Best Superhuman Alternatives in 2026

Why people seek Superhuman alternatives

Superhuman is a powerful email client that connects Gmail and Outlook. However, there are alternatives worth considering that might better fit your needs or budget in 2026.

While Superhuman is well-polished as an email client and oozes good-quality design, there are many reasons people don't get on with it or are looking for alternatives:

Too Expensive: It starts at $25 per month, and for many, that's expensive for an email client that essentially wraps around Gmail and Outlook. When free and cheaper alternatives exist, the cost feels hard to justify unless you're drowning in email.

New Ownership Under Grammarly: Grammarly acquired Superhuman in late 2023. Maybe the fear of a larger company shutting it down, merging it into something else, or changing the pricing has drawn you here. Big acquisitions often change product direction.

Too Design-Focused, Not Enough Features: It's a work of art visually, but maybe you're not looking for design as the main feature. Perhaps you want more extended AI abilities, deeper CRM integrations, or team collaboration features that Superhuman doesn't prioritize.

Looking for Something More Affordable: This is totally understandable. Paying $300/year for email feels excessive to many people, especially when there are capable alternatives at a fraction of the cost.

We've put together alternatives that address these concerns, whether you want similar features for less money, more AI capabilities, better team collaboration, or just something that doesn't cost as much.

What makes Superhuman unique (and expensive)?

Understanding what you're paying for

Before jumping into alternatives, let's understand what Superhuman actually offers and why people pay for it (or don't):

Speed is the Core Value: Superhuman is fast. Like, noticeably faster than Gmail's web interface or most email clients. If you process hundreds of emails daily, those seconds saved per email add up. For power users, this speed is worth paying for.

Keyboard Shortcuts Everywhere: Everything in Superhuman can be done via keyboard. You rarely touch the mouse. For people who live at their keyboard, this workflow is addictive. Going back to clicking feels painfully slow.

The Design Polish: Superhuman looks beautiful and feels premium. The typography, the animations, the attention to detail - everything is considered. For some people, this matters a lot. For others, it's nice but not worth $25/month.

AI Features: Superhuman has AI-powered email writing, summarization, and auto-triage. These are solid but not as advanced as some newer AI-first email clients. The AI feels like it was added to an existing product rather than being core to the design.

Read Receipts and Tracking: You can see when someone opens your email and clicks links. Sales teams love this. Privacy advocates hate it. It's useful but controversial.

The Status Symbol Factor: Let's be honest, using Superhuman signals something. It says you take email seriously and can afford premium tools. For some professionals, this status matters.

Why People Leave:

The price is steep for what you get. $25/month ($300/year) feels high when Gmail is free and other clients are $5-10/month. Limited to Gmail and Outlook, no support for other email providers or custom IMAP. Not great for teams, it's very individual-focused. The Grammarly acquisition made some users nervous about the future.

Understanding this context helps identify what you actually need from a Superhuman alternative.

What to look for in a Superhuman alternative

Matching features to your actual needs

When seeking a Superhuman alternative, what should you prioritize? Here's the breakdown:

Price Point: Decide your budget. Free (Spark Mail has a free tier), $5-10/month (Shortwave, Canary Mail), $15-20/month (Missive), or comparable to Superhuman ($25+). Higher price usually means more features, but not always better.

Email Provider Support: Superhuman only does Gmail and Outlook. If you need Exchange, IMAP, or other providers, look at Spark Mail, Canary Mail, or traditional clients. Check that your specific provider is supported before committing.

AI Capabilities: If you want cutting-edge AI, Shortwave is purpose-built around AI agents. Canary Mail and Superhuman have solid AI, but Shortwave is the most AI-forward. Spark Mail's AI is more basic.

Team Collaboration: Superhuman is individual-focused. For shared inboxes and team email, Missive and Spike are built for collaboration. They handle assigning emails, commenting, and coordinating responses better.

Speed and Keyboard Shortcuts: If Superhuman's speed is what you loved, make sure your alternative has extensive keyboard shortcuts. Shortwave and Canary Mail both prioritize keyboard-first workflows. Spark Mail is more mouse-friendly.

Calendar Integration: Superhuman's calendar features are okay but not amazing. If calendar is critical, Shortwave has better calendar creation via AI. Spike integrates calendar more tightly.

Mobile Experience: Superhuman's mobile apps are good but the desktop is where it shines. If you primarily check email on mobile, Spark Mail might actually be better. Test mobile apps before deciding.

Privacy and Data Handling: Some people don't like read receipts and tracking. If privacy matters, choose tools that don't emphasize tracking features. Check where your email data is stored and processed.

