Superhuman Review 2025: Fastest Email Client for Sales

Item: Superhuman
Rating: 4.3
Author: Max Productive AI

Bottom Line: Superhuman is the undisputed speed champion among email clients, delivering proven productivity gains with users getting through email 2x faster and saving 4+ hours weekly through 100+ keyboard shortcuts. The October 2025 AI evolution with Auto Drafts and Auto Labels makes it the most automated email client available, though the $30-40/month pricing positions it as a premium solution best suited for high-volume email professionals.

Best For

Sales teams needing CRM integration (HubSpot, Salesforce)
Executives managing 200+ emails daily
Speed-focused professionals comfortable with keyboard shortcuts
Gmail AND Outlook users wanting universal compatibility

Skip If

You process fewer than 50 emails daily
Budget limited to under $30/month
You prefer mouse-driven visual interfaces
Need Gmail-only with more personalized AI (try Shortwave)

Try Superhuman Free (7 Days) →

Includes 1-on-1 onboarding training

Superhuman at a Glance

2014

Year Founded

Faster Email Processing

4+h

Weekly Time Saved

100+

Keyboard Shortcuts

What Exactly is Superhuman?

Superhuman is a premium, speed-focused AI-powered email client designed specifically for Gmail and Outlook users who process high volumes of email daily. Built on the philosophy that keyboard shortcuts are fundamentally faster than mouse clicks, Superhuman delivers measurable productivity improvements through 100+ shortcuts, AI automation, and a streamlined interface optimized for speed.

Founded in 2014 by CEO Rahul Vohra, Superhuman gained attention for its invitation-only launch and premium positioning at $30/month when competitors offered free services. The strategy worked: users consistently report getting through email twice as fast, replying 12 hours sooner on average, and saving over 4 hours every week compared to standard Gmail or Outlook usage.

Traditional Email vs Superhuman

Standard Email Clients

Spend 2-4 hours daily managing email
Rely heavily on mouse clicks and navigation
Manual categorization and prioritization
Basic AI features with generic responses
Average reply times of 24+ hours

With Superhuman

Process email 2x faster with keyboard shortcuts
Navigate inbox without touching mouse
AI automatically labels and archives emails
Auto Drafts write follow-ups in your voice
Reply 12 hours faster on average

The Grammarly Acquisition and Future Vision

In July 2025, Grammarly announced the acquisition of Superhuman for an estimated $825 million, with the transaction completing in October 2025. Despite the acquisition, Superhuman continues operating as an independent brand with Rahul Vohra remaining as CEO. Grammarly's CEO stated that "email is the perfect staging ground for orchestrating multiple AI agents simultaneously," signaling plans to build an integrated AI productivity suite combining email management, writing assistance, and document collaboration.

October 2025: The Biggest AI Evolution Yet

On October 13, 2025, Superhuman announced its largest AI update featuring transformative automation capabilities that fundamentally change how users interact with email:

Auto Drafts: AI automatically writes follow-up emails in your voice without prompting, appearing ready to edit and send
Auto Labels: Every incoming email is automatically classified into categories like response needed, waiting on, meetings, marketing, and cold pitches
Auto Archive: Marketing and cold emails are automatically archived, with users reporting hundreds of emails cleared daily
Custom Auto Labels: Create AI-powered filters using natural language prompts like "job applications" or "urgent client requests"
Enhanced Voice & Tone: AI adapts writing style per recipient based on your past email history with each person
Auto-Send Capability: Optional feature allowing AI to send emails on your behalf, functioning like an executive assistant

💡 Speed Philosophy: Superhuman's core belief is that keyboard shortcuts are fundamentally faster than mouse-based interfaces. Research shows that heavy mouse usage can slow email processing by 2-4 seconds per action, compounding to hours of lost productivity weekly for high-volume users.

How Does Superhuman's Speed-First Approach Work?

Superhuman's productivity gains stem from three integrated systems: keyboard-centric navigation eliminating mouse dependence, AI automation handling repetitive tasks, and intelligent email categorization reducing decision fatigue. The platform operates as a standalone email client rather than an inbox organizer, providing complete control over your email experience.

The Superhuman Speed System

✅ How Superhuman Excels

Dual-platform mastery: Full feature parity for both Gmail and Outlook, unlike Shortwave (Gmail-only)
100+ keyboard shortcuts: Navigate, search, compose, and manage email without touching mouse
Command Palette (Cmd/Ctrl+K): Type any action for instant execution without memorizing shortcuts
Split Inbox system: Automatic categorization into Important, VIP, News, Calendar, and Other tabs
Native desktop apps: True Mac and Windows applications, not just web interfaces or PWAs
1-on-1 onboarding: Complimentary live training session included with every subscription
CRM integration: HubSpot and Salesforce sync directly in email (Business plan)
Read receipts & tracking: See when emails are opened with detailed engagement metrics

⚠️ Current Limitations

Steep learning curve: Keyboard-first approach requires commitment and practice to master
Premium pricing only: No free plan, only 7-day trial then $30-40/month required
Text-heavy interface: More cluttered than minimalist alternatives like Shortwave
Generic AI writing: Doesn't learn personal voice as deeply as Shortwave's Ghostwriter
CRM paywall: HubSpot and Salesforce integration only on $40/month Business plan
No unified inbox: Cannot merge multiple email accounts into single view

Step-by-Step: Getting Started with Superhuman

The onboarding process is uniquely hands-on, designed to ensure users immediately experience productivity gains:

