We used Oden to analyze Superhuman, Shortwave, Spike, and Front across vendor sites, pricing pages, G2 reviews, Reddit threads, and third‑party write‑ups. If you’re drowning in notifications, juggling multiple inboxes, or trying to pick one tool for your team, the marketing pages alone won’t tell you which platform actually fits. Below, we break down real ratings, costs, features, and user feedback so you can make a practical, data‑driven choice—whether you’re an individual power user or a support team leader.

Which email client platform has the best rating?

Source for all ratings and review counts: G2 product pages as of November 2025. Source: G2 – Superhuman Mail

Takeaways

• Front and Superhuman are essentially tied at the top on G2 (4.7/5), but Front’s rating is based on more than double the number of reviews, mostly from support and customer‑facing teams rather than individual users. Source: G2 – Front
• Spike’s 4.6 rating with around 250 reviews suggests strong satisfaction for a more consumer‑/SMB‑oriented email and chat hybrid. Source: G2 – Spike
• Shortwave’s 4.4 rating is solid, but with under 100 reviews; differences of a few tenths of a point here are not statistically strong compared with Superhuman or Front’s much larger sample sizes. Source: G2 – Shortwave
• If you care about validation at scale (thousands of reviews), Front is the clear outlier; if you’re choosing a personal productivity client, Superhuman and Spike have the richest review histories.

How much do email client platforms really cost?

Cost patterns

• Superhuman is the priciest traditional email client here on a per‑user basis, positioned for high‑earning professionals and teams who can justify $30–40/month for speed and AI features. Source: Superhuman Mail pricing plans, Superhuman Mail product page
• Shortwave undercuts Superhuman on individual pricing (from $7–18/user) while charging similar or higher rates for advanced AI business tiers, especially if you want Premier or Max AI capacity. Source: G2 – Shortwave pricing options, Shortwave pricing page
• Spike is substantially cheaper than both Superhuman and Shortwave at $5–10/user/month annually, with a functional free plan—an attractive option if you need multiple accounts without enterprise‑level automation. Source: Spike pricing page, TechRadar – Spike review
• Front is priced like a help desk / CX platform rather than a simple email client; Starter at $25/seat/month is competitive with other customer‑service tools, but usually overkill for solo users. Source: Front pricing page

Pricing varies by region, billing cycle, occasional promotions, and custom contracts—especially for enterprise deals. Always double-check current prices with each vendor's calculator or sales team.

What are the key features of each platform?

Superhuman

Core positioning: AI‑native, ultra‑fast email for high‑performing individuals and teams using Gmail or Outlook. Source: Superhuman Mail product page

Key Features:

• Split Inbox that automatically surfaces VIPs, teammates, and key tools so you can respond to what matters first. Source: Superhuman Mail product page
• Superhuman AI for instant drafts, auto‑summaries on every conversation, and natural‑language search over your mailbox. Source: Superhuman Mail product page, Superhuman AI marketing page
• Deep keyboard‑shortcut model (Gmail‑style plus custom commands) to reach Inbox Zero quickly; reviewers frequently cite speed and shortcuts as top benefits. Source: G2 – Superhuman Mail
• Team collaboration via shared conversations and comments on live emails, so colleagues can discuss a thread without endless forwards. Source: Superhuman Mail product page
• Read receipts and “recent opens” feed so you can follow up on sales or recruiting emails with perfect timing. Source: Superhuman Mail product page

Best For:

• Founders, executives, and ICs who live in email and value shaving minutes off every thread.
• Teams already standardized on Gmail or Outlook who want a premium, AI‑heavy client. Source: Superhuman Mail product page, Superhuman (email client) – Wikipedia
• Users comfortable learning a dense shortcut system in exchange for speed.

Shortwave

Core positioning: An AI‑first Gmail client that resurrects Google Inbox‑style bundles and turns your inbox into a todo‑centric workspace. Source: Introducing Shortwave – blog

Key Features:

• Splits and Bundles that divide your inbox into focused tabs (e.g., Newsletters, Finance, Travel) and group related emails for bulk triage. Source: Shortwave AI email – product page
• Powerful AI agent that can summarize threads automatically, draft replies, search across mail, and even automate workflows using natural‑language prompts. Source: Shortwave AI email – product page, TechCrunch – Shortwave AI summaries
• Todo‑style inbox that lets you pin, group, and annotate emails as tasks with natural‑language snooze. Source: Shortwave AI email – product page, Google Workspace Marketplace – Shortwave
• AI‑driven search that can answer questions about your email history rather than just returning keyword results. Source: Shortwave AI email – product page
• Team features like shared labels, shared threads, and AI‑searchable archives for small groups. Source: Shortwave pricing & features

Best For:

• Ex‑Inbox‑by‑Gmail fans who want bundles, delivery schedules, and Google‑style organization back. Source: Shortwave Android launch blog
• Technical professionals who like turning inbox items into structured todos with AI help.
• Small teams heavily invested in Gmail who want modern AI automation but don’t need a full help desk.