The "perfect" Superhuman alternative depends entirely on which features you actually use daily versus which ones you ignore.

Spark Mail

Best All-Round Affordable Alternative

Spark Mail is developed by Readdle, a well-known productivity suite company behind PDF Expert and other popular apps. Compared to Superhuman, Spark is significantly less expensive and comes with solid features across a wide range of devices including Mac, Windows, iOS, and Android.

Spark has some AI features for sending and handling email replies, though they're not as advanced as Superhuman's. What Spark does well is being a robust, reliable email client that works for individuals and teams without breaking the bank.

You won't get the silky smooth speeds of Superhuman or the meticulously crafted interface, but you will get an app that works well offline, handles email effectively, and is supported by a company that's been building productivity apps for years.

Features:

Handles email from IMAP to Exchange, including Gmail and Outlook. Works on a wide range of devices (Mac, Windows, iOS, Android, web). Smart inbox that helps organize and prioritize emails (premium feature). Used by 17.5 million people worldwide, so the community and support are strong. Free plan available with basic features.

What makes Spark a good Superhuman alternative?

The price is way better: $59.99 per year per user versus Superhuman's $300 per year. It supports more email providers beyond just Gmail and Outlook. The team features are more developed if you need collaboration. Cross-platform support is better, especially for Windows and Android users.

What's different from Superhuman?

The AI features are less sophisticated. Superhuman's AI writing and summarization feel more polished. The interface isn't as beautiful or fast. Superhuman is noticeably snappier. Keyboard shortcuts exist but aren't as comprehensive or central to the experience. No read receipts or email tracking features like Superhuman offers.

Spark is better for people who need solid email management across multiple platforms and providers without spending Superhuman money. It's especially good if you need team collaboration features or use email providers beyond Gmail/Outlook.

The mobile apps are actually excellent, arguably better than Superhuman's. If you do a lot of email on your phone, this matters.

Pricing: Free tier available. Premium is $59.99 per year per user, about 5x cheaper than Superhuman.

Verdict: Choose Spark Mail if you want a reliable, affordable email client with good cross-platform support and don't need Superhuman's premium polish. Skip it if you care primarily about speed and AI features.

Shortwave

Best for AI-First Email Management

Shortwave is an AI-focused email app that's growing fast in popularity. If Superhuman is beautifully designed email with some AI, Shortwave is AI-first email that happens to look good.

Compared to Superhuman, it has similar core features: inbox reorganization, AI for writing emails, search across your inbox, and for teams, collaborative abilities for sharing emails and working together.

Where Shortwave differs significantly is in its AI capabilities. They describe themselves as "AI agentic email," meaning the AI is designed to handle more complex tasks autonomously. The calendar creation via AI chat is particularly clever - you can describe an event in natural language and it creates the calendar entry.

However, there's a catch for desktop users: Shortwave's desktop app is essentially a Chrome browser wrapper of the web experience. It's not a native app like Superhuman. For some people this doesn't matter, for others it's a dealbreaker.

Features:

Handles emails from Gmail and beyond (check which providers are supported). AI organizes your inbox automatically and helps write emails (including voice-to-text writing). Calendar event creation via AI chat in the sidebar. Less expensive than Superhuman. Better calendar creation and management capabilities (in my opinion).

What makes Shortwave a good Superhuman alternative?

The AI is more sophisticated and central to the experience. If you want AI to do heavy lifting, Shortwave delivers. The price is lower: $7/month for individuals with .gmail and .edu accounts (50% of the business rate), or $14-24/month for businesses. Calendar integration is better and more thoughtfully designed.

What's different from Superhuman?

The desktop app is web-based (Chrome), not native like Superhuman. This affects performance and feel. Search capabilities aren't quite as polished as Superhuman's near-instant search. The interface is good but doesn't have Superhuman's level of design refinement. There's a free tier that works for basic needs.

Shortwave is clearly betting their future on AI. As AI capabilities improve, Shortwave will likely get better faster than Superhuman, which feels more focused on speed and design.

The collaborative features are solid if you need to share emails with team members or coordinate responses.

Pricing: Free tier available. $7/month for individual users with Gmail/edu addresses. $14-24/month for business users depending on features.

Verdict: Choose Shortwave if you want the most AI-forward email client and don't mind a web-based desktop app. The price is good and the AI capabilities exceed Superhuman. Skip it if you need native desktop performance or prefer minimal AI intervention.

Missive

Best for Team Email Collaboration

Missive is a shared inbox software used by small and large teams to manage emails collaboratively. If you're using Superhuman for team email or wish it had better team features, Missive is worth serious consideration.