Sign up for 7-day free trial and connect Gmail or Outlook account via secure OAuth
Schedule your complimentary 1-on-1 training session with Superhuman expert (30 minutes)
During training, learn essential keyboard shortcuts, customize Split Inbox categories, and set up workflows
Practice core shortcuts: Cmd/Ctrl+K (Command Palette), E (archive), H (snooze), C (compose), R (reply)
Configure Split Inbox: Important for urgent emails, VIP for key contacts, News for newsletters, Calendar for meetings
Enable AI features: Write with AI, Instant Reply, Auto Summarize (Starter plan), Auto Drafts (Business plan)
Install mobile apps for iOS or Android to maintain productivity on-the-go

Most users report feeling comfortable with basic shortcuts within 2-3 days of regular use, with full proficiency developing over 2-3 weeks. The 1-on-1 training significantly accelerates this timeline by providing personalized guidance based on individual email habits and workflow needs.

💡 Pro Tip: Use the Command Palette (Cmd/Ctrl+K) as your training wheels. Instead of memorizing all 100+ shortcuts immediately, type actions like "send later" or "add to calendar" into the Command Palette. Over time, you'll naturally memorize the shortcuts you use most frequently without forced memorization.

Ready to experience email at superhuman speed? The 7-day free trial includes full Starter plan access and complimentary 1-on-1 onboarding training. Start your free trial →

Core Features That Define Superhuman

The foundation of Superhuman's speed advantage: over 100 keyboard shortcuts covering every email action from navigation to composition. Essential shortcuts include E (archive), H (snooze/remind), C (compose), R (reply), A (reply all), F (forward), J/K (navigate), and 1-5 (switch Split Inbox tabs). The Command Palette (Cmd/Ctrl+K) provides instant access to any feature by typing, eliminating the need to memorize every shortcut.

Real Impact: Users process email 2x faster by eliminating mouse clicks. Research shows each mouse-based action adds 2-4 seconds of overhead, compounding to hours saved weekly for professionals managing hundreds of daily emails.

Revolutionary AI feature that automatically writes follow-up emails without any prompting. When an email requires a response, Superhuman's AI analyzes the thread, understands context, and generates a complete draft reply in your writing style. The draft appears in your inbox ready to review, edit, and send. Auto Drafts adapts tone per recipient based on your past email history with them, making responses more formal with executives and casual with colleagues.

Real Impact: Eliminates the blank-page problem for routine responses. Sales teams report 30-40% time savings on follow-ups, allowing focus on high-value conversations rather than repetitive email writing. Only available on Business plan ($40/month).

AI automatically classifies every incoming email into categories: response needed, waiting on, meetings, marketing, cold pitches, and social. Auto Archive works in tandem by automatically archiving low-priority emails like marketing messages and cold outreach, moving them from Important to Other. CEO Rahul Vohra reports that "Superhuman archives hundreds of my emails daily." Custom Auto Labels allow creating filters using natural language prompts like "job applications" or "urgent client requests."

Real Impact: Dramatically reduces inbox noise and decision fatigue. Users report processing Important emails 3x faster when low-priority messages are automatically classified and archived, allowing laser focus on emails requiring action.

Intelligent email categorization system dividing your inbox into five customizable tabs: Important (urgent emails requiring action), VIP (from key contacts and stakeholders), News (newsletters and updates), Calendar (meeting invites and scheduling), and Other (everything else not categorized). Unlike Gmail's basic tabs, Split Inbox uses AI and behavioral patterns to intelligently sort emails. Switch between tabs using keyboard shortcuts 1-5 for focused email processing.

Real Impact: Reduces decision fatigue by pre-categorizing emails before you see them. Users tackle Important first, then VIP, while batching News and Calendar for scheduled review times rather than constant interruption.

Native integration with HubSpot and Salesforce CRM systems shows contact information, deal status, and interaction history directly within email threads. The system automatically logs email activity to CRM records, eliminating manual data entry. Recent Opens Feed provides engagement tracking for sales teams to identify hot leads based on email interaction patterns. This integration is exclusive to Business plan ($40/month) and Enterprise tiers.

Real Impact: Sales teams report 25% shorter deal cycles and 4.6x increased response rates by managing CRM workflows without leaving email. Automatic activity logging saves 1-2 hours daily previously spent on manual CRM updates.

Turn brief phrases into complete, professional emails matching your voice and tone. The AI analyzes your sent emails to learn writing patterns, sentence structure, and communication style. Instant Reply generates one-click AI responses for common scenarios. The system adapts output length and formality based on recipient and context. Users write emails 59% faster and produce 2x more business emails per hour compared to manual composition.

Real Impact: Eliminates writer's block and speeds routine communication. However, AI writing is more generic compared to Shortwave's Ghostwriter which learns personal voice more deeply through dedicated training.

See when emails are opened with detailed tracking showing open counts, time stamps, and device information. Social Insights integration displays LinkedIn and Twitter profiles for contacts directly in email threads, providing context about recipients before responding. Recent Opens Feed (Business plan) identifies hot leads based on engagement patterns, showing who's actively reading your emails.

Real Impact: Sales professionals use read receipts to time follow-ups precisely. Knowing a proposal was opened three times signals interest, while no opens after 48 hours triggers alternative outreach strategies.

