10 products tested & ranked

We Tested 10 AI Email Productivity Apps — Here's What's Actually Worth It

In-depth reviews of AI-powered inbox tools that triage, prioritize, summarize, and automate your email workflow.

Featuring:Superhuman·SaneBox·Shortwave·Spark Mail·Front+5 more

Helping 12,000+ professionals choose the right tools

Quick Answer

Our Top 3 Picks at a Glance

Best Overall
9.2
Superhuman logo
Superhuman

Starter $30/user/mo, Business $40/user/mo, Enterprise custom. No free plan.

The fastest email client ever made, built for professionals who process 100+ emails daily with keyboard-first design, AI triage, and split inbox.

Best for Small Teams
8.8
SaneBox logo
SaneBox

Snack $7/mo, Lunch $12/mo, Dinner $36/mo. 14-day free trial.

AI-powered email filtering that works invisibly inside your existing email client, automatically sorting important messages from distractions.

Best Value
8.8
Shortwave logo
Shortwave

Free plan available. Personal at $8.50/seat/mo. Pro at $18/seat/mo. Business at $30/seat/mo. Premier at $45/seat/mo.

Shortwave is an AI-native email client for Gmail that reimagines inbox management with intelligent thread summaries, AI-powered replies, smart bundling, calendar integration, and powerful search across your entire email history.

The average professional spends 28% of their workweek on email — over 11 hours managing messages that range from critical decisions to irrelevant notifications. AI email productivity apps promise to cut that time dramatically by automatically sorting your inbox, summarizing long threads, drafting replies, and surfacing only what matters.

The tools in this category take three distinct approaches: standalone AI email clients like Superhuman and Shortwave that replace your inbox entirely, invisible plugins like SaneBox that enhance your existing client, and collaborative platforms like Front and Gmelius that transform email into a team workspace.

We used each tool as our primary email interface for two weeks, processing real inbox volume. Our evaluation measured inbox processing speed, AI triage accuracy, summary quality, cross-platform consistency, and overall time saved versus our baseline workflow.

0Products Tested
0+Hours of Testing
0Expert Reviewers

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Our Top Picks

#1 Top Pick
Superhuman logo
Superhuman

Best Overall

9.2
Excellent
#2 Runner Up
SaneBox logo
SaneBox

Best for Focus

8.8
Very Good
#3 Also Great
Shortwave logo
Shortwave

Best AI Integration

8.8
Very Good
#1 Our Top Pick
Editor's Choice
Starter $30/user/mo, Business $40/user/mo, Enterprise custom. No free plan.

Executives, founders, and power users processing 50-300 emails daily who prioritize speed

9.2/ 10Excellent
Speed9.8
AI Features9.0
Ease of Use8.5
Integration8.5

Head-to-Head Comparison

Feature
Superhuman logoSuperhuman9.2/10
SaneBox logoSaneBox8.8/10
Shortwave logoShortwave8.8/10
Spark Mail logoSpark Mail8.5/10
Front logoFront8.6/10
Hiver logoHiver8.3/10
Missive logoMissive8.3/10
Gmelius logoGmelius8.4/10
Mailbutler logoMailbutler8.0/10
Boomerang for Gmail logoBoomerang for Gmail7.8/10
Starting PriceStarter $30/user/mo, Business $40/user/mo, Enterprise custom. No free plan.Snack $7/mo, Lunch $12/mo, Dinner $36/mo. 14-day free trial.Free plan available. Personal at $8.50/seat/mo. Pro at $18/seat/mo. Business at $30/seat/mo. Premier at $45/seat/mo.Free plan available. Premium $59.99/yr (~$5/mo). Team $6.99/user/mo.Starter $25/seat/mo, Professional $65/seat/mo, Enterprise $105/seat/mo.Free plan available. Growth $25/seat/mo, Pro $59/seat/mo.Free plan for up to 3 users. Starter at $14/user/mo. Productive at $26/user/mo. Business at $45/user/mo.Free plan available. Growth $24/user/mo, Pro $36/user/mo, Enterprise custom.Free plan available. Professional $8.95/mo, Smart $14.95/mo, Business $32.95/mo.Free plan (10 credits/mo). Personal $4.98/mo, Pro $14.98/mo, Premium $49.98/mo.
Free Plan
Starting Price$30/user/mo$7/mo$8.50/seat/mo$4.99/mo$25/seat/mo$25/seat/mo$14/user/mo$24/user/mo$4.95/mo$4.98/mo
AI Triage & Priority9.59.08.58.08.57.57.58.56.56.0
Thread Summaries
Snooze & Follow-ups
Keyboard Shortcuts
Calendar Integration
Mobile App Quality9.06.58.58.57.58.08.07.56.07.5
Try Superhuman FreeTry SaneBox Free for 14 DaysTry Shortwave FreeTry Spark Mail FreeTry Front FreeTry Hiver FreeTry Missive FreeTry Gmelius FreeTry Mailbutler FreeTry Boomerang Free