It helps teams assign emails to specific people, coordinate replies (so two people don't respond to the same email), leave internal comments, and generally treat email like a shared resource rather than individual inboxes.

Missive is one of the best shared inbox tools on the market. It works well for customer support teams, sales teams using shared addresses, or any situation where multiple people need access to the same inbox.

Superhuman does have some team features, but they're basic compared to what Missive offers. If you found yourself wishing Superhuman was more team-oriented, Missive addresses that completely.

The tool is also highly customizable with lots of integration options. You can connect Zapier, various AI tools, and custom APIs to build workflows.

Features:

Share and collaborate on emails with full team visibility. Assign emails to specific team members with status tracking. Great for VAs, support teams, and sales teams handling shared inboxes. Extensive integrations for connecting Zapier, AI tools, and other APIs. Internal comments on emails without sending external replies.

What makes Missive a good Superhuman alternative?

The team collaboration features are far superior. If email is a team sport for you, Missive wins. It's cheaper per user than Superhuman: $14/month per user versus $25/month. Better for handling multiple shared inboxes and coordinating team responses. More integrations and customization options.

What's different from Superhuman?

The AI features aren't as polished or comprehensive as Superhuman's. It's definitely more utilitarian and less beautiful design-wise. The focus is on team workflow rather than individual email speed. If you're a solo user, many of Missive's best features won't matter to you.

Missive is purpose-built for teams managing shared email addresses. If that's your use case, it's probably better than Superhuman. If you're an individual managing only your own inbox, it might be overkill.

The interface takes some getting used to, but once your team learns it, the efficiency gains are real.

Pricing: $14 per month per user. Much cheaper than Superhuman for team deployments, especially as you add more users.

Verdict: Choose Missive if you're managing shared inboxes with a team and need robust collaboration features. It's better than Superhuman for this specific use case and costs less. Skip it if you're a solo user focused on personal email efficiency.

Canary Mail

Best for AI on a Budget

Canary Mail wants to be the best email AI assistant on the market. It helps you connect Gmail, Outlook, and other providers in one app with AI layered on top. Compared to Superhuman, it offers better pricing and a strong focus on AI features.

The first thing that stands out is the free plan that allows unified inboxes. Then the next tier is only $3 per month for individuals, which is drastically cheaper than Superhuman while offering comparable features.

Canary Mail, like Superhuman and Missive, lets you collaborate on your inbox in real-time with team members. This app is used by 1 million+ people and has been adding interesting upgrades for users wanting more security (PGP encryption in premium tiers) or team features.

Features:

Focused on AI management of emails with smart categorization and responses. Security-focused with PGP encryption available (premium feature). Works across a range of devices and email account types. AI chatbot assistant for composing emails and managing inbox. Unified inbox for multiple accounts. Free plan available to get started.

What makes Canary Mail a good Superhuman alternative?

The price is dramatically better: $3/month for individuals versus $25/month for Superhuman. Works with more email providers beyond just Gmail and Outlook. Security features (PGP) that Superhuman doesn't offer. Good team collaboration features at higher tiers. The AI features are competitive with Superhuman.

What's different from Superhuman?

The interface isn't as polished or fast. Superhuman feels more premium in design and performance. The AI, while good, isn't quite as refined in execution. The keyboard shortcut system exists but isn't as comprehensive. The overall experience is more functional than aspirational.

Canary Mail is a pragmatic choice. It delivers AI-powered email management at a fraction of Superhuman's cost. You sacrifice some polish and speed, but gain price accessibility and broader provider support.

The security focus with PGP encryption is unique among these alternatives. If you handle sensitive information via email, this matters.

Pricing: Free tier available. $3/month for individuals. $10/month and higher for teams with advanced features.

Verdict: Choose Canary Mail if you want AI email features at an affordable price and value security options. It's a smart budget alternative to Superhuman that doesn't feel cheap. Skip it if you're specifically paying for premium polish and the fastest possible email experience.

Spike

Best for Email + Team Chat in One

Spike is a team-focused email app designed around AI and collaboration. Think of Spike as combining Slack's chat interface with email clients like Superhuman. It's a very different approach to email.

The app is well-known for being a potential replacement for both Slack and email in one tool. If you compare it to Superhuman, Spike is much more focused on teams who want to share emails, chat in real-time, share tasks and documents, and collaborate extensively.

Spike doesn't have the same design polish as Superhuman, but it can replace multiple tools in your stack (email + team chat + documents), which makes the pricing more competitive when you factor in Slack costs.