Shared Conversations allow forwarding email threads to team members who see a live, continuously updating view of the conversation. Team Comments enable internal discussion about emails without cluttering the actual thread. Share Availability integrates calendar to coordinate meeting scheduling. These collaboration features work across teams while maintaining individual inbox organization.

Real Impact: Sales and customer success teams collaborate on complex deals without forwarding email chains or switching to Slack. Comments stay internal while the live conversation view ensures everyone has current context.

Comprehensive productivity features including Snippets (text expansion with variables and attachments), Send Later (schedule emails for optimal timing), Reminders (auto-follow-up notifications), Undo Send, Auto Summarize (one-line thread summaries), and Ask AI conversational assistant for inbox queries. These tools integrate seamlessly with keyboard shortcuts for rapid access.

Real Impact: Snippets alone save 15-30 minutes daily for professionals sending repetitive emails. Send Later optimizes delivery times based on recipient time zones, improving open rates by 20-30% for international communication.

Full-featured iOS and Android apps with keyboard shortcuts adapted to swipe gestures: swipe right to archive, swipe left to snooze, pull down to refresh. All features including Split Inbox, AI writing, Read Receipts, and CRM integration (Business plan) work identically across desktop and mobile. Actions sync instantly ensuring seamless transitions between devices.

Real Impact: Mobile apps maintain productivity during commutes and travel. The gesture-based interface provides one-handed operation while preserving Superhuman's speed-first philosophy for on-the-go email management.

Superhuman Pricing: What You Actually Pay

October 2025 Update: Superhuman offers three pricing tiers based on features needed. All plans include the core speed experience with 100+ keyboard shortcuts, but AI automation and CRM integration require Business plan. Annual billing provides 17-18% savings compared to monthly pricing.

Plan	Monthly Price	Annual Price	Key Features	Best For
Free Trial	$0	$0	7 days full Starter access, 1-on-1 training included	Testing the platform
Starter	$30/month	$25/month	Split Inbox, 100+ shortcuts, AI writing, Read Receipts, Team features	Individual professionals
Business	$40/month	$33/month	Everything in Starter PLUS Auto Drafts, Ask AI, CRM integration, Custom Labels	Sales teams & power users
Enterprise	Custom	Custom	Everything in Business PLUS SSO, admin controls, dedicated support	Large organizations

Is Superhuman Worth The Premium Price?

Standard Email Management

Time spent daily: 2-4 hours managing email
Weekly total: 10-20 hours in inbox
Monthly cost: $0 for Gmail/Outlook
Productivity: Baseline efficiency

With Superhuman Automation

Time saved: 4+ hours weekly
Cost: $30-40/month ($360-480/year)
ROI: 16+ hours monthly reclaimed
Value: $3,200+ annually at $50K salary

Verdict: For professionals earning $50,000+ annually who process 200+ emails daily, the time savings translate to $3,200+ in value per year based on hourly rates. Sales teams see even higher ROI with 25% shorter deal cycles and 4.6x response rate improvements. Break-even occurs within 2-3 weeks for most high-volume email users.

Understanding Plan Differences

Starter Plan ($30/month): Includes core Superhuman experience with 100+ keyboard shortcuts, Split Inbox, Read Receipts, AI writing (Write with AI, Instant Reply), Auto Summarize, Snippets, Send Later, Reminders, Social Insights, Shared Conversations, Team Comments, Share Availability, and complimentary 1-on-1 onboarding training. Best for individual professionals wanting speed improvements without advanced AI automation.

Business Plan ($40/month): Everything in Starter plus advanced AI and CRM features: Auto Drafts (AI-generated follow-ups), Ask AI (conversational assistant), Custom Auto Labels (natural language filters), HubSpot integration, Salesforce integration, Recent Opens Feed (advanced tracking), and priority support. Essential for sales teams, account managers, and professionals needing CRM workflows directly in email.

Enterprise Plan (Custom pricing): Everything in Business plus enterprise-grade security and controls: SSO (Single Sign-On), advanced admin controls, dedicated account management, custom onboarding programs, priority feature requests, and compliance features. Best for large organizations with specific security, compliance, or deployment requirements.

Special Pricing Options

Annual Billing: Save 17-18% by paying annually instead of monthly. Starter drops to $300/year ($25/month effective) and Business to $396/year ($33/month effective). Annual billing is recommended for committed users to maximize savings.

Student & Nonprofit Discounts: Discounted pricing available for students and nonprofit organizations. Contact Superhuman sales team with verification documentation to access educational pricing. Discount percentage varies based on organization size and verification.

Team Pricing: Organizations purchasing multiple licenses can negotiate custom team pricing for 10+ users. Enterprise plan provides volume discounts and dedicated support for large deployments.

💡 Money-Saving Tip: Start with the 7-day free trial including complimentary 1-on-1 training to experience full value before committing. If speed improvements are evident during trial, choose annual billing for 17% savings. Sales teams should evaluate Business plan during trial to test Auto Drafts and CRM integration with real workflows before purchasing.