Detailed Reviews

#2SaneBox logo
8.8/ 10Very Good
Best for FocusProfessionals who want AI email filtering without switching email clients or providers
Speed8.0
AI Features8.5
Ease of Use9.0
Integration9.5

Pros

  • Works with any IMAP email provider without changing your email client
  • AI filtering achieves 98.5% accuracy and improves continuously with training
  • Privacy-first approach reads only email headers, never message content
  • Modular pricing lets you pick only the features you need
  • Daily Digest provides excellent overview with one-click actions

Cons

  • No dedicated mobile app — relies on your existing email client
  • Web dashboard interface feels dated compared to modern alternatives
  • SaneReminders and SaneNoReplies features can be confusing initially
  • Customer support response times could be faster

Pricing: Snack $7/mo, Lunch $12/mo, Dinner $36/mo. 14-day free trial.

AI-powered email filtering that works invisibly inside your existing email client, automatically sorting important messages from distractions.

Verified this week

#3Shortwave logo
8.8/ 10Very Good
Best AI IntegrationGmail-focused professionals and teams who want AI natively integrated into every aspect of their email experience for faster processing and intelligent organization
Speed9.0
AI Features9.2
Ease of Use8.8
Integration8.5

Pros

  • AI is deeply integrated into every aspect of the email experience, not bolted on
  • Exceptional thread summarization that condenses complex conversations instantly
  • Powerful AI search across entire email history answers complex questions
  • Affordable Personal plan at $8.50/mo makes AI email accessible
  • Calendar integration enables scheduling directly from the AI assistant

Cons

  • Gmail only - no support for Outlook, Yahoo, or other email providers
  • No native desktop apps, relies on web and mobile interfaces
  • Limited third-party integrations beyond HubSpot and Salesforce

Pricing: Free plan available. Personal at $8.50/seat/mo. Pro at $18/seat/mo. Business at $30/seat/mo. Premier at $45/seat/mo.

Shortwave is an AI-native email client for Gmail that reimagines inbox management with intelligent thread summaries, AI-powered replies, smart bundling, calendar integration, and powerful search across your entire email history.

Verified this week

#4Spark Mail logo
8.5/ 10Very Good
Best Free OptionIndividuals and teams wanting a modern AI email client with collaboration features at an affordable price
Speed7.5
AI Features8.0
Ease of Use8.5
Integration8.5

Pros

  • Generous free plan with Smart Inbox that surpasses default Gmail and Outlook
  • Excellent cross-platform support on Mac, iOS, Android, and Windows
  • Strong team collaboration with shared inboxes, drafts, and assignments
  • AI Meeting Notes automatically capture decisions and action items
  • Very affordable Premium at approximately five dollars per month

Cons

  • Some users report slowness and reliability issues since the Spark 3 update
  • AI features feel less essential in daily practice than marketing suggests
  • Data may be processed through Readdle servers raising privacy questions

Pricing: Free plan available. Premium $59.99/yr (~$5/mo). Team $6.99/user/mo.

Cross-platform email client by Readdle with Smart Inbox, AI writing assistance, team collaboration, and a generous free plan.

Verified this week

#5Front logo
8.6/ 10Very Good
Customer-facing teams managing shared inboxes across multiple communication channels
Speed8.0
AI Features8.0
Ease of Use7.5
Integration9.5

Pros

  • Best-in-class shared inbox with real-time collision detection prevents duplicate replies
  • Full omnichannel support covering email, SMS, social media, WhatsApp, and live chat
  • Powerful automation engine with up to unlimited rules on Enterprise plan
  • Comprehensive analytics for response times, resolution rates, and team performance
  • Over 100 integrations including Salesforce, HubSpot, Jira, and Slack

Cons

  • Expensive pricing starting at twenty-five dollars per seat with AI add-ons costing extra
  • Steep learning curve compared to simpler email-native tools like Hiver
  • Minimum seat requirements make it impractical for very small teams
  • Requires leaving your familiar email client for a separate application

Pricing: Starter $25/seat/mo, Professional $65/seat/mo, Enterprise $105/seat/mo.

Collaborative shared inbox platform that unifies email, SMS, social media, and chat into one workspace with powerful automation and analytics.

Verified this week

#6Hiver logo
8.3/ 10Very Good
Google Workspace teams wanting shared inbox and help desk capabilities without leaving Gmail
Speed8.5
AI Features7.0
Ease of Use9.5
Integration8.0

Pros

  • Zero learning curve with native Gmail integration that mirrors the familiar interface
  • Excellent collision detection and email assignment for transparent team collaboration
  • SLA tracking and automation rules streamline customer support workflows
  • Free plan available for small teams just getting started
  • Multi-channel support extends to live chat, WhatsApp, and voice via Aircall

Cons

  • Gmail-only support excludes Outlook and other email client users
  • AI features and advanced analytics locked behind expensive higher-tier plans
  • Limited integrations compared to standalone platforms like Front or Zendesk
  • Two-seat minimum on all paid plans

Pricing: Free plan available. Growth $25/seat/mo, Pro $59/seat/mo.

