Guides

The best Superhuman alternatives in 2026

Updated October 20, 2026

Short answer: If you came to Superhuman to stop dropping replies, Lowtide is our pick: keep Gmail and get one list in your Mac’s menu bar of what you owe people across email, Slack and meetings, each with a draft in your voice, free during early access. If you want another fast email app instead, Shortwave and Spark are the closest and both have free plans; Fyxer works inside Gmail or Outlook.

We compared what each one is, where it runs, what it costs and who it suits, from each product’s own site on October 20, 2026. Lowtide is ours, and we’ve put it first; the rest are in the order we’d try them.

1. Lowtide: best if you came for “never drop a reply”

Most people try Superhuman because something important slipped. Lowtide goes after that directly without asking you to change email apps: it reads your Gmail and Slack and your meeting notes, and keeps one short list in your Mac’s menu bar of the replies you owe, the answers you’re waiting on and what you promised, most pressing first, each with a draft in your voice. Nothing sends until you press Send, and it’s free during early access. It needs macOS 26 and Gmail.

2. Shortwave: best AI email app for Gmail

Shortwave is the closest thing to Superhuman for Gmail users: a fast client with AI search, AI filters that split your inbox, and drafts that learn your voice from your sent mail. It runs everywhere and has a free plan; Pro is $18 a month.

3. Spark: best for many accounts on a budget

Spark handles Gmail, Outlook, iCloud and other accounts in one app on Mac, Windows and phones. The free plan covers the basics; Plus is $10 a month and Pro, which adds Auto-Drafts, is $20 a month, or $99 and $199 a year.

4. Fyxer: best inside Gmail or Outlook

Fyxer doesn’t replace your email app: it labels incoming mail, drafts replies in your tone, tracks follow-ups and records meetings. It works with Outlook as well as Gmail. Inbox sorting and drafts start with Pro at $49 a month, or $37 billed annually.

5. Inbox Zero: best if you want open source

Inbox Zero sorts and labels mail, drafts replies in your voice and tracks what’s awaiting a reply, for Gmail and Outlook, and its code is open. Its email app is free; the AI plans start at $20 a month, or $18 billed annually.

6. Cora: best for clearing noise out of Gmail

Cora keeps only the email you need to answer in your inbox, drafts replies, and sums up the rest in a Brief twice a day. It’s Gmail only, from $20 a month billed annually.

What Superhuman does that most of these don’t

To be fair to it: Superhuman is very fast and keyboard-first, runs on every platform with Gmail or Outlook, and has team features. Its Auto Reminders and Auto Drafts cover follow-ups well on the Business plan. If speed in the inbox is what you’re paying for, it’s hard to beat.

How to choose

• Replies and follow-ups slip, and you’d rather keep Gmail: Lowtide.
• You want a different email app for Gmail: Shortwave.
• You juggle several providers and want to spend less: Spark.
• You’re on Outlook and want AI inside it: Fyxer or Inbox Zero.
• Your inbox is mostly noise: Cora.