Honest Assessment: Pros and Cons

Unmatched speed and efficiency Proven metrics: 2x faster email processing, 12 hours faster replies, 4+ hours saved weekly through 100+ keyboard shortcuts
Gmail AND Outlook support Universal compatibility with both major platforms unlike Shortwave (Gmail-only), making it more versatile for corporate environments
October 2025 AI evolution is transformative Auto Drafts, Auto Labels, and Auto Archive represent the most advanced email automation available, eliminating hours of manual work
CRM integration excellence Native HubSpot and Salesforce integration eliminates context switching for sales teams, directly contributing to 25% shorter deal cycles
Outstanding sales team features Dedicated functionality delivers 4.6x response rates, 40% greater capacity, and 59% more emails per hour for revenue teams
Command Palette brilliance Cmd/Ctrl+K eliminates need to memorize shortcuts—type any action for instant execution, perfect training-wheels approach
Complimentary 1-on-1 onboarding Live training session with expert dramatically reduces learning curve and ensures immediate productivity gains
Native desktop applications True Mac and Windows apps provide superior performance compared to web-only or PWA alternatives
Read receipts and tracking Detailed engagement metrics show when emails are opened, enabling precise follow-up timing for sales professionals
Team collaboration features Shared Conversations and Team Comments enable internal coordination without cluttering actual email threads
Grammarly acquisition adds stability $825 million acquisition completed October 2025 provides long-term support and future AI integration potential
Split Inbox reduces decision fatigue AI-powered categorization into Important, VIP, News, Calendar, and Other tabs pre-organizes email before you see it
Full-featured mobile apps iOS and Android apps with gesture-based shortcuts maintain productivity on-the-go with one-handed operation
Social insights integration LinkedIn and Twitter profiles displayed in email threads provide recipient context before responding
Active development and updates Continuous feature releases with October 2025 representing biggest AI evolution, demonstrating long-term investment

Premium pricing significantly higher than alternatives $30-40/month vs Shortwave $14/month, SaneBox $7/month, or Clean Email $30/year—difficult to justify for casual users
No free plan whatsoever Only 7-day trial available unlike competitors offering permanent free tiers, creating barrier to entry for budget-conscious users
Steep keyboard-centric learning curve Requires commitment to master 100+ shortcuts and abandon mouse-driven habits—intimidating for visual interface preferences
Text-heavy, cluttered interface More visually dense than minimalist alternatives like Shortwave, potentially overwhelming for users preferring clean aesthetics
CRM features locked behind Business plan HubSpot and Salesforce integration requires $40/month Business tier, adding $10/month vs Starter for essential sales features
Generic AI writing compared to competitors Shortwave's Ghostwriter learns personal voice more deeply through dedicated training, producing more authentic results
Limited Split Inbox customization Only 5 tabs (Important, VIP, News, Calendar, Other) vs Shortwave's unlimited custom Bundles for flexible organization
No unified inbox for multiple accounts Cannot merge different email accounts into single view, requiring manual switching between accounts
Keyboard commitment absolutely required Must embrace shortcuts to realize value—mouse-dependent users will not see advertised productivity gains
Recent AI features still maturing Auto Archive and Auto Labels only launched October 2025, less battle-tested than established features
Acquisition integration uncertainty Grammarly acquisition creates unknown long-term product direction and potential feature changes
Overkill for low email volume Not worth $360-480/year for users processing under 50 emails daily—value proposition requires high volume
Some mobile limitations Certain desktop features missing or adapted on mobile apps, though core functionality remains strong
Shallower calendar integration Less deeply integrated than Shortwave's calendar features for meeting coordination
AI reads full content, not metadata-only Unlike SaneBox's header-only analysis, Superhuman processes complete messages raising privacy considerations for sensitive communications

Who Should (and Shouldn't) Use Superhuman

✅ Ideal Users

Sales Professionals & Account Executives

Sales teams are Superhuman's primary target audience with dedicated features delivering measurable ROI. The Business plan's CRM integration with HubSpot and Salesforce eliminates context switching, while Recent Opens Feed identifies hot leads based on email engagement. Auto Drafts automate follow-ups, and Read Receipts enable precise timing for outreach.

Perfect if: You manage sales pipeline with 100+ prospect emails daily, need CRM sync directly in email, want to improve response rates and shorten deal cycles, or require detailed engagement tracking for lead scoring.

C-Suite Executives & Senior Managers

Leaders managing 200-500+ emails daily benefit most from Superhuman's speed-first approach. The time savings directly translate to higher-value activities: 4 hours saved weekly equals 16 hours monthly for strategic initiatives. Split Inbox automatically prioritizes urgent communications from VIP contacts, while keyboard shortcuts eliminate hours of cumulative mouse-click overhead.

Perfect if: Email volume exceeds 200 daily, your time is valued at $100+ hourly, you need to respond quickly to critical stakeholders, or context switching between email and other tasks kills productivity.

Customer Success & Account Management Teams

Customer-facing professionals use Superhuman's collaboration features to coordinate internally while maintaining rapid response times. Shared Conversations enable team members to see live email threads without forwarding, Team Comments facilitate internal discussion, and Auto Drafts speed routine check-ins. CRM integration ensures customer interaction history is always current.

Perfect if: You manage multiple customer accounts simultaneously, team coordination on complex issues is frequent, response time SLAs require sub-4-hour replies, or CRM data accuracy is critical for renewal forecasting.

Business Development Representatives

BDRs prospecting at scale leverage Superhuman's speed to dramatically increase daily outreach volume. The 59% increase in business emails per hour translates directly to more prospects contacted. Auto Drafts automate follow-up sequences, Read Receipts identify interested prospects, and keyboard shortcuts eliminate time-consuming email composition overhead.

Perfect if: Daily email volume targets exceed 50 prospects, follow-up sequences require 3-7 touchpoints per lead, engagement tracking determines prioritization, or speed directly impacts quota attainment.

