n8n Agents vs Shortwave: 2026 comparison
Open-source workflow automation with first-class AI agent nodes — self-host or use cloud.
AI email client — natural-language search, summary, scheduled send, and AI-drafted replies grounded in your inbox.
n8n Agents vs Shortwave — specs
| Spec | n8n Agents | Shortwave |
|---|---|---|
| Agent Rank | 85 / 100 (S) | 72 / 100 (A) |
| Autonomy | Semi-autonomous | Assistant |
| Pricing | Free · OSS | Freemium · from $9 |
| Open source | Yes | No |
| Capabilities | Tool use, Memory, Multi-agent | RAG, Memory, Tool use |
| Integrations | 6 apps | 3 apps |
| Verified | Verified | Verified |
| Released | Feb 2025 | Feb 2025 |
Agent Rank breakdown
- Autonomy fit
- 8
- Capabilities
- 6
- Integrations
- 10
- Pricing value
- 10
- Polish & maturity
- 7
- Verifiability
- 10
Auto-computed from autonomy, capabilities, integrations, pricing, maturity and editorial verification. Updated every deploy. How is this computed?
- Autonomy fit
- 7
- Capabilities
- 6
- Integrations
- 6
- Pricing value
- 8
- Polish & maturity
- 6
- Verifiability
- 10
Auto-computed from autonomy, capabilities, integrations, pricing, maturity and editorial verification. Updated every deploy. How is this computed?
Pros & cons
- +Strongest OSS workflow automation in 2026 — production-ready at any scale
- +Self-host keeps proprietary data on your infra
- +Multi-agent + AI agent nodes are first-class, not bolted on
- −Steeper learning curve than Zapier
- −Cloud pricing is competitive but self-host operational overhead is real
- −Community support primary; commercial SLA is paid tier
- +Best AI-native email client in 2026 — search, summarize, draft all natural-language
- +Built specifically for Gmail; faster + smarter than Gmail itself
- +Cheap relative to Superhuman with better AI features
- −Gmail-only — no Outlook support
- −AI assistant is helpful but not yet revolutionary
- −Smaller user base means fewer integrations than Gmail/Outlook ecosystems
Pricing
- +Apache-2.0 fair-use license
- +Unlimited workflows
- +Full agent node support
- +Hosted runtime
- +Active workflows
- +BYO LLM key supported
- +10K executions/mo
- +Multi-user
- +Workflow versioning
- +Basic AI summary
- +90-day search
- +Unlimited search
- +AI assistant
- +Scheduled send
- +Shared inboxes
- +Send delegation
- +Admin controls
Which one should you pick?
Pick n8n Agents if cost is the main constraint or if you want the highest autonomy and the verification loop is in place.
Try n8n Agents →Pick Shortwave if its specific capabilities (RAG, Memory) match what you need.
Try Shortwave →Affiliate links. We may earn a commission at no extra cost to you.
Frequently asked
Should I pick n8n Agents or Shortwave in 2026?+
Pick n8n Agents if cost is the main constraint or if you want the highest autonomy and the verification loop is in place. Pick Shortwave if its specific capabilities (RAG, Memory) match what you need. Most working teams running both can use n8n Agents for primary work and Shortwave for the workflows where its specific strengths matter.
What's the price difference between n8n Agents and Shortwave?+
n8n Agents starts at Free · OSS; Shortwave starts at Freemium · from $9. n8n Agents is the cheaper entry option. For team deployments the TCO can differ — use the AI Agent Rank TCO calculator for your specific volume.
Which is more autonomous, n8n Agents or Shortwave?+
n8n Agents is the more autonomous of the two (Semi-autonomous vs Assistant). Higher autonomy ships throughput faster but requires verification loops in place — see our autonomous-vs-copilot framing for when each tier wins.