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The best Shortwave alternative
Shortwave vs Clarity Inbox · 2026
Shortwave reimagines how email looks. Clarity makes email stop taking so much of your day.
The Bottom Line
Reclaiming time from email shouldn't require rebuilding your entire workflow around a new app. But that's the trade-off Shortwave asks for. It's an impressive email client — AI-powered search, smart filters in plain English, team collaboration. The catch is you have to leave Gmail, learn a new interface, and migrate. Gmail only. No Outlook.
Clarity doesn't ask you to change anything. It works inside Gmail or Outlook exactly as they are today. From day one it reads every email, labels by urgency and intent, queues draft replies in your voice, tracks every sent email automatically, and sends a morning brief. The work gets handled. You didn't move anything.
The question is what you're optimizing for. A better email experience — faster, prettier, smarter search — points to Shortwave. Getting your attention back from email entirely points to Clarity.
Clarity InboxShortwave reimagines how email looks. Clarity makes email stop taking so much of your day.
Try Clarity free“Automate your email with AI”
Platform Overview
Clarity InboxBest for: Gmail and Outlook users who want AI automation without switching apps
Best for: Gmail power users and teams wanting a premium AI email client
Shortwave vs Clarity Inbox: At a Glance
| Clarity Inbox | ||
|---|---|---|
| Type of product | AI chief of staff for your inbox (Gmail + Outlook) | New AI email client — replaces your inbox UI |
| Setup effort | Low — connects to Gmail/Outlook in minutes | Medium — migrate to Shortwave's interface |
| Learning curve | Low — works automatically in the background | Medium — new interface and features to learn |
| Who it's best for | Users wanting AI automation in their current inbox | Teams wanting a new AI-first email client |
| Core strength | Automatic — labels, drafts, follow-up tracking | AI search, smart filtering, team collaboration |
| AI reply drafting | Yes — automatic drafts in your voice | Yes — learns your style when you write |
| Automatic follow-up tracking | Yes — all sent emails tracked | No |
| Outlook support | Yes | No — Gmail only |
| Team collaboration | No | Yes — shared threads and commenting |
| Free plan | Yes | Yes |
Core Features
A feature-by-feature breakdown of what each product actually does.
Does it work inside your existing inbox or require a migration?
Clarity InboxStays inside Gmail or Outlook. No migration.
Clarity connects to your existing Gmail or Outlook via OAuth. Your email stays where it is. Nothing to migrate, no new interface to learn. Up and running in minutes.
- Works inside Gmail or Outlook
- No migration or interface change
- Setup in under 2 minutes
New email client, migration required
Shortwave is a separate email client. You switch from Gmail to Shortwave's interface, learn a new UI, and go through a migration. Gmail only, no Outlook support.
- Replaces your Gmail interface
- New UI to learn
- Gmail only — no Outlook
What does the AI do automatically vs. when prompted?
Clarity InboxFully automatic. No prompting needed.
Clarity reads and acts on every email without any input. Labels are applied, drafts are queued, and follow-ups are tracked automatically. You never need to ask.
- Labels every email automatically
- Drafts queued without prompting
- Follow-ups tracked on all sent emails
AI assists when you write or ask
Shortwave's AI helps you write and search when you engage with it. Smart filters can be configured in plain English. Less fully automatic than Clarity's approach.
- AI helps when you write or search
- Smart filters require setup
- Less automatic — more on-demand
What does collaboration look like?
Clarity InboxBuilt for individual inbox management
Clarity is designed for your personal inbox. It learns your writing style and priorities individually. No shared inbox or team assignment features.
- Personal inbox focus
- Individual writing style learning
- No team setup required
Team inbox and collaboration features
Shortwave has thread assignment, private commenting, and shared inbox features for teams. If email collaboration across a team is important, Shortwave has that built in.
- Shared threads and commenting
- Email assignment to team members
- Team-focused product design
Clarity Inbox
Try Clarity Inbox for free
Connects to your existing Gmail in 2 minutes. No migration, no rules to set up.
Get started for freeNo credit card required
Pricing & Plans
Clarity InboxFree plan available
paid from $25/month
- AI reply drafts in your voice
- Automatic email labeling
- Follow-up tracking
- Morning inbox summary
Free plan available · paid from $9/month
See Shortwave's website for full details
- You want a premium new email client and are willing to migrate
- Team collaboration — shared threads, commenting — is important
- You want powerful AI-driven search across your entire inbox
See Shortwave's website for current pricing.
So, which one should you choose?
Choose Clarity Inbox if…- You don't want to switch away from your current Gmail or Outlook
- You want AI to work fully automatically without prompting
- You need automatic follow-up tracking on all sent emails
- You use Outlook or need both Gmail and Outlook covered
- You want a premium new email client and are willing to migrate
- Team collaboration — shared threads, commenting — is important
- You want powerful AI-driven search across your entire inbox
Frequently Asked Questions
What's the main difference between Shortwave and Clarity Inbox?
Shortwave is a new email client you migrate to. You get AI-powered search, smart filters, and team collaboration features. Clarity works inside your existing Gmail or Outlook and automates the work: labeling, drafting, and follow-up tracking, without changing your interface.
Does Shortwave work with Outlook?
No. Shortwave is Gmail-only. Clarity Inbox supports both Gmail and Outlook.
Does Clarity automatically draft emails or do I need to ask it?
Clarity works automatically. It queues draft replies for emails that need a response without any prompting. Shortwave's AI assists when you're actively writing.
Does Shortwave track follow-ups?
Shortwave doesn't automatically track sent emails for replies. Clarity automatically tracks every email you send and surfaces unanswered threads before they fall through the cracks.
Curious to Learn More?
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What people actually say
5/5 from 3 reviews on G2“I hate to admit it, I used to drop the ball and miss follow-ups with investors and clients. Clarity now catches those for me. It's like I got an EA that knows my priorities.”
“When I look at my email, I know what I need to do at a glance. I didn't have to set anything up — all I did was log in and Clarity Inbox came with a triage system in place. Now I don't have to filter anything, it makes it easier.”
“Just getting back to people quickly. I'm inbox zero — I can't stand having anything in my inbox. To Respond, a new draft has been created, and I can just copy and paste it.”
What it costs you
Roughly 9.1 hours a week
Estimate2.8 hrs of that we could cover
The rest stays yours — it is not repeatable.
106 hrs
a year, if the low end of the range holds
137
threads went quiet and nothing told you
Last 90 days · your own mail · illustrative figures
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