Self-organizing memory agent that captures and surfaces what matters.
MemoryRAGTool use
Demo · hover to play
Shortwave vs Speakwhich AI personal agent should you pick in 2026?
AI email client — natural-language search, summary, scheduled send, and AI-drafted replies grounded in your inbox.
RAGMemoryTool use
AI language tutor — practice conversations with patient native-level AI tutors in 40+ languages.
VoiceMemory
Shortwave vs Speak — specs
| Spec | Shortwave | Speak |
|---|---|---|
| Agent Rank | 73 / 100 (A) | 60 / 100 (B) |
| Autonomy | Assistant | Assistant |
| Pricing | Freemium · from $9 | Subscription · from $20 |
| Open source | No | No |
| Capabilities | RAG, Memory, Tool use | Voice, Memory |
| Integrations | 3 apps | 2 apps |
| Verified | Verified | Verified |
| Released | Feb 2025 | Sep 2024 |
Agent Rank breakdown
Shortwave
Agent Rank
73/ 100
- Autonomy fit
- 7
- Capabilities
- 6
- Integrations
- 6
- Pricing value
- 8
- Polish & maturity
- 7
- Verifiability
- 10
Auto-computed from autonomy, capabilities, integrations, pricing, maturity and editorial verification. Updated every deploy. How is this computed?
Speak
Agent Rank
60/ 100
- Autonomy fit
- 7
- Capabilities
- 4
- Integrations
- 2
- Pricing value
- 8
- Polish & maturity
- 8
- Verifiability
- 7
Auto-computed from autonomy, capabilities, integrations, pricing, maturity and editorial verification. Updated every deploy. How is this computed?
Pros & cons
Shortwave
Pros
- +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
Cons
- −Gmail-only — no Outlook support
- −AI assistant is helpful but not yet revolutionary
- −Smaller user base means fewer integrations than Gmail/Outlook ecosystems
Speak
Pricing
Shortwave
Free
Free
Personal
- +Basic AI summary
- +90-day search
Recommended
Plus
$9/mo
Individuals
- +Unlimited search
- +AI assistant
- +Scheduled send
Business
$14/seat/mo
Teams
- +Shared inboxes
- +Send delegation
- +Admin controls
Speak
Which one should you pick?
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Frequently asked
Should I pick Shortwave or Speak in 2026?+
Pick Shortwave if cost is the main constraint. Pick Speak if its specific capabilities (Voice, Memory) match what you need. Most working teams running both can use Shortwave for primary work and Speak for the workflows where its specific strengths matter.
What's the price difference between Shortwave and Speak?+
Shortwave starts at Freemium · from $9; Speak starts at Subscription · from $20. Shortwave 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, Shortwave or Speak?+
Both Shortwave and Speak are Assistant agents — neither has a meaningful autonomy advantage over the other. The decision should hinge on capabilities and pricing instead.
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See more alternatives: alternatives to Shortwave · alternatives to Speak
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