Spike

Core positioning: A conversational email and team chat hub that makes email feel like messaging, with built‑in collaboration and AI. Source: Spike conversational email page, Spike App Store listing

Key Features:

• Conversational email view that groups messages by people, hides signatures, and makes threads look like chat conversations. Source: Spike conversational email page
• Unified inbox across Gmail, Outlook, iCloud, Yahoo, and more, plus unified calendar and search. Source: Spike App Store listing
• Spike AI for summarizing long threads, drafting replies, and generating content directly in the composer. Source: Spike pricing page, Spike App Store listing
• Built‑in team chat, notes, tasks, and voice/video calling, so internal collaboration happens in the same place as external email. Source: Spike conversational email page, Spike App Store listing
• Cross‑platform apps on Windows, macOS, iOS, Android, and web. Source: Spike (application) – Wikipedia

Best For:

• Small teams and freelancers who want one app for email, chat, and lightweight project collaboration.
• Users overwhelmed by traditional email threads who prefer chat‑style messaging.
• Price‑sensitive buyers who still want AI and multi‑account support.

Front

Core positioning: An AI‑powered customer operations platform that feels like email but behaves like a collaborative help desk across channels. Source: Front homepage

Key Features:

• Omnichannel shared inbox for email, SMS, live chat, WhatsApp, social, and more, all in one workspace. Source: Front homepage
• Advanced routing and automation rules to assign conversations, auto‑categorize topics, and balance workload across agents. Source: Front shared inbox management playbook
• Front AI (Copilot, Autopilot, Topics) to draft replies, auto‑resolve common tickets, and categorize reasons for contact. Source: Front homepage
• Deep collaboration with internal comments, shared drafts, and tagging so multiple teammates can work one ticket without confusing the customer. Source: Front shared inbox management playbook
• Analytics and SLAs to track response times, CSAT, and agent performance across channels. Source: Front homepage

Best For:

• Support, CX, and account‑management teams needing shared inboxes and omnichannel workflows.
• Organizations replacing legacy help desks (like Zendesk) with something that feels more like email. Source: Front shared inbox management playbook
• Mid‑market and enterprise teams that care about detailed routing, analytics, and AI‑assisted ticket handling.

What are the strengths and weaknesses of each platform?

Superhuman

Strengths:

• Users overwhelmingly highlight speed, shortcuts, and time savings, with many reviews citing it as transformative for reaching and maintaining Inbox Zero. Source: G2 – Superhuman Mail
• AI features (auto‑drafts, summaries, search) are reported as well‑integrated rather than gimmicky, fitting naturally into the triage and reply workflow. Source: G2 – Superhuman Mail
• Strong split inbox and auto‑labeling help separate critical work messages from promotions and noise. Source: Superhuman Mail product page
• Deep investment and backing (including a pending acquisition by Grammarly) suggest long‑term development and integration with a broader AI productivity suite. Source: Superhuman (email client) – Wikipedia

Weaknesses:

• Pricing is a recurring complaint; many Reddit and G2 users call $30–40/month “absurd” or unsustainable compared with cheaper alternatives. Source: G2 – Superhuman Mail, Reddit – Email client with split inboxes
• Some long‑time users have been frustrated by price increases and by moving features into higher‑tier plans, arguing that the product is giving “less for more.” Source: Reddit – I'm done. Superhuman is giving us LESS for MORE
• A subset of users report odd behavior in long threads on mobile (e.g., “go to most recent” jumping to the wrong message) and filters that don’t always behave as expected. Source: Reddit – Shortwave or Superhuman?
• As a pure email client, it doesn’t handle non‑email channels; teams that need SMS or chat will need additional tools.

Shortwave

Strengths:

• Well‑liked for resurrecting and extending Google Inbox features like bundles, delivery schedules, and todo‑style inbox management. Source: Shortwave Android launch blog, Google Workspace Marketplace – Shortwave
• AI capabilities (summaries, writing assistant, AI filters) are consistently praised as robust and available across web, desktop, and mobile, not just desktop. Source: Shortwave AI email – product page, Reddit – Shortwave or Superhuman?
• Users note a strong mobile experience and fewer bugs compared with some competitors. Source: Reddit – Shortwave or Superhuman?
• G2 reviewers highlight ease of use, clean UI, and helpful AI integration for inbox management. Source: G2 – Shortwave

Weaknesses:

• Several users complain that the most powerful AI labeling and automation are paywalled behind higher‑tier business plans even for individuals. Source: Reddit – Shortwave or Superhuman?
• Some Reddit and early GMail‑power‑user feedback mention rough edges, such as limited rules, label syncing issues, or missing “power user” Gmail features (though many have improved over time). Source: Reddit – Shortwave email resurrect Inbox, Shortwave blog – feature updates
• G2 cons mention Gmail dependency and some editing/compatibility limitations, which can be a non‑starter if you need Outlook or other providers. Source: G2 – Shortwave
• Smaller review base than the others, so less battle‑tested at very large scale.

