Shortwave alternative: what to pick if you're not on Gmail
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Shortwave replaces the Gmail interface with an email client organised around an AI assistant. If you're on the fence, or your email isn't with Google, here's what you need to choose.
What Shortwave does
Shortwave is a full email client, built around Gmail and Google Workspace. Its AI assistant summarises threads, searches your history, drafts replies and can check your calendar to suggest a slot. You can also turn an email into a to-do in one click.
On pricing, its page shows at the time of writing (October 2026) three plans per user per month: Business at $30, Premier at $45 and Max at $120, with a 14-day free trial.
Who is it for? A team already on Google Workspace that wants to switch email clients and hand search and drafting to AI.
Why look for an alternative
You're on Outlook or Microsoft 365. Shortwave's documentation lists Microsoft 365 and Exchange as not supported, and Outlook.com as usable only by forwarding to Gmail. A February 2026 changelog entry mentions Outlook support: check the current status before you commit.
You don't want to switch email clients. Shortwave replaces your interface. If you're attached to Outlook, Apple Mail or your current client, it's a change of habits for the whole team.
The real need is knowing what to do. An assistant that summarises and drafts fast doesn't tell you which action matters most today. Our method to turn emails into tasks starts from that question.
Virtus Lever: your actions ranked, without switching email
Virtus Lever doesn't replace your email client. It connects to Gmail, Outlook or any IMAP address read-only, extracts the actions to take, sorts them in an Eisenhower matrix, and its Domino algorithm names, every day, the one that unblocks the rest.
It can then place it in your calendar, tracks your follow-ups, and your personal assistant answers questions from your emails and documents, with sources.
Your data is hosted in the EU and a data processing agreement (DPA) is available. Our AI email assistant GDPR checklist lists the questions to ask any tool.
How to choose
Pick Shortwave if your team is on Google Workspace, ready to switch email clients, and AI-assisted search and drafting are your priority.
Pick Virtus Lever if you're on Outlook or IMAP, want to keep your current client, or your problem is knowing which action to start with each morning.
The simplest way is to try: Lever lets you start for free. To compare with other tools, read our Superhuman alternative and Fyxer alternative.
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