Shortwave vs Superhuman: $30 vs $30/user/mo (2026)
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Shortwave vs Superhuman

AI Productivity pricing comparison · 2026

Shortwave has a free plan, then $30–$120/user/mo, while Superhuman costs $30–$40/user/mo. Superhuman is typically 22% more affordable, though your actual cost depends on tier and team size.

See Shortwave pricing → See Superhuman pricing →
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See pricing on each vendor's site
Above-the-fold path — each link opens the vendor's pricing page in a new tab.
Visit Shortwave pricing
Free plan limits → Discount programs →
Visit Superhuman pricing
Discount programs →
Compare
2 products · AI Productivity
Side-by-side · live
Shortwave
Shortwave is an AI-powered email client built by former Firebase and Google engineers that
verified 4d ago
$325 $11K
View pricing →
Superhuman
Superhuman is an AI productivity tool that helps users work more efficiently.
verified 4mo ago
$325 $11K
View pricing →
Recorded annual contract medians
Shortwave median is $11K less than Superhuman · different customer contracts; not a quote
Cheapest $325
Spread 97%
Estimated license cost
at 25 seats
List price × seats. Click a tier below to lock it.
Premier
$14K/yr
year 1 license · $45/seat
Business
$12K/yr
year 1 license · $40/seat
What buyers actually pay
median, annual
Vendr deal-flow data. The real benchmark, not list price.
↓ Lowest median
Median annual
$325/yr
Vendr · n=10
Median annual
$11K/yr
Vendr · n=40 avg 17% negotiated
REF · 01

Sources & confidence

Every dollar amount and contract clause below traces back to a sourced fact. We don't manufacture composite scores.

Where this data comes from
Vendr · TrustRadius · Reddit · BBB · official docs
Sources 3 sourced facts
2 contract · Vendr median
Last verified 4d ago
Confidence High confidence
Sources 15 sourced facts
9 hidden-cost · 3 contract · Vendr median · 2 review platforms
Last verified 3mo ago
Confidence High confidence
REF · 02

Plans at a glance

Every tier per product. Lock one to drive the cost row above and reveal a tier-specific outbound CTA.

Tier ladder
Click a tier to lock the cost row to it. Locking surfaces a tier-specific Visit CTA.
REF · 03

Hidden costs

Each cost is severity-ranked, with the dollar range quoted from its source (Vendr, Reddit, TrustRadius, BBB, official docs) — never our estimate.

Beyond the sticker
Severity-ranked, sourced
No hidden costs documented
3 documented
  • Difficult Cancellation and Continued Billing After Cancellation Attempt
    $30-$40
    3 sources
  • Superhuman Advertising Inserted Into Outgoing Email Signatures Without Consent
    $0
    3 sources
  • AI Features Cause Performance Degradation and Cannot Be Fully Disabled
    5-15% of license costs
    3 sources
REF · 04

Contract terms

The fine print, surfaced. Green = buyer-friendly. Each clause backed by a quoted source.

Shortwave
Superhuman
Auto-renewal
—
Yes
Cancellation
at any time through specific platform settings
—
Commitment
✓ monthly commitment for new subscriptions
—
Price escalation
—
No published schedule mentioned in sources
Can downgrade
—
—
Based on 5 verified sources (Vendr · TrustRadius · BBB)
REF · 05

What users say

Aggregated, with sample sizes. We use whichever review platform has data.

User reviews
TrustRadius · Trustpilot · G2
No public ratings yet
Best for
Business professionals and teams needing everyday AI productivity for email management with full search history
TrustRadius
8.9out of 5 (5)
Trustpilot
1.1out of 5 (9)
Best for
Individuals and teams that want to save time and get more done with email
Watch out
Cannot cancel subscription without contacting support
Decide
Get a quote from each vendor
Each link opens the vendor's pricing page in a new tab.
Visit Shortwave pricing
Free plan limits → Discount programs →
Visit Superhuman pricing
Discount programs →
License cost is computed from publicly listed plans (real math, list price × seats). Median annual cost is from Vendr's deal flow when available — see source badges. Hidden costs and contract terms each cite their own sources. We do not invent composite scores.
AI Productivity

Shortwave

Free plan; paid $30–$120
/user/mo
3 plans
Full pricing breakdown →
VS
AI Productivity

Superhuman

$30–$40
/user/mo
3 plans
Full pricing breakdown →

Comparing Shortwave and Superhuman in the AI Productivity space. Shortwave pricing ranges from free to $100/user/month, while Superhuman costs $10-$33/user/month.

This comparison breaks down the pricing tiers, features, and value propositions to help you choose the right tool for your needs.

Plan-by-Plan Pricing

Plan Shortwave Superhuman
Business $30 /user/month $30 /user/month
Premier $45 /user/month $40 /user/month
Max $120 /user/month Custom

Cost at Scale

Total cost of ownership — licenses, implementation, and hidden costs included.

Shortwave

1 scenario
$0/month
Individual Gmail User
Free plan with basic AI summaries, Smart Bundles, and 90-day search (mandatory 'Sent with Shortwave' signature)

Superhuman

9 scenarios
$10/month
Starter Setup
$30/month
Growing Business
Custom pricing — typically negotiated annually, contact sales for quote
Enterprise (100+ users)
See all 9 scenarios →

Market Intelligence

Shortwave

Median annual cost
$325
Based on
10 deals

Superhuman

Median annual cost
$11,400
Average negotiated discount
17%
Based on
40 deals

Contract Terms

Term Shortwave Superhuman
Auto-renewal — Yes
Cancellation at any time through specific platform settings —
Minimum commitment monthly commitment for new subscriptions —
Price escalation — No published schedule mentioned in sources

Continue researching

Shortwave

Superhuman

Our Verdict

Choose Shortwave if you need Users wanting to try AI-powered email management with basic inbox organization before committing to a paid plan.

Choose Superhuman if you prefer Students and faculty members wanting premium email productivity at an affordable price.

Frequently Asked Questions

01 Which is more affordable: Shortwave or Superhuman?

Shortwave is more affordable with a free tier, while Superhuman starts at $10/user/month.

02 Do Shortwave and Superhuman offer free trials?

Shortwave offers a free tier with Core email productivity features. Superhuman pricing starts at $10/user/month. Check their website for current trial offers.

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