on important emails while reducing clutter across desktop and mobile platforms.
Pros
- Intuitive, card-based interface that's easy to navigate
- Smart Inbox with AI prioritization for key emails
- Strong team features like shared drafts and inboxes
Cons
- Premium features locked behind subscription paywall
- Occasional sync issues with non-Gmail providers
- Limited third-party integrations compared to rivals
Best For
Busy professionals and small teams needing a polished email client with smart sorting and collaboration.
Pricing
Free for basic personal use; Premium $59.99/year per user; Teams from $6.99/user/month (billed annually).
Front
enterpriseShared team inbox platform for collaborative email management, integrations, and customer support workflows.
Collision detection and @mentions in shared inboxes prevent duplicate agent work on the same conversation
Front is a powerful shared inbox platform designed for teams to manage high-volume customer communications across email, live chat, SMS, WhatsApp, and social media channels in one unified interface. It enables collaboration through features like assignments, internal notes, comments, and @mentions to avoid duplicate work. With robust automations, AI-powered tagging, analytics, and 7000+ app integrations, Front streamlines workflows for support, sales, and operations teams handling customer conversations.
Pros
- Unified multi-channel inbox reduces context-switching
- Advanced automations and rules engine for efficiency
- Comprehensive analytics and 7000+ integrations
Cons
- Higher pricing may not suit very small teams
- Steeper learning curve for complex setups
- No perpetual free plan, only trial
Best For
Mid-sized customer support, sales, or ops teams needing collaborative email and multi-channel management at scale.
Pricing
Starts at $19/user/month (Basic), $49 (Plus), $99 (Premium); billed annually with 14-day free trial.
Missive
enterpriseTeam email app combining shared inboxes, chat, tasks, and automation for efficient collaboration.
Real-time team collaboration with chat-like commenting and task assignments directly in email threads
Missive is a collaborative email client that combines shared inboxes, team chat, and task management into a single platform, supporting Gmail, Outlook, and other providers. It allows teams to work on emails in real-time by adding comments, reactions, assignments, and statuses without forwarding or cluttering inboxes. Ideal for streamlining customer support, sales, and internal communications with automation rules and integrations.
Pros
- Exceptional real-time collaboration tools like inline comments and assignments
- Unified inbox for email, chat, SMS, and social channels
- Powerful automation rules and integrations with 50+ apps
Cons
- Higher pricing tiers required for advanced features and unlimited users
- Steeper learning curve for non-team users
- Limited offline functionality compared to traditional email clients
Best For
Teams in customer support, sales, or agencies that need collaborative email management without switching apps.
Pricing
Free plan for solo users; Productive plan at $16/user/month (annual), Advanced at $26/user/month (annual).
Clean Email
specializedInbox cleanup tool that auto-finds and bulk-deletes unwanted emails, unsubscribes, and organizes messages.
Smart Bundles that automatically group similar emails (e.g., newsletters, receipts) for one-click mass actions
Clean Email is a web-based email management platform that connects to major providers like Gmail, Outlook, and Yahoo to scan and organize overflowing inboxes. It intelligently groups similar emails into bundles for bulk actions such as unsubscribing, deleting, or archiving, making it easy to perform massive cleanups. Users can also set up automated rules for ongoing maintenance to prevent future clutter. Overall, it's a powerful tool for reclaiming control over email chaos.
Pros
- Exceptional bulk unsubscribe and delete capabilities
- Supports multiple email accounts in one dashboard
- Customizable automation rules for long-term inbox hygiene
Cons
- Limited functionality in the free version
- No native mobile or desktop app, web-only access
- Pricing can add up for multiple users or heavy reliance
Best For
Overwhelmed professionals or consumers with subscription-heavy inboxes seeking quick deep cleans and automated upkeep.
Pricing
Free limited plan; Premium $14.99/month or $119.88/year (about $10/month annually).
Boomerang
specializedGmail extension for scheduling emails, setting reminders, and tracking responses to improve follow-ups.
Boomerang reminders that automatically return unanswered emails to your inbox for follow-up
Boomerang is a popular Gmail extension designed to supercharge email management by allowing users to schedule emails, set reminders for follow-ups, and automate responses. It integrates seamlessly into the Gmail interface, helping users stay on top of their inbox without switching tools. Key functionalities include send-later scheduling, unread email reminders, and basic tracking like read receipts.
Pros
- Seamless integration with Gmail web interface
- Effective email scheduling and reminder features
- User-friendly with minimal learning curve
Cons
- Limited to Gmail only, no support for other email providers
- Free plan severely restricted (10 emails/month)
- Lacks advanced AI or full inbox overhaul capabilities
Best For
Gmail users focused on scheduling sends and automated follow-ups to improve response rates.
Pricing
Free plan (10 emails/month scheduling); Pro at $14.99/month or $49.99/year (~$4.17/month).
Mailbutler
specializedProductivity add-on for email clients offering reminders, scheduling, templates, and analytics.
AI Email Coach offering real-time writing suggestions and inbox summarization
Mailbutler is an email productivity extension that integrates seamlessly with clients like Apple Mail, Outlook, Gmail, and Fastmail to streamline inbox management. It provides tools for email tracking, automated follow-ups, snoozing, templates, and AI-powered writing assistance and summarization. Designed for professionals overwhelmed by email volume, it enhances efficiency without requiring a full email client switch.
Pros
- Seamless integration across major email clients
- Robust AI tools for writing, summarizing, and coaching
- Effective tracking, reminders, and templates
Cons
- Limited native mobile app support
- Team collaboration features locked behind premium tiers
- Occasional compatibility quirks with non-Mac clients
Best For
Freelancers and small teams needing quick productivity boosts in existing email setups.
Pricing
Pro at €4.95/user/month, Premium at €9.95/user/month, Team from €14.95/user/month; 14-day free trial.
Conclusion
Email management tools offer a range of solutions, from AI-driven speed to team collaboration and clutter reduction. Superhuman leads as the top choice, using ultra-fast AI to streamline workflows and boost productivity. Shortwave and SaneBox stand out as strong alternatives, with Shortwave excelling at automation and inbox zero, and SaneBox impressing with intelligent filtering. Whether prioritizing individual efficiency or team collaboration, these tools provide clear paths to better email management.
Take the first step to take control of your inbox—try Superhuman today and experience the triple boost in productivity it promises. Don’t let email overload hold you back; your most efficient workflow starts now.
Tools Reviewed
All tools were independently evaluated for this comparison