Delegate your day.
Otto vs Shortwave
Compare Otto Mail and Shortwave on Gmail and Outlook support, AI email workflows, free access and September 2026 pricing.
You just approve.
At a glance
Prices in USD, as of Sept 2026. — means not verified here, not that a feature is absent. Confirm current offers and billing intervals before subscribing.
| Compare | Otto Mail | Shortwave |
|---|---|---|
| Price (USD, as of Sept 2026) | Free; Plus $4.99/month or $39.99/year; Pro $14.99/month or $119.99/year | Business $30, Premier $45, Max $120 per seat/month; annual not shown on the pricing page |
| Platforms | Web, iOS | Web, desktop app for Mac and Windows, iOS, Android |
| Gmail + Outlook | Both supported; one account on Free | Gmail / Google Workspace only; no Outlook.com, Microsoft 365 or Exchange |
| Approval model | Otto prepares AI sends, deletes and bulk changes for confirmation. Review the action card and check the result after approving. | Assistant suggests triage and drafts; user control at each step. Per-action confirmation: — |
| Free tier | Free includes one connected account, core mail, calendar and tasks. AI has an allowance; paid tiers add capacity and features. | No free plan; 14-day free trial |
| Calendar / tasks | Calendar plus Google Tasks or Microsoft To Do for the selected account | Calendar invites from the assistant; emails become Todos |
Price (USD, as of Sept 2026)
- Otto Mail
- Free; Plus $4.99/month or $39.99/year; Pro $14.99/month or $119.99/year
- Shortwave
- Business $30, Premier $45, Max $120 per seat/month; annual not shown on the pricing page
Platforms
- Otto Mail
- Web, iOS
- Shortwave
- Web, desktop app for Mac and Windows, iOS, Android
Gmail + Outlook
- Otto Mail
- Both supported; one account on Free
- Shortwave
- Gmail / Google Workspace only; no Outlook.com, Microsoft 365 or Exchange
Approval model
- Otto Mail
- Otto prepares AI sends, deletes and bulk changes for confirmation. Review the action card and check the result after approving.
- Shortwave
- Assistant suggests triage and drafts; user control at each step. Per-action confirmation: —
Free tier
- Otto Mail
- Free includes one connected account, core mail, calendar and tasks. AI has an allowance; paid tiers add capacity and features.
- Shortwave
- No free plan; 14-day free trial
Calendar / tasks
- Otto Mail
- Calendar plus Google Tasks or Microsoft To Do for the selected account
- Shortwave
- Calendar invites from the assistant; emails become Todos
Decide what you want AI to do
Shortwave is an AI email app for Gmail and Google Workspace. It is worth distinguishing help inside an email thread from the wider workflow you need around that thread: scheduling the next conversation and keeping track of a follow-up.
Otto brings Gmail and Outlook mail, calendar and tasks into one app. Ask the assistant to draft a reply or propose a meeting, review the proposed action, and check its result. The selected account supplies the mail, calendar and task context.
Compare a trial with a free tier
Shortwave offers a 14-day free trial and no free plan. Business is $30, Premier $45 and Max $120 per seat/month. Annual billing is not shown on its pricing page.
Otto's Free tier includes one account and core mail, calendar and tasks, with limited AI. See the assistant guide for its action flow and account guide before choosing a multi-account tier.
Questions, answered
Is Shortwave free?
Shortwave has no free plan and offers a 14-day free trial. Paid plans range from $30–120 per seat/month; annual billing is not shown on the pricing page.
Can Otto work with Gmail and Outlook?
Otto supports both providers. The selected account supplies the context for mail, calendar and tasks. Free includes one account; paid tiers add more.
Does Otto require a subscription for core mail?
Free includes one connected account, core mail, calendar and tasks. AI has an allowance; paid tiers add capacity and features.
Try your next step in Otto
Core mail, calendar and tasks are free. AI has an allowance.
Open Otto