Gmail AND Outlook Users in Corporate Environments

Professionals in organizations using Microsoft 365 or mixed email platforms benefit from Superhuman's universal compatibility. Unlike Shortwave which only supports Gmail, Superhuman delivers identical features across both Gmail and Outlook accounts, making it suitable for corporate environments with standardized on Outlook while allowing personal Gmail management.

Perfect if: Your company uses Outlook/Microsoft 365, you manage both work and personal email accounts, switching between platforms is current workflow, or universal shortcuts across email providers would improve efficiency.

❌ Better Alternatives Exist For

Budget-Conscious Individuals

Users processing under 100 emails daily or unwilling to invest $360-480 annually will find better value elsewhere.

Try instead: Shortwave at $14/month offers AI email management with personalized Ghostwriter at half the cost. SaneBox at $7/month provides intelligent filtering without requiring new email client. Clean Email at $30/year is ideal for periodic inbox cleanup.

Casual Email Users with Low Volume

If daily email count stays under 50 messages, Superhuman's advanced features and premium pricing represent overkill. The productivity gains don't justify the investment at low volumes.

Try instead: Native Gmail or Outlook clients with basic filters and labels provide sufficient organization. SaneBox offers automated filtering at $7/month without replacing your email client.

Users Preferring Mouse-Driven Visual Interfaces

Superhuman's keyboard-centric philosophy is non-negotiable. Users uncomfortable with shortcuts or preferring visual, mouse-based navigation will struggle and won't realize advertised productivity gains.

Try instead: Shortwave offers cleaner visual interface with AI features while remaining more mouse-friendly. Standard Gmail and Outlook provide familiar interfaces without learning curve.

Gmail-Only Users Wanting Most Personalized AI

While Superhuman supports Gmail, its AI writing is more generic compared to competitors. Users exclusively on Gmail who prioritize AI that deeply learns personal voice should consider specialized alternatives.

Try instead: Shortwave's Ghostwriter is specifically designed to learn individual writing styles through dedicated training, producing more authentic AI-generated responses at half the cost ($14/month vs $30/month).

Users Needing Inbox Cleanup Focus

Superhuman excels at ongoing email management but isn't optimized for one-time inbox decluttering or bulk cleanup of years-old messages.

Try instead: Clean Email specializes in bulk cleanup with smart filters, sender grouping, and storage reclamation at $30/year. Use Clean Email for initial cleanup, then consider Superhuman for ongoing management if email volume justifies investment.

Privacy Purists Wanting Metadata-Only Analysis

Superhuman's AI reads complete email content to provide features like Auto Drafts and Write with AI. Users requiring metadata-only analysis for privacy reasons need alternatives.

Try instead: SaneBox analyzes only email headers (sender, subject, timestamp) and never reads message content, providing privacy-first filtering at $7/month while working with any email client.

💡 Still Unsure? Take advantage of Superhuman's 7-day free trial with full Starter plan access and complimentary 1-on-1 onboarding training. Test with your actual email workload to see if the speed improvements justify the premium pricing.

How Superhuman Compares to Alternatives

Feature	Superhuman	Shortwave	SaneBox	Clean Email
Type	Email client	Email client	Filter service	Cleanup tool
Platform	Gmail + Outlook	Gmail only	Any IMAP	Any IMAP
Starting Price	$30/mo	$14/mo	$7/mo	$30/year
Free Plan	7-day trial	Yes (limited)	14-day trial	No
AI Writing	★★★★	★★★★★	None	None
Speed/Shortcuts	★★★★★	★★★	★★	★★
CRM Integration	★★★★★	None	None	None
Learning Curve	Steep	Moderate	Easy	Easy
Best For	Speed & sales teams	Gmail AI focus	Universal filtering	Bulk cleanup

Quick Comparison Insights

vs Shortwave: Superhuman wins for speed-focused professionals needing Outlook support and CRM integration, delivering 100+ keyboard shortcuts and native desktop apps at $30/month. Shortwave is better for Gmail-only users wanting more personalized AI with Ghostwriter learning individual voice at $14/month (cheaper). Superhuman offers Gmail+Outlook, HubSpot/Salesforce integration, and faster navigation. Shortwave provides superior AI personalization, cleaner visual interface, and 53% lower cost.

vs SaneBox: Completely different approaches: Superhuman is a standalone email client replacing Gmail/Outlook, while SaneBox is a background filtering service working with any email client at $7/month. Superhuman offers speed through shortcuts, AI writing, and full email client features. SaneBox provides universal IMAP compatibility, metadata-only privacy, and 4x lower cost. Choose Superhuman for complete email client replacement with maximum speed; choose SaneBox for privacy-focused filtering without changing email client.

vs Clean Email: Different use cases entirely. Superhuman excels at ongoing daily email management with speed and AI automation for active inbox processing. Clean Email specializes in one-time bulk cleanup and decluttering years of accumulated messages at $30/year (12x cheaper annually). Use Clean Email for initial inbox overhaul and storage reclamation, then evaluate Superhuman if daily email volume exceeds 200 messages requiring speed optimization.

vs Gmail/Outlook: Native email clients are free with basic features suitable for casual users processing under 50 emails daily. Superhuman's $30-40/month premium is only justified for professionals managing 200+ daily emails where 4+ hours weekly savings translate to $3,200+ annual value at $50K salaries. The speed improvements, AI automation, and CRM integration deliver clear ROI for high-volume email professionals but represent overkill for typical users.