The conversational email interface is unique. Emails are displayed more like chat messages, which some people love and others find disorienting.

Features:

Real-time chat and channels for team conversations (like Slack). Good for external emails and sharing them with team members. Can provide a custom domain to host your email through Spike. Handles comments, tasks, and documents for collaboration. More cost-effective than paying for Slack + email client separately. Built-in video calling and voice messages.

What makes Spike a good Superhuman alternative?

It can replace multiple tools (email + Slack + docs), potentially saving money overall. The team collaboration features are way more developed than Superhuman's. Cheaper than Superhuman: $4/month per user for basic team features. The conversational email view is interesting if traditional email interfaces frustrate you.

What's different from Superhuman?

The email-as-chat interface is polarizing. If you like traditional email threading, this might frustrate you. It's definitely more focused on teams than individuals. Solo users will find many features irrelevant. The AI is present but not as sophisticated as Superhuman or Shortwave. Performance isn't as snappy as Superhuman's carefully optimized experience.

Spike is best for teams that are tired of juggling Slack, email, and other collaboration tools. If you can consolidate into Spike, the ROI is there. For individuals, it's probably too team-oriented to justify over Superhuman.

The free tier works for up to 3 team members, which is actually pretty generous for small teams or families.

Pricing: Free for up to 3 members. $4/month per user for team features. Business tiers available for larger organizations.

Verdict: Choose Spike if you want to replace both email and Slack with one tool and work with a team. It's a different paradigm but can save money and reduce tool switching. Skip it if you're an individual user or strongly prefer traditional email interfaces.

HEY Email

Best for Rethinking Email Entirely

HEY Email is another interesting option that offers users a free @hey.com email address when getting started. You can forward Gmail items for future reference, and it has a robust calendar application built in.

The entire concept of HEY is to challenge conventional email practices. While Superhuman helps you do traditional email faster, HEY asks: what if we rethought email entirely?

Created by the developers of Basecamp (now 37signals), HEY is opinionated about how email should work. It forces you into specific workflows, which is either liberating or frustrating depending on your perspective.

Features:

Free @hey.com email address (you can't use your existing Gmail with HEY without forwarding). Screening system for new senders (emails from first-time senders require approval). "Imbox" (not inbox) philosophy with Paper Trail and The Feed for different email types. Built-in files area for finding attachments across all emails. Reply Later feature for scheduling when you deal with emails. Set aside feature for temporary email storage.

What makes HEY different from Superhuman?

It's a completely different philosophy. Superhuman makes traditional email better. HEY reimagines email from scratch. The screening system means you control who can email you from the first contact. The price is comparable: $99/year ($8.25/month) versus Superhuman's $300/year. You get a @hey.com address, which is either a pro (fresh start) or con (another address to manage). Privacy-focused with no tracking or surveillance features.

What won't work for everyone?

You can't use your existing email addresses directly (you forward them to HEY). The opinionated workflows mean less customization. If HEY's way doesn't match your workflow, you're out of luck. The interface is unique and takes adjustment. Limited integrations compared to traditional email clients. No calendar beyond basic scheduling features.

HEY is best for people who are frustrated with email as a concept and want to try a radically different approach. It's not a Superhuman competitor in the traditional sense, more of an alternative paradigm.

If you're happy with email as it works but just want it faster (Superhuman) or cheaper (other alternatives), HEY probably isn't for you. But if you're frustrated with email itself, HEY is worth trying.

Pricing: $99/year ($8.25/month) for personal use. Business pricing available.

Verdict: Choose HEY if you're frustrated with email as a concept and want a fresh start with opinionated workflows. It's interesting and genuinely different. Skip it if you just want a better/cheaper version of traditional email or need to use your existing email addresses.

Which Superhuman alternative should you choose?

Matching tools to your specific needs

Alright, let's actually make a decision. Here's the straight breakdown:

If you want the closest Superhuman experience for less money: Try Shortwave. It has similar AI features, keyboard shortcuts, and polish at roughly half the price ($14/month for business, $7/month for personal Gmail/edu). The main sacrifice is the desktop app is web-based rather than native.

If you need team email collaboration: Go with Missive. It's purpose-built for teams managing shared inboxes, costs less per user ($14/month), and has collaboration features Superhuman lacks. Solo users should skip this one.

If you want AI-first email and don't mind beta features: Shortwave again, or wait for emerging AI email clients. The AI space is evolving fast, and new tools are launching regularly.

If you're on a tight budget: Canary Mail at $3/month for individuals gives you AI features and unified inbox for a fraction of Superhuman's cost. Spark Mail's free tier is also genuinely usable.