Gmail-native shared inbox and help desk that lets teams manage customer support, email delegation, and SLA tracking without leaving Google Workspace.

Verified this week

#7Missive logo
8.3/ 10Very Good
Teams of 3-50 who need collaborative email management with real-time co-editing, internal chat, and AI-assisted communication workflows
Speed8.0
AI Features7.8
Ease of Use8.2
Integration9.0

Pros

  • Best-in-class team email collaboration with real-time co-editing of drafts
  • Unifies email, chat, SMS, WhatsApp, and social media in a single interface
  • AI features include smart drafting, automated labeling, and pre-send quality checks
  • Generous free plan for up to 3 users with core collaboration features
  • Guest access allows external collaborators without full accounts

Cons

  • Not designed for individual use or personal email management
  • AI features only available on the Productive plan at $26/user/mo and above
  • Lighter analytics and reporting compared to dedicated help desk tools
  • No built-in knowledge base or native voice channel support

Pricing: Free plan for up to 3 users. Starter at $14/user/mo. Productive at $26/user/mo. Business at $45/user/mo.

Missive is a collaborative inbox platform that unifies email, chat, SMS, and social messaging with powerful AI features for team-based communication, assignments, and real-time collaboration on shared conversations.

Verified this week

#8Gmelius logo
8.4/ 10Very Good

Gmelius

Editor's Choice
Gmail teams needing shared inboxes combined with Kanban project management and AI-powered automation
Speed8.0
AI Features8.5
Ease of Use8.0
Integration9.0

Pros

  • Most feature-rich Gmail-native tool with shared inboxes, Kanban boards, and AI agents
  • Four dedicated AI assistants for drafting, sorting, dispatching, and automating workflows
  • Real-time shared draft co-editing — a rare feature among Gmail-native tools
  • Visual Kanban boards convert emails into project cards directly inside Gmail
  • Competitive pricing given the breadth of features included

Cons

  • Feature complexity can be overwhelming for teams with simple shared inbox needs
  • Gmail-only — no support for Outlook or other email providers
  • Some advanced features require navigating multiple interface panels

Pricing: Free plan available. Growth $24/user/mo, Pro $36/user/mo, Enterprise custom.

All-in-one Gmail collaboration platform with shared inboxes, Kanban boards, AI assistants, and workflow automation built natively into Gmail.

Verified this week

#9Mailbutler logo
8.0/ 10Very Good
Professionals who want to add AI and tracking features to Apple Mail, Gmail, or Outlook without switching clients
Speed7.5
AI Features7.5
Ease of Use8.5
Integration8.5

Pros

  • Seamless extension that works natively inside Apple Mail, Gmail, and Outlook
  • Powerful AI Smart Assistant for drafting, summarizing, and task extraction
  • Advanced email tracking with detailed open and link click analytics
  • Built-in task and note system turns emails into actionable items
  • Professional email signature builder with branding options

Cons

  • Limited mobile experience compared to dedicated email apps
  • Apple Mail users report occasional bugs and compatibility issues
  • Email tracking can be inconsistent when recipients use privacy blockers
  • Pricing scales quickly for teams needing the Business plan

Pricing: Free plan available. Professional $8.95/mo, Smart $14.95/mo, Business $32.95/mo.

Email productivity extension for Apple Mail, Gmail, and Outlook with AI-powered drafting, tracking, scheduling, and task management.

Verified this week

#10Boomerang for Gmail logo
7.8/ 10Good
Gmail users who need reliable email scheduling, follow-up reminders, and meeting coordination
Speed7.5
AI Features6.5
Ease of Use8.5
Integration7.5

Pros

  • Pioneer in email scheduling with rock-solid send-later and return-to-inbox features
  • Generous free plan with 10 credits per month and 30-day Pro trial
  • Respondable AI scores draft emails for likelihood of getting a response
  • Magic Live Calendar makes meeting scheduling effortless with real-time availability
  • Inbox Pause feature helps maintain focus during deep work sessions

Cons

  • AI features feel dated compared to newer tools like Superhuman or Shortwave
  • Gmail-only support limits appeal for Outlook and Apple Mail users
  • Premium plan at fifty dollars per month is expensive for the feature set
  • Interface has not been significantly modernized in recent years

Pricing: Free plan (10 credits/mo). Personal $4.98/mo, Pro $14.98/mo, Premium $49.98/mo.

