FindAlternative
Back to Shortwave

Shortwave vs Spike

Side-by-side comparison of features, pricing, ratings, and alternatives.

Compare
Shortwave
ShortwaveAI email client that writes, organizes and searches your inbox for you.
Visit
Spike
SpikeAn AI-powered email app that turns your inbox into a fast, chat-like conversation.
Visit
Overview
Description

Shortwave is an AI-powered email client built by former Google engineers that layers natural-language automation on top of email. Users can ask it to organize their inbox, draft messages in their own voice, search across past mail, and schedule meetings, all through plain-language prompts rather than manual filters. Beyond individual productivity, Shortwave includes team features such as shared threads, comments and assignments, plus integrations with Slack, Notion, Asana and HubSpot. It is used by teams at companies including Twilio, Spotify and GitHub, and runs on Mac, Windows, iOS and Android in addition to the web.

Spike is an email client that redesigns the inbox as a conversational, chat-style interface while remaining fully compatible with standard email (IMAP/Gmail/Outlook and other providers). It layers in AI features such as smart inbox prioritization, email summaries, and context-aware draft writing, alongside productivity tools like task tracking, calendar integration, snooze, voice messages, and unified search across accounts.

Pricing
Paid (Subscription)
Freemium
Category
AI Productivity
Email Clients
Best for
Individuals and teams who want an AI-native email client instead of add-on plugins
Individual professionals, freelancers, remote teams, and support/sales teams managing high email vol
Specifications
open source
No
No
api available
No
No
support options
Documentation, 14-day free trial
Standard support (free plans), Priority/VIP support (paid plans)
key integrations
Slack, Notion, Asana, HubSpot
Gmail, Outlook, IMAP email providers, calendar integration
deployment
—
Cloud/SaaS
Pros & Cons
Pros
  • Full native apps across Mac, Windows, iOS and Android, not just a browser extension
  • Team features like shared threads and assignments make it usable for shared inboxes
  • AI search can answer questions across mail history rather than only keyword matching
  • Built by an experienced team with backing evident from its enterprise customer list
  • Chat-style interface makes high-volume inboxes feel faster to process than traditional email clients
  • Works with existing email accounts (Gmail, Outlook, IMAP) rather than requiring a new email address
  • Bundles collaboration features (shared inboxes, notes, video calls, voice messages) that would otherwise need separate apps
  • Free plan is usable on its own, not just a time-limited trial
Cons
  • No published free tier, only a 14-day trial before paid billing
  • Per-seat pricing rises quickly at the Premier and Max tiers for AI-heavy usage
  • Migrating a team's whole workflow to a new email client is a bigger switch than adding a plugin
  • Free plan caps AI usage at only 10 queries and limits storage to 1 GB
  • Advanced features like SAML-SSO and video call recording on the Teamspace Business plan are still listed as coming soon
  • Two separate pricing tracks (Email App vs Teamspace) can make it unclear which plan fits an individual vs a team
Community & Metrics
Upvotes
0
0
User rating
Not enough data
Not enough data

More alternatives & similar tools

Alternatives to Shortwave

View all →
Spark Mail
Spark Mail

Smart email client for teams and individuals

Compare
BlueMail
BlueMail

A free cross-platform email client with AI writing tools, unified inbox, and PGP encryption.

Compare
Canary Mail
Canary Mail

AI-powered email client with a unified inbox and built-in encryption

Compare
Fyxer
Fyxer

AI assistant that organizes your inbox, drafts replies in your voice, and takes meeting notes.

Compare

Alternatives to Spike

View all →
Missive
Missive

Collaborative team inbox that turns email into a shared workspace with chat and tasks.

Compare
BlueMail
BlueMail

A free cross-platform email client with AI writing tools, unified inbox, and PGP encryption.

Compare
Shortwave
Shortwave

AI email client that writes, organizes and searches your inbox for you.

Compare
Spark Mail
Spark Mail

Smart email client for teams and individuals

Compare

The Verdict

AI-generated from listing data

Spike offers a free tier with chat‑style email and built‑in collaboration, while Shortwave provides native apps and deeper AI search but only via paid subscriptions.

Key differences

  • •Spike has a usable free plan (limited AI queries, 1 GB storage); Shortwave requires paid subscription after a 14‑day trial.
  • •Spike’s collaboration is built into the email app (shared inboxes, voice/video notes); Shortwave adds team features but focuses on AI search and writing assistance.
  • •Shortwave runs native clients on Mac, Windows, iOS, Android; Spike is cloud/SaaS accessed via web or mobile app only.
  • •Shortwave integrates with Slack, Notion, Asana, HubSpot; Spike integrates mainly with Gmail, Outlook, IMAP and calendar.
  • •Shortwave’s AI can answer questions across email history; Spike’s AI provides thread summaries and reply suggestions only.
DimensionWinner

Pricing & value

Spike includes a free tier; Shortwave only offers a paid subscription after a 14‑day trial.

Spike

Ease of use / learning curve

Spike’s chat‑style UI feels like messaging, requiring minimal re‑training; Shortwave replaces the client entirely.

Spike

Features & depth

Shortwave provides AI‑powered search across history and voice‑style drafting; Spike focuses on chat view and basic AI summaries.

Shortwave

Integrations & ecosystem

Shortwave integrates with Slack, Notion, Asana, HubSpot; Spike only lists Gmail, Outlook, IMAP, calendar.

Shortwave

Collaboration

Spike bundles shared inboxes, group channels, voice/video notes within the app; Shortwave’s team tools are limited to shared threads and comments.

Spike

Scalability

Shortwave’s tiered per‑seat pricing targets growing teams; Spike’s free plan caps AI usage and storage, limiting large‑scale use.

Shortwave

Support & security

Spike offers standard support free and priority/VIP for paid plans; Shortwave only lists documentation and trial support.

Spike

Choose Shortwave if…

Teams that want native desktop/mobile apps, advanced AI search, and deeper third‑party integrations, and can pay.

Choose Spike if…

Individuals or small teams needing a free, chat‑style email client with built‑in collaboration.

Common questions

Is there a free version of either product?

Yes, Spike offers a freemium plan (AI limited to 10 queries, 1 GB storage). Shortwave only provides a 14‑day trial, then requires paid subscription.

Can I use these tools with my existing Gmail/Outlook accounts?

Spike connects to Gmail, Outlook, IMAP and other accounts. Shortwave’s integration list does not mention direct email provider connections.

Which product supports native desktop apps?

Shortwave runs native clients on Mac, Windows, iOS, and Android. Spike is a cloud/SaaS app accessed via web or mobile.