Shortwave vs Superhuman

Shortwave and Superhuman sit in the same category and share 2 tasks. The verdict below is calculated for each role from the tasks, the role fit and the price.

Short answer

Superhuman wins for 10 of 20 roles in our data. Superhuman starts at $30/mo; Shortwave publishes no fixed price.

Verdict by role

Role	Better choice	Why
Accountant	Shortwave	built for this role; works for free; has a free plan
Lawyer	Superhuman	built for this role
HR manager	Either one	even on tasks, Shortwave is cheaper to start
Finance manager	Either one	even on tasks, Shortwave is cheaper to start
Manager	Superhuman	covers 3 of this role's tasks against 2
Marketer	Superhuman	covers 3 of this role's tasks against 2
Sales manager	Superhuman	covers 3 of this role's tasks against 2
Data analyst	Either one	even on tasks, Shortwave is cheaper to start
Teacher	Superhuman	covers 3 of this role's tasks against 2
Executive assistant	Superhuman	covers 3 of this role's tasks against 2
Logistics manager	Superhuman	covers 3 of this role's tasks against 2
Procurement manager	Either one	even on tasks, Shortwave is cheaper to start
Secretary	Superhuman	covers 3 of this role's tasks against 2
Recruiter	Either one	even on tasks, Shortwave is cheaper to start
HR administrator	Either one	even on tasks, Shortwave is cheaper to start
Tax consultant	Shortwave	built for this role; works for free; has a free plan
Auditor	Shortwave	built for this role; works for free; has a free plan
Economist	Either one	even on tasks, Shortwave is cheaper to start
Project manager	Superhuman	covers 3 of this role's tasks against 2
Social media manager	Superhuman	covers 3 of this role's tasks against 2

Side by side

	Shortwave	Superhuman
Vendor	Shortwave	Superhuman
Category	Other tools	Other tools
Free plan	Yes: A free plan with a shorter AI search history	No
Cheapest paid plan	price on request	Starter, $30/mo
Top plan	price on request	Starter, $30/mo
Tasks covered	2	3

Shortwave: Email client for Gmail with an AI assistant that searches and answers across all your mail.

Superhuman: Fast email client for Gmail and Outlook with AI triage, summaries and drafts.

Tasks both handle

Only Shortwave covers

No unique tasks in this data

Only Superhuman covers

Find a meeting time with several participants

Pitfalls to watch at work

Shortwave

It works only with Gmail and Google Workspace; Outlook mail cannot be connected
The assistant indexes emails on the service's servers: for mailboxes with HR and banking mail, clear this with the company
Check a date or amount from the assistant in the email it cites

Superhuman

The client gets access to the whole mailbox: for work email, clear it with your IT and security teams
A draft "in your style" copies your habits too, including sharp ones: reread it
Triage hides some emails in other sections: review them during the first weeks so you do not miss an invoice

FAQ

Is Shortwave or Superhuman better for work?

In our data Superhuman is the better choice for 10 of 20 roles. The table above shows the reason for each role.

Which is cheaper, Shortwave or Superhuman?

Superhuman starts at $30/mo; Shortwave publishes no fixed price.

Do Shortwave and Superhuman have free plans?

Shortwave: Yes. A free plan with a shorter AI search history. Superhuman: No.

Compare Shortwave with

Compare Superhuman with

Alternatives to Shortwave · Alternatives to Superhuman · Shortwave pricing · Superhuman pricing