What Is Shortwave?
Shortwave is an AI-powered email client that replaces Gmail's interface. It groups emails into bundles, uses AI to summarize threads, lets you search your email with natural language, and offers an AI assistant that can draft replies and answer questions about your inbox. It's made by former Google engineers and it's genuinely impressive.
But Shortwave is still a tool you use. You still open it every day, read summaries, decide what to respond to, review AI drafts, and manage your inbox. It makes the work faster — it doesn't do the work for you.
What Is AssistantAI?
AssistantAI is a done-for-you email management service. We don't replace your email client — we work behind the scenes in your existing Gmail or Outlook. We draft replies in your voice, triage your inbox, track follow-ups, and surface only what needs your direct attention. The goal isn't to make email faster. It's to take email off your plate.
The Core Difference
Shortwave makes you more productive in email. AssistantAI takes email off your to-do list. Both use AI. One is a tool you operate. The other is a service that operates for you.
Shortwave is a better email app. AssistantAI is email handled for you.
Feature Comparison
| Feature | AssistantAI | Shortwave |
|---|---|---|
| AI email drafts | Done for you automatically | On-demand when you ask |
| Email triage | Fully automatic | Smart bundles (you still review) |
| AI search | Not a client | Yes — natural language inbox search |
| Thread summaries | Built into service | Yes — in the client |
| Follow-up tracking | Automatic | Snooze and reminders |
| Your involvement | Approve and send | Read, decide, draft, send |
| Works with existing client | Yes — Gmail/Outlook | Replaces your email client |
| Calendar integration | No | Yes |
| Mobile app | No | Yes |
Who Shortwave Is Good For
People who love email but want it to be smarter. Power users who enjoy optimizing their workflow and want AI assistance while they work through their inbox. If you want to stay hands-on with email but want a better tool, Shortwave is excellent.
Who AssistantAI Is Good For
People who don't want to be in their inbox at all. Professionals who see email as a necessary evil — not something to optimize, but something to delegate. If you'd hire a human assistant to handle email but can't justify the cost, AssistantAI is the answer at a fraction of the price.
Pricing
| Plan | AssistantAI | Shortwave |
|---|---|---|
| Free tier | Free trial | Free (limited AI) |
| Paid plan | $199/mo (founding rate) | $25/mo (Pro) or $49/mo (Business) |
| What you get | Email handled for you | Smarter email client with AI |
Shortwave is cheaper. Of course it is — it's an email client, not a managed service. The question is what your time is worth. If you spend 2 hours a day in email and your time is worth $100+/hr, AssistantAI at $199/mo saves you $4,000+/mo in time. Shortwave might save you 30 minutes. Do the math.
Can You Use Both?
Actually, yes. If you love Shortwave's interface, you can use it as your email client while AssistantAI works behind the scenes handling drafts and triage. They don't conflict. But most of our users find that once AssistantAI is handling their email, they barely need to open their inbox at all — fancy client or not.
The Bottom Line
Shortwave is the best AI email client out there. AssistantAI is the best done-for-you email management service. If you want to make email more pleasant, use Shortwave. If you want to stop doing email, use AssistantAI.
Ready to stop doing email? AssistantAI is $199/mo. We handle your inbox so you don't have to. Start your free trial.