Spike

Strengths:

• Many users love that Spike “feels like chat” while still being compatible with regular email, making long threads easier to follow. Source: Spike conversational email page, G2 – Spike
• Unified inbox, priority inbox, and strong multi‑account support are frequently cited as reasons some users switch from Superhuman or Gmail. Source: Spike App Store listing, Reddit – Email client with split inboxes
• Built‑in notes, tasks, and team chat mean you can replace a separate internal messaging tool for small teams. Source: Spike conversational email page, G2 – Spike
• Price is generally seen as reasonable, especially compared with Superhuman’s monthly cost. Source: Spike pricing page, Reddit – Cheaper Alternative to SuperHuman

Weaknesses:

• G2 reviewers and at least one detailed review highlight limitations in search for certain languages (e.g., Japanese), making Spike unusable as a sole client for those workflows. Source: G2 – Spike detailed reviews
• Some users wish for deeper task‑management features or tighter integration with external PM/CRM tools. Source: G2 – Spike
• Additional email addresses and some advanced capabilities require paid tiers; a few reviewers call it “expensive” relative to expectations for a mail app, though still cheaper than Superhuman. Source: G2 – Spike
• As an all‑in‑one communication hub, it may feel “busy” if you just want a lean email client without chat, notes, or calls.

Front

Strengths:

• Very strong for team collaboration: users consistently praise being able to assign conversations, leave internal comments, and avoid duplicate replies across a shared inbox. Source: G2 – Front, Front shared inbox management playbook
• Omnichannel support (email, SMS, chat, social, WhatsApp, etc.) in one UI is a major draw versus traditional email clients. Source: Front homepage
• G2 pros emphasize ease of use and low learning curve, especially for support teams moving from legacy help desks. Source: G2 – Front
• Strong analytics, SLA tracking, and automation features help teams improve response times and customer satisfaction. Source: Front B2B tech industry page

Weaknesses:

• Some users find building complex rules and automations tricky compared with what they can simulate via search filters; mis‑configured rules can behave unpredictably. Source: G2 – Front
• UI updates occasionally introduce short‑term glitches or slowdowns according to several recent reviews. Source: G2 – Front
• Pricing and seat minimums can be steep if you don’t have a sizable support or account‑management team. Source: Front pricing page, G2 – Front
• For solo users who just want a better email client, Front’s focus on shared inboxes and CX workflows may feel like overkill.

How do these platforms position themselves?

Superhuman markets itself as “the most productive email app ever made” and emphasizes saving “4 hours per person every single week” through AI‑native triage, shortcuts, and splits for teams on Gmail and Outlook. Source: Superhuman Mail product page, Join Superhuman – AI email It targets high‑performing professionals, sales teams, and startups who see email speed as a competitive advantage, and its pending acquisition by Grammarly reinforces its role in a broader AI productivity stack.

Shortwave positions itself as a better, AI‑powered Gmail that brings order to inbox chaos with bundles, splits, and advanced automation, explicitly calling out that “the problem isn’t you – it’s your email client.” Source: Introducing Shortwave – blog Its marketing leans heavily on reclaiming Inbox‑by‑Gmail’s best ideas while layering on modern AI agents that can organize, write, and search your email for you, appealing to professionals and small teams overwhelmed by SaaS notifications.

Spike brands itself as “conversational email” that “looks like chat, works like email,” foregrounding people‑centric threads over subject‑based threads. Source: Spike conversational email page Its messaging stresses being a single workspace where email, team chat, notes, tasks, and calls come together, with AI helping summarize and draft messages, aimed at small businesses and neurodivergent or overloaded users who find traditional inboxes overwhelming. Source: Spike App Store listing, G2 – Spike

Front presents itself not as an email client but as a “customer operations platform” that combines the familiarity of email with the power of a modern help desk and AI. Source: Front homepage The core narrative is about treating every customer like a VIP at scale, with omnichannel shared inboxes, automation, and analytics for support, CX, and account‑management teams in industries like SaaS, manufacturing, and professional services.

Which platform should you choose?

