Missive vs Shortwave

Missive8.5Visit Shortwave8.3Visit

Higher score Missive #4 in AI Email Assistants 8.5/10 30-day trial Free trial✓ 0 of 5 features Visit Missive

vs

Shortwave #6 in AI Email Assistants 8.3/10 Free plan · 14-day trial Free planFree trial✓ 0 of 5 features Visit Shortwave

• Missive fits best

  Teams coordinating email and other shared communications

• Shortwave fits best

  AI Gmail workflows with team collaboration

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Side by side

Feature	Missive 8.5/10 Visit ↗	Shortwave 8.3/10 Visit ↗
At a glance
Editor score	8.5	8.3
Ranking	#4 in AI Email Assistants	#6 in AI Email Assistants
Best for	Teams coordinating email and other shared communications	AI Gmail workflows with team collaboration
Pricing model	Paid	Free plan + paid
Starting price	$14/user/mo (best)	$30/seat/mo
Free plan	—	✓ (best)
Free trial	30 days	14 days
Free trial length	30 days · no card needed	14 days · no card needed
Deployment	Cloud, Desktop, Mobile	Cloud, Desktop, Mobile
Platforms	Web, Windows, macOS, iOS, Android	Web, Windows, macOS, iOS, Android
Support	Email, Docs	Email, Tickets, Docs
Compliance	SOC 2, GDPR, SSO/SAML, 2FA	SOC 2, GDPR
Integrations	16 integrations	7 integrations
Built for	Small business, Mid-market, Enterprise	Solo, Small business, Mid-market, Enterprise
Features Missive 0/5 · Shortwave 0/5
Inbox triage	Not checked yet	Not checked yet
AI reply drafting	Not checked yet	Not checked yet
Automatic sending	Not checked yet	Not checked yet
Thread summaries	Not checked yet	Not checked yet
Follow-up actions	Not checked yet	Not checked yet
Specs
Email platforms	Not checked yet	Not checked yet
Our review
Pros	Shared inboxes add assignments, comments, mentions, and collaborative drafting. Rules, automations, scheduled sending, and follow-ups support repeatable workflows. AI tools, calendar features, integrations, and API access extend email work.	Combines AI search, writing, autocomplete, summaries, and attachment analysis Supports inbox organization, scheduling, calendar tools, and multiple accounts Team features include thread sharing, comments, and assignments
Cons	There is no ongoing free plan after the 30-day trial. Integrations, automations, analytics, and API access start with Productive. SAML and SSO, IP restriction, and advanced reporting require Business.	Direct sign-in requires Gmail or Google Workspace accounts Other providers generally require forwarding through Gmail Paid monthly plans start at $30 per seat
Our verdict	Missive brings team and personal inboxes together with email, SMS, and social accounts, giving support, sales, agency, and other business teams a shared place to coordinate communication. Teammates can assign conversations, add internal… Read the review →	Shortwave is an AI-powered email client built for Gmail and Google Workspace accounts, serving individuals and teams that want email organization, AI assistance, and collaboration in one workflow. Its capabilities include AI-powered search… Read the review →

Strengths and trade-offs

• Missive — where it wins

  • Shared inboxes add assignments, comments, mentions, and collaborative drafting.
  • Rules, automations, scheduled sending, and follow-ups support repeatable workflows.
  • AI tools, calendar features, integrations, and API access extend email work.

  Where it doesn't

  • There is no ongoing free plan after the 30-day trial.
  • Integrations, automations, analytics, and API access start with Productive.
  • SAML and SSO, IP restriction, and advanced reporting require Business.

• Shortwave — where it wins

  • Combines AI search, writing, autocomplete, summaries, and attachment analysis
  • Supports inbox organization, scheduling, calendar tools, and multiple accounts
  • Team features include thread sharing, comments, and assignments

  Where it doesn't

  • Direct sign-in requires Gmail or Google Workspace accounts
  • Other providers generally require forwarding through Gmail
  • Paid monthly plans start at $30 per seat

• Missive8.5/10 · 30-day trial

  Missive combines shared inbox workflows with AI tools, starting at $14 per user monthly when billed annually.

  Visit MissiveFull verdict →
• Shortwave8.3/10 · Free plan · 14-day trial

  An AI-focused Gmail client with team workflows and a free plan; paid tiers start at $30 per seat monthly.

  Visit ShortwaveFull verdict →