Lowtide vs Gmail’s built-in AI and nudges: do you need more than Gmail?
Updated
Short answer: Gmail’s nudges are a good free start, but they only suggest, only cover one Gmail inbox, and don’t write anything. Lowtide is the better choice once you also owe people on Slack or in meetings, have more than one account, or want each reply and follow-up drafted for you. If all your work happens in one Gmail inbox you check constantly, nudges may be enough.
At a glance
| Lowtide | Gmail | |
|---|---|---|
| What it is | A Mac menu bar app that keeps one list of what you owe people across your tools | Gmail’s own reminders and AI (Gemini) |
| Works with | Gmail and Google Calendar (several accounts), Slack, Granola, GitHub, Linear, Claude Code and Codex | Gmail |
| Runs on | Mac (macOS 26 or later) | Web, iPhone and Android |
| Price | Free during early access | Nudges and suggested replies are free; more Gemini features come with Google AI and Workspace plans |
| Emails that need a reply | Yes: emails and Slack messages that need you, ranked, each with the reason it’s there | Partly: nudges suggest emails to reply to; AI Inbox suggests to-dos on paid Workspace plans (US English, rolling out in October 2026) |
| Emails nobody answered | Yes: questions you asked by email or Slack that nobody answered come back with a nudge drafted | Yes: nudges suggest sent emails to follow up on, without a draft |
| Promises from meetings | Yes: what you promised, read from Granola notes or the recap Zoom, Google Meet, Fathom, Fireflies or Otter emails you | Not in Gmail; Gemini in Google Meet can take notes with next steps on Workspace |
| Slack | Yes: messages that need your reply, and questions you asked that nobody answered | No |
| Drafts in your voice | Yes: learns from your sent mail and from the changes you make | Suggested replies that match how you write, and Help me write |
| Sends on its own | Never on its own; every send has an 8-second Undo | No |
Does Gmail remind you to reply or follow up?
Yes. In Gmail on the web, go to Settings → See all settings → General → Nudges, and turn on “Suggest emails to reply to” and “Suggest emails to follow up on”. Gmail then moves older emails back to the top of your inbox with a note like “Received 3 days ago. Reply?” or “Sent 4 days ago. Follow up?”.
Nudges are free and worth turning on. Their limits: they’re suggestions inside the inbox, so on a busy day they scroll away with everything else; they don’t write the follow-up; and they only know about that one Gmail account.
What does Gemini in Gmail add?
Gemini drafts and rewrites emails (Help me write) and offers suggested replies that match how you write. On paid Google Workspace plans, Gmail’s AI Inbox, rolling out in US English from October 2026, also suggests to-dos from your mail.
What does Lowtide add to Gmail?
- One list outside the inbox, in the menu bar, that only holds what needs you, ordered by who’s waiting and by when they need it.
- Slack in the same list: messages that need your reply, and questions you asked that nobody answered.
- Promises from meetings, read from Granola or the recap emails your meeting tools send, as cards with due dates and a draft.
- A draft for every reply and follow-up, in your voice, learned from your sent mail and your edits.
- Several Gmail accounts side by side, in one list.
How much does it cost?
Gmail’s nudges and suggested replies are free. More Gemini features come with Google AI plans (AI Plus is $9.99 a month, AI Pro $19.99) and Google Workspace plans. Lowtide is free while it’s in early access.
Choose Lowtide if
- You also owe people on Slack or in meetings.
- You have more than one Gmail account.
- You want the follow-up written, not just suggested.
- Suggestions in the inbox scroll away before you act on them.
Choose Gmail if
- Your work happens in one Gmail inbox and you check it often.
- You want reminders on your phone, where Gmail already is.
- A suggestion to follow up is enough; you don’t need a draft.
Questions people ask
How do I turn on Gmail’s follow-up reminders?
In Gmail on the web: Settings → See all settings → General → Nudges. Tick “Suggest emails to reply to” and “Suggest emails to follow up on”, then Save Changes.
Does Lowtide replace Gmail?
No. You keep reading and writing in Gmail; Lowtide reads it to tell you what needs you, and sends replies through your Gmail account when you press Send.
Do I need a paid Google plan for Lowtide?
No. Lowtide works with free Gmail accounts and Google Workspace accounts alike.
Sources
What this page says about Gmail comes from its own site, checked on October 20, 2026. Products change; if something here is out of date, tell us through the form on our home page and we’ll fix it.