Choose Superhuman If:

1. You spend several hours per day in email and are willing to pay a premium for speed. You’ll get top‑tier keyboard shortcuts, split inboxes, and well‑integrated AI to compress triage time. Source: Superhuman Mail product page, G2 – Superhuman Mail
2. Your team already uses Gmail or Outlook and wants a shared language around email workflows. Superhuman’s training and product design push everyone toward fast, consistent behaviors like reminders, snooze, and snippets. Source: Superhuman Mail product page
3. You’re okay with higher subscription costs in exchange for measurable productivity gains. Many users report saving multiple hours each week; even price‑skeptical Reddit threads concede that, functionally, it’s “one level above” other clients. Source: G2 – Superhuman Mail, Reddit – Email client with split inboxes
4. You don’t need omnichannel support in the same tool. If your communication is mostly email, with chat handled elsewhere (e.g., Slack), Superhuman’s single‑channel focus is a feature, not a bug.
5. You want a client that’s likely to deepen its AI capabilities via Grammarly’s ecosystem over time. The acquisition indicates a long‑term bet on AI‑assisted communication inside and beyond email.

Choose Shortwave If:

1. You loved Google Inbox and want its spiritual successor with modern AI. Bundles, delivery schedules, smart labels, and todo‑style inbox features bring back that experience, enhanced with LLM‑powered search and summaries. Source: Shortwave Android launch blog
2. You want strong AI features on both desktop and mobile. Reddit users who use both tools note that Shortwave’s mobile app exposes more AI power than Superhuman’s mobile experience. Source: Reddit – Shortwave or Superhuman?
3. You primarily use Gmail and don’t mind being tied to it. Shortwave shines when you can lean into Gmail labels, filters, and integrations; if you’re multi‑provider, it’s less ideal. Source: G2 – Shortwave
4. You want a more flexible pricing ladder than Superhuman. Free, Personal, and Pro tiers let you start cheaply as an individual, then move into business AI plans as needed. Source: G2 – Shortwave pricing options, Shortwave pricing page
5. Your workflow is task‑oriented. Turning emails into todos and managing them in‑place is central to Shortwave’s design, which pairs well with deep work and complex follow‑ups. Source: Shortwave AI email – product page

Choose Spike If:

1. You want email that feels like chat. If long subject‑based threads stress you out, Spike’s people‑centric, conversational UI can make inbox processing feel more natural. Source: Spike conversational email page
2. You’re looking for an all‑in‑one communication hub for a small team. Email, internal chat, notes, tasks, and calls all live in the same app, which many small businesses appreciate. Source: Spike App Store listing, G2 – Spike
3. Your budget is constrained but you still want AI and multi‑account support. At $5–10/user/month, Spike is far cheaper than Superhuman while still offering AI summarization and replies. Source: Spike pricing page, TechRadar – Spike review
4. You and your team work across many devices and providers. Spike supports a wide range of email services and has mature apps on all major platforms. Source: Spike (application) – Wikipedia, Spike App Store listing
5. Your audience is primarily in languages and workflows Spike handles well. If you rely heavily on advanced search in languages like Japanese, user reports suggest pairing Spike with another client. Source: G2 – Spike detailed review

Choose Front If:

1. You run a support, CX, or operations team that lives in shared inboxes. Front is built to manage group addresses (support@, sales@) and multi‑person workflows, not just personal email. Source: Front shared inbox management playbook
2. You need omnichannel communication in one place. If your customers contact you via email, SMS, chat, social, and WhatsApp, Front’s unified inbox is far more appropriate than any traditional email client. Source: Front homepage
3. You care about SLAs, analytics, and AI‑assisted routing. Front’s Topics, Copilot, and Autopilot, plus reporting, give you help‑desk‑grade insight into response times and customer satisfaction. Source: Front homepage
4. You have 5–10+ agents and can justify help‑desk‑level pricing. Plans start at $25/seat/month with seat minimums; ROI comes from faster responses and improved CX, not personal inbox speed. Source: Front pricing page, G2 – Front
5. You want to move off a clunky traditional help desk without losing structure. Teams migrating from Zendesk and similar tools often report better collaboration and usability with Front. Source: Front shared inbox management playbook

Sources & links

Company Websites

• Superhuman (email client) – Wikipedia
• Introducing Shortwave – blog
• Spike (application) – Wikipedia
• Front B2B tech industry page

Pricing Pages

• Superhuman Suite pricing
• Shortwave pricing & FAQ
• Spike help article – Pricing
• Front pricing page

Documentation

• Superhuman Help – Annual Plan article
• Shortwave blog – feature updates
• Spike help article – Pricing
• Front shared inbox management playbook

G2 Review Pages

• G2 – Shortwave seller page
• G2 – Spike seller page
• G2 – Front App seller page

Reddit Discussions

• Reddit – Not good news!!
• Reddit – Shortwave or Superhuman?
• Reddit – Shortwave email resurrect Inbox
• Reddit – Email client with split inboxes

Additional Resources

• TechCrunch – Shortwave AI article

• TechRadar – Spike review

• Front blog – customer service automation