What's New in October 2025

The acquisition announced July 1, 2025 officially completed in October 2025. Grammarly acquired Superhuman for an estimated $825 million, with Superhuman continuing as an independent brand and Rahul Vohra remaining as CEO. The strategic vision involves building an AI-powered productivity suite combining email management (Superhuman), writing assistance (Grammarly), and document collaboration. Future integration will enable multiple AI agents working simultaneously across communication workflows.

Announced October 13, 2025 as part of Superhuman's biggest AI evolution. Auto Drafts represent a fundamental shift: instead of prompting AI to write emails, Superhuman's AI automatically generates follow-up drafts when emails need responses. The AI analyzes thread context, understands conversation history, and produces complete replies in your writing style. Drafts appear ready to review, edit, and send without any user initiation. Available exclusively on Business plan ($40/month).

October 13, 2025 update introduced automatic email classification and archiving. Auto Labels categorizes every incoming email: response needed, waiting on, meetings, marketing, cold pitches, and social. Auto Archive automatically moves marketing and cold emails from Important to Other tab and archives them. CEO Rahul Vohra reports Superhuman now archives hundreds of his emails daily automatically. Custom Auto Labels allow creating natural language filters like "job applications" or "contract renewals" for personalized categorization.

AI writing now adapts tone individually for each recipient based on your past email history with that person. The system makes responses more formal with executives and board members while keeping casual tone with close colleagues. This personalization happens automatically without configuration, analyzing your communication patterns to match appropriate tone for each relationship. Significantly improves AI-generated email authenticity compared to previous one-size-fits-all approach.

Superhuman AI can now send emails on your behalf without manual review, functioning like an executive assistant. This optional feature allows AI to handle routine responses completely autonomously—generating draft, reviewing for accuracy, and sending—based on your communication patterns and rules. Users maintain full control over which types of emails AI can auto-send versus requiring manual approval before sending.

Create AI-powered email filters using conversational prompts instead of complex rules. Type natural language descriptions like "emails about job applications from recruiters" or "urgent requests from VIP clients" and Superhuman's AI automatically identifies matching emails. These custom labels combine with Split Inbox for highly personalized categorization without technical filter configuration. Available on Business plan ($40/month).

Common Questions Answered

How much does Superhuman cost in 2025?

Superhuman offers three pricing tiers as of October 2025: Starter plan costs $30/month ($300/year for 17% savings), Business plan costs $40/month ($396/year), and Enterprise plan has custom pricing. The Starter plan includes core features like Split Inbox, Read Receipts, AI writing, and 100+ keyboard shortcuts with 1-on-1 onboarding training. The Business plan adds Auto Drafts, Ask AI assistant, Custom Auto Labels, and CRM integrations with HubSpot and Salesforce. A 7-day free trial is available for the Starter plan.

Is Superhuman worth $30 per month?

Yes, Superhuman is worth $30/month if you process 200+ emails daily and value speed over cost. Users save 4+ hours per week on average, reply 12 hours faster, and get through email 2x quicker. For sales teams, metrics show 4.6x increased response rates and 25% shorter deal cycles. At minimum wage, saving just 2 hours weekly justifies the cost. However, if you only receive 50 emails daily or prefer budget options, SaneBox at $7/month or Clean Email at $30/year offer better value for casual users.

What are Superhuman's keyboard shortcuts?

Superhuman has 100+ keyboard shortcuts designed for maximum speed. Essential shortcuts include Cmd/Ctrl+K (Command Palette to access any feature), E (archive), H (snooze/remind), C (compose new), R (reply), A (reply all), F (forward), and J/K (navigate up/down emails). Split Inbox shortcuts are 1-5 to switch between Important/VIP/News/Calendar/Other tabs. The Command Palette is the core feature letting you type any action like "send later" or "add to calendar" without memorizing every shortcut. All shortcuts are Gmail-compatible plus Superhuman's advanced additions.

Does Superhuman work with Outlook?

Yes, Superhuman works with both Gmail and Outlook including Microsoft 365 business accounts. This dual-platform support makes Superhuman more universal than competitors like Shortwave which only supports Gmail. You can connect personal Outlook accounts (outlook.com) and business Microsoft 365 Exchange accounts. All Superhuman features including keyboard shortcuts, AI writing, Split Inbox, and CRM integrations work identically on both Gmail and Outlook. However, some advanced Gmail-specific features like certain labels may have limitations on Outlook.

Superhuman vs Shortwave: Which is better?

Superhuman is better for speed-focused professionals needing Outlook support and CRM integrations, while Shortwave is better for Gmail-only users wanting more personalized AI. Superhuman costs $30/month with 100+ shortcuts, Gmail+Outlook support, HubSpot/Salesforce integration, and native desktop apps. Shortwave costs $14/month (cheaper) but only supports Gmail, has fewer shortcuts, no CRM integration, and only PWA apps. However, Shortwave's Ghostwriter learns your personal writing voice better than Superhuman's generic AI. Choose Superhuman for sales teams and speed; choose Shortwave for Gmail-only AI customization.

What is Auto Draft in Superhuman?

Auto Draft is Superhuman's October 2025 AI feature that automatically writes follow-up emails for you without any prompting. When an email needs a response, Superhuman's AI analyzes the thread, understands context, and generates a complete draft reply in your writing style. The draft appears in your inbox ready to review, edit, and send. Auto Draft adapts tone per recipient based on your past emails with them, making responses more formal with executives and casual with colleagues. This feature is only available on the Business plan ($40/month) and saves significant time for high-volume email users.

