Disclosure: This comparison is written by the NeatMail team. We have a commercial interest in NeatMail. Shortwave figures are drawn from public pricing and product pages, verified July 2026, not hands-on testing.
Shortwave and NeatMail both put an AI assistant on top of your email, and both trace their DNA to the same idea: your inbox should organize and answer itself. But they diverge on two decisions that shape everything else — which email providers they support, and whether you keep your existing client. Shortwave is a Gmail-only app you switch to. NeatMail is an AI layer that lives inside the Gmail or Outlook you already use, from $19/month.
Key Takeaways
- Shortwave supports Gmail and Google Workspace only — no Outlook, Microsoft 365, or IMAP (Shortwave, 2026). NeatMail works with both Gmail and Outlook.
- Shortwave's plans start at $30 per seat per month with a 14-day trial and no free tier; NeatMail runs from $19/month with a 7-day free trial.
- Shortwave replaces the Gmail interface with its own app; NeatMail layers into your existing client with nothing new to learn.
- Shortwave was founded by ex-Google engineers as a successor to Google Inbox and excels at AI search and agents (TechCrunch, 2022).
How NeatMail and Shortwave compare at a glance
| Feature | NeatMail | Shortwave |
|---|---|---|
| Starting price | Pro $19/mo, Max $39/mo | $30/seat/mo (Business) |
| Free trial | 7-day trial + 14-day money-back | 14-day trial, no free tier |
| Works with | Gmail & Outlook | Gmail / Google Workspace only |
| How it works | AI layer inside your client | Replaces the Gmail interface |
| AI drafting | In your tone | "Write in your voice" |
| AI search | Standard search | Semantic AI search (a strength) |
| Follow-up tracking | Ghost tracking built in | Not clearly advertised |
| Source-available | Yes — self-hostable | No — proprietary |
Does Shortwave work with Outlook?
No. Shortwave supports Gmail and Google Workspace accounts only — it has no Outlook, Microsoft 365, or generic IMAP support (Shortwave, 2026). If you live in Outlook, Shortwave isn't an option at all.
This is the clearest dividing line. NeatMail works with both Gmail and Outlook, so Microsoft 365 users get the same AI triage and drafting that Gmail users do. For teams split across both ecosystems, that difference alone often settles the decision.
Verdict: NeatMail wins on platform coverage. Shortwave is Gmail-only.
Is there a free version of Shortwave?
Not anymore. Shortwave's current plans are seat-based and start at $30 per seat per month (Business), rising to $45 (Premier) and $120 (Max), with a 14-day trial and no free tier (Shortwave, 2026). Older consumer tiers around $7–14/month appear to have been discontinued in favor of this business-focused structure.
NeatMail doesn't keep a permanent free tier either, but it starts lower — Pro at $19/month with 100 AI drafts and unlimited labels, and Max at $39/month for unlimited drafts — with a 7-day free trial and a 14-day money-back guarantee. Self-hosting NeatMail is free under the Elastic License 2.0. For an individual or a small team, the entry cost gap is significant.
Verdict: NeatMail wins on price and accessibility, especially for individuals.
Do NeatMail and Shortwave replace your inbox?
Only Shortwave does. Shortwave connects to your Gmail account but gives you a separate app to work in, so you stop using the Gmail interface (Shortwave, 2026). NeatMail runs inside Gmail and Outlook — labels and drafts show up in the client you already know.
Shortwave's app is polished and available across web, iOS, Android, macOS, and Windows, with a modern chat-style UI inspired by its Google Inbox heritage. The trade-off is a migration: you rebuild your workflow in a new interface. NeatMail's approach means zero behavior change — the AI works quietly behind your existing inbox.
Verdict: NeatMail wins for zero-migration adoption. Shortwave wins if you want a purpose-built AI client and don't mind switching.
Which has better AI?
Both are AI-native, and this is Shortwave's strongest ground. Shortwave offers "write in your voice" drafts, thread summaries, an "ask your inbox" assistant, and semantic AI search with up to unlimited history and large context windows on higher tiers (Shortwave, 2026). Its AI-powered filters and agent features are genuinely deep for heavy users.
NeatMail matches the core: real-time auto-labeling, tone-matched drafts, and an assistant you can chat with about your mail. Where it pulls ahead for everyday use is workflow automation — ghost tracking for unanswered emails, scheduled auto-archive rules, storage and attachment cleanup, and Telegram approvals so you can clear drafts without opening your inbox. Both vendors state your data isn't used to train third-party models, and both carry CASA Tier 2 verification.
Verdict: Shortwave wins on AI search depth; NeatMail wins on hands-off automation and multi-provider reach.
Which should you choose?
Choose NeatMail if you:
- Use Outlook, or a mix of Gmail and Outlook
- Want a lower entry price and a risk-free trial
- Prefer to keep your existing inbox instead of switching apps
- Value follow-up tracking and source-available, self-hostable software
Choose Shortwave if you:
- Are all-in on Gmail and want a dedicated AI email client
- Want best-in-class AI search across years of email history
- Like a modern, chat-style interface and native apps on every platform
- Are comfortable with $30+/seat pricing
Our take: If you want AI on top of the inbox you already use — especially on Outlook — NeatMail is the natural fit. If you're a Gmail power user who'd happily adopt a new client for deeper AI search, Shortwave is worth the trial.
Frequently asked questions
Does Shortwave work with Outlook?
No. Shortwave supports Gmail and Google Workspace accounts only — there is no Outlook, Microsoft 365, or generic IMAP support. NeatMail works with both Gmail and Outlook, so Outlook users can get AI triage and drafting that Shortwave cannot offer them at all.
Is there a free version of Shortwave?
Not anymore. Shortwave's current plans start at $30 per seat per month with a 14-day trial and no free tier. NeatMail doesn't keep a permanent free tier either, but it starts lower at $19/month with a 7-day trial and a 14-day money-back guarantee — and self-hosting NeatMail is free under the Elastic License 2.0.
Do NeatMail and Shortwave both replace my inbox?
Only Shortwave does. Shortwave gives you a separate app that connects to your Gmail account, so you stop using the Gmail interface. NeatMail runs inside Gmail and Outlook — labels and drafts appear in the client you already use, with no new interface to learn.
Which has better AI drafting?
Both draft replies in your voice. Shortwave's AI assistant is deeply built into its client with strong AI search and large context windows on higher tiers. NeatMail matches core drafting and adds follow-up (ghost) tracking, auto-archive rules, and Telegram approvals — inside Gmail and Outlook, from $19/month.
The verdict
| Category | Winner |
|---|---|
| Platform coverage | NeatMail (Gmail + Outlook) |
| Pricing & value | NeatMail |
| Ease of adoption | NeatMail |
| AI search depth | Shortwave |
| Native app polish | Shortwave |
| Automation (follow-ups, archive) | NeatMail |
| Transparency & self-hosting | NeatMail |
| Best for most professionals | NeatMail |
Weighing other options? See how NeatMail compares to Superhuman, SaneBox, and Notion Mail, or read our complete guide to email management in 2026.