Shortwave

Shortwave is an emAIl CLIent built around AI assistance, aimed at people and teams who want to spend less time reading and sorting messages. Instead of treating AI as an add-on, it places summaries and suggested ACTions directly insIDE the inbox experience, so you can scan long Threads quickly and act on them without opening every message.

What it does

Shortwave connects to your email account and uses AI to condense conversations into short overviews. The product is best known for smart summaries that let you read the gist of an email or thread in SEConds. Around that core, it also offers assistance with composing replies, searching across mail, and organizing messages with rules and labels.

Key capabilities

• thread summaries: Generate a brief digest of long email chains so you can catch up quickly.
• AI-assisted writing: Draft or refine replies and adjust tone with Prompts inside the composer.
• Search and retrieval: Ask questions about your mailbox and surface relevant messages or details.
• Inbox organization: APPly labels, filters and automated rules to keep incoming mail tidy.
• Team-oriented Workflows: shared inbox features and collaboration options for groups handling customer or internal email.

Who it is for

Shortwave suits Professionals with heavy email volume, founders and small teams juggling shared inboxes, and anyone who wants AI help with reading, searching and replying to mail. It is less relevant for people who only need a bASIc, Lightweight mail client, since the value comes from the AI and workflow features layered on top of Standard email.

How to get started

Sign up on the Shortwave website and connect the email account you want to use. The service is designed to work with common providers, and after connecting you can begin summarizing threads, trying AI drafting and setting up filters. The web app is the primary experience, with desktop and mobile options available, and the exact setup steps may change as the product evolves.

Pricing and access

Shortwave typically offers a free tier alongside paid plans that unlock more advanced AI usage, team features and higher limits. Specific plan names, prices and usage caps may vary and should be confirmed on the official site before subscribing. Access is Generally available directly online; availability outside supported regions and the exact feature set per plan may differ.