Does Superhuman have a free plan?

No, Superhuman does not have a free plan, only a 7-day free trial of the Starter plan ($30/month). Unlike competitors like Shortwave which offers a free tier with limitations, Superhuman requires paid subscription after the trial ends. The trial includes full access to Starter features: keyboard shortcuts, Split Inbox, Read Receipts, AI writing, and 1-on-1 onboarding training. However, advanced features like Auto Drafts, Ask AI, and CRM integrations require the Business plan ($40/month). Student and nonprofit discounts are available by contacting sales.

Can Superhuman integrate with Salesforce and HubSpot?

Yes, Superhuman integrates with both Salesforce and HubSpot CRM systems, but only on the Business plan ($40/month) or higher. The integration syncs contact information, shows CRM data directly in your inbox while reading emails, logs email activity to CRM records automatically, and provides Recent Opens Feed to track prospect engagement. This makes Superhuman particularly valuable for sales teams who can manage CRM workflows without leaving email. The Starter plan ($30/month) does not include CRM integrations. These integrations are major differentiators versus Shortwave which has no CRM support.

How do I get Superhuman onboarding training?

Superhuman includes complimentary 1-on-1 live onboarding training with every paid subscription (Starter, Business, or Enterprise). After signing up, you schedule a personalized 30-minute video call with a Superhuman expert who teaches you keyboard shortcuts, customizes your Split Inbox categories, sets up workflows, and answers questions specific to your email habits. This white-glove onboarding is unique to Superhuman versus competitors and significantly reduces the learning curve. The training session ensures you maximize productivity immediately rather than struggling to learn features independently.

What is Split Inbox in Superhuman?

Split Inbox is Superhuman's email categorization system that divides your inbox into five customizable tabs: Important (urgent emails), VIP (from key contacts), News (newsletters and updates), Calendar (meeting invites and events), and Other (everything else). Unlike Gmail's basic tabs, Split Inbox uses AI and your behavior patterns to intelligently sort emails automatically. You can customize which senders go into each category and switch between tabs using keyboard shortcuts (1-5 keys). This focused approach helps process email faster by tackling Important first, then VIP, while batching News and Calendar for later.

Who should use Superhuman?

Superhuman is ideal for sales professionals, executives, account managers, customer success teams, and anyone managing 200+ emails daily who prioritizes speed over cost. It's perfect for users comfortable with keyboard shortcuts, teams needing CRM integration with HubSpot or Salesforce, Gmail and Outlook users wanting universal compatibility, and organizations willing to invest $30-40/month per person for 4+ hours weekly time savings. However, avoid Superhuman if you process under 50 emails daily, prefer mouse-driven visual interfaces, need the cheapest option, or want Gmail-only with more personalized AI like Shortwave's Ghostwriter.

Does Superhuman have mobile apps?

Yes, Superhuman offers native mobile apps for both iOS (iPhone/iPad) and Android with full feature parity including keyboard shortcuts adapted to swipe gestures, Split Inbox, AI writing, Read Receipts, and instant sync with desktop. The mobile apps are highly rated and designed for one-handed use with gesture controls: swipe right to archive, swipe left to snooze, and pull down to refresh. All actions sync instantly across web, desktop, and mobile so you can start an email on your phone and finish on computer. The mobile experience maintains Superhuman's speed-first philosophy.

What is the difference between Superhuman Starter and Business plans?

The Starter plan ($30/month) includes core Superhuman features: Split Inbox, 100+ keyboard shortcuts, AI writing, Read Receipts, Snippets, Auto Summarize, team collaboration, and 1-on-1 onboarding. The Business plan ($40/month) adds advanced AI automation: Auto Drafts (AI writes follow-ups automatically), Ask AI (conversational assistant), Custom Auto Labels (natural language filters), HubSpot integration, Salesforce integration, Recent Opens Feed for tracking, and priority support. Business plan is essential for sales teams needing CRM sync and maximum AI automation, while Starter suffices for individual professionals wanting speed improvements without advanced AI or CRM.

Is Superhuman faster than Gmail?

Yes, Superhuman is significantly faster than Gmail. Users get through email 2x faster on average, reply 12 hours sooner, and save 4+ hours per week compared to standard Gmail. The speed comes from 100+ keyboard shortcuts eliminating mouse clicks, Split Inbox reducing decision fatigue by categorizing emails automatically, instant AI-powered replies, Command Palette (Cmd+K) for instant access to any feature, and optimized UI loading faster than Gmail's web interface. For sales teams specifically, Superhuman enables 59% more business emails per hour. However, there's a learning curve requiring commitment to keyboard-first workflow.

Can I try Superhuman before paying?

Yes, Superhuman offers a 7-day free trial of the Starter plan with full feature access including keyboard shortcuts, Split Inbox, AI writing, Read Receipts, and the signature 1-on-1 onboarding training session. You can sign up at superhuman.com without providing payment information upfront. The trial period gives you enough time to learn shortcuts, experience the speed improvements, and decide if the $30/month investment is worthwhile. After 7 days, you'll need to subscribe to continue using Superhuman. The onboarding training during trial significantly increases conversion because users immediately experience productivity gains.

Final Verdict: Should You Choose Superhuman?