If you want to replace multiple tools: Spike can replace email + Slack + basic docs at $4/month per user for small teams. The ROI is there if you can consolidate tools.

If you're philosophically frustrated with email: Try HEY at $99/year. It's different enough to be refreshing, cheaper than Superhuman, and forces you into (arguably better) email habits.

If you need Windows/Android support: Spark Mail or Canary Mail. Superhuman is Mac/iOS focused, so if you're cross-platform, you need alternatives that work everywhere.

If price isn't an issue and you just want something reliable: Honestly, Superhuman is still good at what it does. But at $300/year, make sure you're actually using the features that justify the cost.

My personal take: Most people don't need Superhuman. If you're processing 200+ emails daily and speed genuinely matters, maybe it's worth it. But for normal email volume, Shortwave or Spark Mail will serve you well for much less money.

The Grammarly acquisition is a wildcard. It might make Superhuman better (more resources, better AI), or it might change it in ways users don't like. Keep an eye on that.

How to switch from Superhuman

Making the transition smooth

Switching email clients is less scary than it seems, but there are some things to know:

You're Not Actually Migrating Data: Email lives on the server (Gmail, Outlook). Changing clients just changes how you view it. Your emails aren't going anywhere.

Export Your Settings: If you have filters, labels, or custom setups in Superhuman, document them. Some might not transfer directly to your new client.

Run Both Clients in Parallel: For the first week, keep Superhuman around while you learn the new tool. This reduces anxiety about missing something important.

Relearn Keyboard Shortcuts: If you loved Superhuman's keyboard workflow, budget time to learn your new client's shortcuts. Print a cheat sheet and keep it visible for the first few weeks.

Adjust Your Email Habits: Each client encourages different workflows. Don't try to replicate your exact Superhuman workflow in a different tool. Embrace what your new client does well.

Cancel Superhuman Last: Make sure you're happy with the new tool before canceling Superhuman. There's no rush. Run both for a month if needed.

For Team Migrations: If switching from Superhuman to a team tool like Missive or Spike, get buy-in from your team first. Have one person test it thoroughly, then roll it out with training sessions.

Mobile Setup Matters: Don't neglect the mobile apps. Most people check email on phones constantly. Make sure the mobile experience works for you.

Reset Your Expectations: Superhuman is fast and polished. Most alternatives will feel slightly slower or less refined. That's okay. You're saving $200-250 per year. The question is whether the speed difference justifies that cost for your specific usage.

The actual switching process takes about an hour to set up a new email client and a week to feel comfortable with it.

Other Superhuman alternatives worth exploring

Additional options to consider

To be honest, there are so many email client options now. From YC-backed startups to established players:

Mimestream: Mac-only native Gmail client. Feels fast like Superhuman, costs $50/year (way cheaper). No Windows/iOS support though.

Mailbird: Windows email client that's popular and well-designed. Good if you're on Windows and Superhuman doesn't work for you.

eM Client: Full-featured desktop client for Windows and Mac. One-time purchase option available. Good for people who want to own their software.

Front: Team email for customer-facing teams. More expensive than Missive but very powerful for support and sales teams.

Postbox: Desktop client with extensive customization. Good for power users who want control over every aspect of email.

Thunderbird: Free, open-source, works everywhere. Not pretty, but reliable and constantly improving with Mozilla's backing.

The email client space has gotten competitive, which is good for users. There's no reason to overpay for features you don't use or stick with something that doesn't fit your workflow anymore.

Final thoughts on Superhuman alternatives

Making the right choice for 2026

Superhuman is a great email client. The design is beautiful, it's genuinely fast, and the AI features work well. But at $300/year, it's expensive for what's essentially a wrapper around Gmail and Outlook.

The alternatives in 2026 are legitimately good. Shortwave delivers comparable AI and features for half the price. Spark Mail is free or cheap with solid functionality. Missive is better for teams. Canary Mail is absurdly affordable at $3/month.

My honest advice: try 2-3 alternatives for a week each. Most have free tiers or trials. See what actually feels better for your workflow, not what reviews say.

If you're processing 300+ emails daily, Superhuman's speed might justify the cost. But if you're at 50-100 emails, you're probably overpaying for marginal gains.

The Grammarly acquisition is interesting to watch. It could mean better AI integration and more resources, or it could mean the product pivots in directions long-time users don't like. Keep an eye on how that develops.

Ultimately, email is a tool, not an identity. Choose what works for your volume, budget, and workflow. Don't overpay for status or features you never use.

Save the $200-250/year difference and put it toward something that actually moves your work forward.