🤔 Shortwave alternative
Shortwave alternative?
Meet HeyHelp.
Here’s a comparison for those that may be looking for a Shortwave alternative.
HeyHelp vs Shortwave in a nutshell
1. HeyHelp works directly inside Gmail with no new tools to learn or interfaces to adjust to. Shortwave replaces Gmail entirely, requiring users to relearn everyday tasks.
2. Shortwave lacks core Gmail features like advanced filters and full label support. HeyHelp builds on Gmail’s native functionality, so nothing is lost, only enhanced.
3. Drafts in Shortwave don’t sync with Gmail’s Drafts folder, leading to confusion and broken workflows across devices or team members.
4. Shortwave breaks many Gmail extensions and tools. With HeyHelp, any integrations you already have keep working seamlessly.
5. Unlike Shortwave, which requires a full data migration, HeyHelp works instantly inside Gmail with no setup or data transfer.
Meet HeyHelp — The AI Assistant Built for Gmail Power Users
If you’re on the hunt for a smart, efficient alternative to Shortwave, we’d love to introduce you to HeyHelp — a brand-new AI assistant purpose-built for Gmail.
Unlike broader assistant platforms, HeyHelp is laser-focused on optimizing your Gmail inbox — helping you take back control of email clutter, speed up responses, and stay on top of follow-ups, all while you sleep.
Let’s just say we know our way around Gmail.
From Drag to HeyHelp: 6 Years of Building in Gmail
We’ve spent the last six years building productivity tools for Gmail at DragApp — a shared inbox and workflow platform used by over 200,000 users.
We’ve worked deep inside the Gmail ecosystem, solving pain points for teams and individuals alike. Now, we’re using everything we’ve learned to create a best-in-class AI assistant inside Gmail.
What makes HeyHelp a great Shortwave alternative?
Let’s break it down:
✨ You don’t have to leave Gmail
Shortwave replaces your Gmail interface with its own app, which looks and behaves more like a messaging platform than traditional email.
For long-time Gmail users, especially executives and teams who’ve built muscle memory around Gmail’s UI, this shift can be disruptive.
HeyHelp doesn’t require any of that. It runs within your Gmail account. You get powerful AI support without ever leaving the familiar Gmail environment.
🎯 Gmail features stay intact
Shortwave strips away or alters core Gmail features, like filters, custom labels, and stars.
If your workflows rely on Gmail’s built-in features or filters to sort incoming emails, Shortwave forces you to rebuild or give them up entirely.
HeyHelp keeps Gmail’s full functionality intact. You still have access to labels, filters, stars, snoozing, and more, while layering powerful AI capabilities on top.
⚙️ Drafts stay in sync
Shortwave stores your email drafts inside its own system, separate from Gmail’s native Drafts folder. That means you might write something in Shortwave, but it won’t show up in Gmail, or vice versa.
This disconnect is a major issue for teams that collaborate across platforms or use shared inboxes.
HeyHelp works directly with Gmail Drafts, ensuring 100% real-time sync.
🖇️ Extensions and integrations still work
Shortwave runs in a separate environment, meaning any Chrome extensions or third-party Gmail tools (eg. CRM plugins, scheduling assistants) either don’t work or require separate integrations.
For businesses that rely on a tailored Gmail setup, this can mean starting from scratch.
HeyHelp preserves all your existing integrations and extensions. Because it runs inside Gmail, your tools continue working as usual.
✂️ No migration, no disruption
Shortwave requires a full migration. Teams must be onboarded to a new tool, with data moved over, user training completed, and workflows rebuilt.
HeyHelp eliminates that overhead. There’s no migration process, no data transfer, and no retraining. It’s fast, easy, and non-disruptive.
Try it free now. No card details required.
We’re offering a Launch Plan for $12/month — price locked in forever. You’ll get full access to everything we build next on our Product Roadmap.
Start free today 👇🏼.
What is Shortwave?
Shortwave is an email client built to improve team communication with a faster, chat-like interface.
How much does Shortwave cost?
Shortwave’s plans for Businesses start at $18/user/month, with advanced features and AI tools requiring higher-tier pricing.
Are there any other Shortwave alternatives?
For Gmail users, HeyHelp AI is the most recommended Shortwave alternative. For those using Outlook or open to switching email clients, other Shortwave alternatives include Superhuman, Inbox Zero or Fyxer.
Why switch from Shortwave to HeyHelp?
HeyHelp is a better choice if you want to keep using Gmail, avoid context switching, and get smarter AI assistance for writing, replying, and managing inbox overload.