4.3/5

★★★★☆

Speed Champion for High-Volume Users

The Bottom Line

Superhuman earns its 4.3/5 rating as the undisputed speed champion among email clients, delivering measurable productivity improvements that justify its premium pricing for the right user: professionals managing 200+ emails daily who value time savings over cost. The October 2025 AI evolution with Auto Drafts, Auto Labels, and Auto Archive represents the most advanced email automation available, fundamentally changing how users interact with high-volume email.

The platform's proven metrics speak for themselves: users get through email 2x faster, reply 12 hours sooner on average, and save 4+ hours weekly. For sales teams specifically, the ROI is even more compelling with 4.6x increased response rates, 25% shorter deal cycles, and 59% more business emails processed hourly. At professional salary levels ($50,000+), these time savings translate to $3,200+ in annual value, making the $360-480/year investment financially rational for high-volume email users.

The Keyboard Commitment

Superhuman's speed advantages are entirely dependent on embracing keyboard shortcuts and abandoning mouse-driven email habits. The 100+ keyboard shortcuts represent a fundamental workflow shift requiring 2-3 weeks of consistent practice to achieve fluency. Users comfortable with keyboard-centric interfaces will thrive immediately, while those preferring visual, mouse-based navigation will struggle to realize advertised productivity gains.

The complimentary 1-on-1 onboarding training significantly accelerates this learning curve by providing personalized guidance during the critical first week. However, the Command Palette (Cmd/Ctrl+K) is the real training wheels: instead of memorizing shortcuts immediately, users type actions like "send later" or "add to calendar" for instant execution, naturally memorizing frequently-used shortcuts through repetition rather than forced study.

Where Superhuman Excels

Superhuman stands out through its universal platform support with full feature parity for both Gmail and Outlook, making it more versatile than Shortwave (Gmail-only) while maintaining specialization that generic email clients lack. This dual-platform capability is critical for corporate environments standardized on Microsoft 365 while allowing personal Gmail management.

The CRM integration with HubSpot and Salesforce (Business plan) eliminates context switching for sales teams, directly contributing to the 25% shorter deal cycles and 4.6x response rate improvements. Automatic activity logging saves 1-2 hours daily previously spent on manual CRM updates, while Recent Opens Feed identifies hot leads based on engagement patterns. This integration alone justifies the Business plan ($40/month) for revenue teams.

The October 2025 AI evolution represents industry-leading automation. Auto Drafts automatically write follow-up emails without prompting, eliminating the blank-page problem for routine responses. Auto Labels and Auto Archive handle hundreds of low-priority emails daily, allowing laser focus on messages requiring action. Custom Auto Labels using natural language create sophisticated filters without technical configuration. No competitor matches this level of intelligent automation.

The Premium Pricing Reality

At $30-40/month, Superhuman costs 2-5x more than alternatives: Shortwave at $14/month, SaneBox at $7/month, and Clean Email at $30/year. This premium is only justified when time savings translate to economic value exceeding subscription cost. The math is simple: if saving 4 hours weekly equals $3,200+ annually at your salary level, Superhuman pays for itself. If not, cheaper alternatives provide better value.

The platform lacks any permanent free tier, offering only a 7-day trial compared to Shortwave's free plan with limitations. This creates a barrier to entry for budget-conscious users or those uncertain about committing to keyboard-first workflows. However, the trial includes full Starter access and 1-on-1 training, providing sufficient evaluation period for serious prospects.

Acquisition Impact and Future

The Grammarly acquisition completed October 2025 adds long-term stability and future potential for cross-product AI integration. Grammarly's CEO stated "email is the perfect staging ground for orchestrating multiple AI agents simultaneously," signaling plans to combine email management (Superhuman), writing assistance (Grammarly), and document collaboration into an integrated AI productivity suite. While details remain unclear, the strategic vision suggests enhanced capabilities beyond standalone email management.

Our Recommendation

Try the 7-day free trial with your busiest email account. Don't test with light usage—connect your highest-volume email to experience the full speed impact during normal workload.

Superhuman is Worth It If:

You process 200+ emails daily and email management consumes 2+ hours
Sales or executive role where response speed impacts revenue or relationships
Comfortable with keyboard shortcuts or willing to commit to learning
Need CRM integration with HubSpot or Salesforce directly in email
Use both Gmail and Outlook requiring universal compatibility
Budget allows $360-480/year for proven 4+ hour weekly time savings

Consider alternatives if:

Daily email volume under 100 messages → May not justify premium pricing
Budget limited to under $20/month → Try Shortwave at $14/month
Gmail-only with AI personalization priority → Shortwave's Ghostwriter learns voice better
Prefer visual, mouse-driven interface → Keyboard-first approach won't suit workflow
Need inbox cleanup focus → Clean Email at $30/year specializes in bulk decluttering
Want filtering without changing email client → SaneBox at $7/month works with any IMAP

Start Your Free Trial →

7 days full access • Includes 1-on-1 training • Works with Gmail & Outlook

About This Review: We evaluated Superhuman through hands-on testing with both Gmail and Outlook accounts over multiple weeks, comparing keyboard shortcuts, AI features, and CRM integration against major alternatives including Shortwave, SaneBox, and Clean Email. This assessment reflects independent analysis as of October 2025 including the Grammarly acquisition completion and October 13, 2025 AI evolution announcement. Pricing and features verified through official sources dated October 16, 2025.

Superhuman

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