The original email scheduling and follow-up tool for Gmail with intelligent send-later, meeting scheduling, and AI-powered response suggestions.

Verified this week

Our Testing Methodology

Each tool served as our primary email interface for 14 days with real inbox volume. We measured time-to-inbox-zero, AI triage accuracy, thread summary quality, reply draft usefulness, and cross-device consistency. Collaborative features were tested with multi-person team email workflows.

Frequently Asked Questions

An AI email productivity app is a tool that uses artificial intelligence to help you manage, prioritize, and respond to email more efficiently. Unlike email marketing platforms that focus on sending campaigns, productivity apps are designed to tame your personal or team inbox. Core features include intelligent inbox triage that automatically sorts incoming messages by importance and urgency, smart categorization that groups emails into meaningful buckets like action required, FYI, and newsletters, thread summaries that condense long email chains into concise overviews, automated reply suggestions that draft contextually appropriate responses, and calendar integration that detects scheduling requests and suggests available times. These tools aim to reduce the average 2.5 hours per day that professionals spend on email by automating repetitive inbox management tasks and surfacing only the messages that truly need your attention.

Not necessarily — it depends on the tool you choose. Plugin-based tools work with your existing email client and require no switching at all. SaneBox operates entirely server-side via IMAP, meaning it works with any email client including Gmail, Outlook, Apple Mail, and Thunderbird without installing anything. Mailbutler adds AI features to Apple Mail and Gmail through lightweight extensions. Boomerang enhances Gmail and Outlook with AI-powered scheduling and follow-up reminders. On the other hand, full email client replacements like Superhuman and Shortwave require you to switch from your current client to their dedicated application. These standalone clients offer deeper AI integration and faster performance, but come with the trade-off of adapting to a new interface. The best approach depends on your comfort with change: if you prefer your current setup, choose a plugin; if you want a fully reimagined email experience with AI built into every interaction, consider a dedicated AI-first client.

AI email triage uses machine learning to automatically sort your incoming emails into priority levels, ensuring you focus on what matters most. The AI analyzes multiple signals to determine importance: sender reputation and your relationship history (frequent contacts and VIPs are prioritized), content urgency indicators like deadlines, action words, and time-sensitive language, your past behavior patterns including which emails you open immediately versus ignore, and contextual cues like whether you are in CC versus TO, or whether the email is a direct message versus a mass send. Important and actionable messages stay prominently visible in your primary inbox, while newsletters, notifications, marketing emails, and low-priority items are automatically filtered into separate folders or labels. Tools like SaneBox learn continuously from your sorting behavior — when you move an email between folders, the AI updates its model. Superhuman and Shortwave use similar approaches with split inbox views that separate important messages from everything else, typically reducing inbox noise by 50 to 80 percent.

Reputable AI email productivity apps take data security seriously, though the level of protection varies by provider. All major tools use TLS encryption for data in transit and AES-256 encryption for data at rest. Many tools process only email metadata — such as sender, subject line, and timestamps — rather than full email content, which limits exposure. Some tools like SaneBox process emails server-side without storing message content, while others like Superhuman and Shortwave cache emails locally for performance. For enterprise users, look for SOC 2 Type II compliance, which indicates the provider has undergone rigorous third-party security auditing. Superhuman, Front, and Missive all offer SOC 2 compliance along with features like SSO (Single Sign-On), role-based access controls, and data retention policies. Before adopting any tool, review its privacy policy carefully — particularly how it handles AI model training. Some providers use anonymized customer data to improve their models, while others offer strict data isolation. If you handle sensitive data, prioritize tools that offer on-premise processing or zero-knowledge architecture.

Yes, several AI productivity apps are specifically designed for collaborative team email management with shared inboxes. Front is a leading solution that combines shared inboxes with AI-powered features like automatic message routing, suggested replies, and conversation tagging — it supports email, SMS, social media, and live chat in one unified interface. Gmelius transforms Gmail into a collaborative workspace with shared inboxes, Kanban boards for email tracking, and automated assignment rules. Hiver operates as a Gmail extension that adds shared inbox capabilities, collision detection to prevent duplicate replies, and internal notes for team coordination. Missive combines team chat with shared email management, allowing real-time collaboration on email drafts before sending. These tools typically include assignment workflows so managers can route incoming emails to the right team member, collision detection that alerts you when a colleague is already replying to the same email, internal commenting for discussing emails without forwarding, and analytics dashboards tracking response times and team workload distribution.

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Alex Thompson

Written by

Alex ThompsonSenior Technology Analyst

Alex Thompson has spent over 8 years evaluating B2B SaaS platforms, from CRM systems to marketing automation tools. He specializes in hands-on product testing and translating complex features into clear, actionable recommendations for growing businesses.

SaaS ReviewsProduct AnalysisB2B SoftwareTech Strategy
Best AI Email Productivity Apps 2026 | Reviews & Comparison