The 7 Best Gmail Alternatives in 2026: A Comprehensive Roundup

We selected these seven alternatives based on what real Gmail users are looking for when they search for alternatives. Through analyzing search patterns and user feedback, the main reasons people look beyond Gmail fall into a few categories: AI-powered email assistance, inbox speed and productivity, privacy concerns, team collaboration, and ecosystem preferences.

Each tool on this list addresses at least one of these needs better than Gmail does natively. We did not include every email client available -- we focused on tools that offer something meaningfully different from Gmail's default experience.

All pricing and feature information comes from publicly available sources on each product's website. We use Draftery ourselves and are transparent about that perspective, but we have done our best to present every tool fairly based on its actual strengths. Every product on this list has genuine value for the right user.

Draftery is not a full email client replacement -- it is an AI email assistant that works with your Gmail account. What makes it unique among Gmail alternatives is per-recipient voice matching: it learns how you communicate with each individual person and generates email drafts that match the tone, formality, and style of each specific relationship.

Most AI email tools learn your general writing style and apply it uniformly to every email. Draftery takes a different approach. Your draft to a long-time client sounds warm and professional. Your note to a teammate sounds casual and direct. Your update to an executive sounds concise and structured. This happens automatically based on your communication history with each person.

Every edit, acceptance, or rejection teaches Draftery more about your voice for that specific relationship. After a week or two of use, most users find that drafts require minimal editing.

Draftery costs $19.99 per month with a flat rate that includes approximately 300 drafts. A 7-day free trial with no credit card required lets you experience the difference before committing. The focus is intentionally narrow: Draftery does one thing -- draft emails that sound like you, differently for each person -- and does it exceptionally well.

Best for: Professionals who send email to diverse audiences daily -- consultants, account managers, founders, sales professionals -- and need each email to reflect the right relationship dynamics. If you are happy with Gmail as your email client but want significantly better AI drafting, Draftery is the best add-on.

Superhuman replaces your Gmail interface entirely with a speed-optimized email client. Every aspect of the product is designed to help you process email faster: keyboard shortcuts for every action, split inbox that categorizes messages automatically, read receipts, and a workflow methodology built around inbox zero.

The speed difference is noticeable from day one. Superhuman claims their app loads in under 100 milliseconds, and the keyboard-driven workflow means you rarely reach for your mouse. Power users develop muscle memory within a few days that makes email processing almost automatic. For professionals who handle 100 or more emails per day, the time savings compound quickly.

Superhuman includes AI-powered email drafting with general style matching, scheduled sends, and reminders. It works with both Gmail and Outlook accounts. The 14-day free trial is the most generous on this list, giving you enough time to build keyboard shortcut muscle memory.

At $30 per month, Superhuman is a premium option. The price is justified for high-volume emailers who value speed above all else, but it may be hard to justify for professionals who send fewer than 50 emails per day.

Best for: Speed-obsessed professionals who process high volumes of email and want the fastest possible inbox workflow. If your main Gmail frustration is how long it takes to get through your inbox, Superhuman addresses that directly.

Source: Pricing and feature details from <a href="https://superhuman.com" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">superhuman.com</a>.

Fyxer takes the broadest approach of any tool on this list. It bundles AI email drafting with inbox organization, meeting notes, and CRM integration in a single platform. If you want one tool that handles multiple email productivity challenges, Fyxer covers the most ground.

Fyxer learns your general writing style and generates drafts that match your tone. Beyond drafting, it automatically labels incoming emails as "To Respond," "FYI," or "Marketing" to speed up inbox triage. It can transcribe meetings and generate follow-up emails based on discussion points. The HubSpot CRM integration on the Professional plan connects your email directly to your sales pipeline.

Fyxer works with both Gmail and Outlook as a Chrome extension. The Starter plan costs $30 per month, with the Professional plan at $50 per month adding CRM integration. Annual billing brings the Starter plan to $22.50 per month.

The trade-off compared to more focused tools is depth. Fyxer's AI drafting uses general style matching rather than per-recipient voice adaptation. Its speed features are not as refined as Superhuman's. But if you want drafting, inbox management, and meeting tools in one subscription, Fyxer is the most comprehensive option.

Best for: Professionals who want one tool for drafting, inbox management, and meeting notes. Ideal if you prefer breadth of features over depth in any single area.

Source: Pricing and feature details from <a href="https://www.fyxer.com" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">fyxer.com</a>.

Shortwave is an AI-native email client built specifically for Gmail. At $14 per month for the Pro plan, it offers Ghostwriter AI drafting, smart conversation bundling, and natural language search across your email history. Shortwave has a free tier for basic use, making it the easiest to try. Its AI search is particularly strong -- you can ask questions about your email history in plain language. Shortwave keeps your Gmail account but replaces the Gmail interface with something more modern and AI-powered. Best for Gmail users who want an AI-native email experience without leaving the Gmail ecosystem.

Spark is a cross-platform email client with team collaboration features and basic AI compose at $4.99 per month. It supports Gmail, Outlook, and other email providers with shared inboxes, team commenting, and email delegation. The AI drafting is more basic than dedicated AI tools but competent for standard replies. Spark's free tier covers individual use with basic features. Best for teams on a budget who need collaborative email features and basic AI drafting at an affordable price.

ProtonMail is the privacy-focused alternative to Gmail. Based in Switzerland and built around end-to-end encryption, ProtonMail ensures that nobody -- not even ProtonMail -- can read your emails. The free tier includes 1 GB of storage and basic email functionality. The Plus plan at $4.99 per month adds custom domains, more storage, and filters. ProtonMail also includes an encrypted calendar and drive. The trade-off is clear: ProtonMail does not have AI drafting or advanced inbox management, but it offers privacy that Gmail fundamentally cannot provide. Best for privacy-conscious users who want their emails protected by end-to-end encryption.

Outlook is the most straightforward Gmail alternative for anyone in or moving to the Microsoft ecosystem. The free web version of Outlook is capable and clean. With Microsoft 365 at $6.99 per month, you get Outlook desktop apps, 1 TB of OneDrive storage, and the full Office suite. Microsoft Copilot adds AI features including email drafting, though it requires additional subscription. Outlook's calendar integration is arguably the best of any email client, and the enterprise administration features make it the default for corporate environments. Best for users who want or need to be in the Microsoft ecosystem, or who value calendar integration above all else.

Source: Product details from <a href="https://www.shortwave.com" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">shortwave.com</a>, <a href="https://sparkmailapp.com" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">sparkmailapp.com</a>, <a href="https://proton.me/mail" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">proton.me/mail</a>, and <a href="https://outlook.live.com" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">outlook.live.com</a>.

With seven tools to consider, the right choice depends on what specific problem you are trying to solve by looking beyond Gmail. Here is a decision framework based on the most common motivations.

If you want better AI email drafting, the choice comes down to how much personalization matters. Draftery offers per-recipient voice matching -- every email sounds like you, tuned to each specific person. Superhuman and Fyxer offer general style matching -- competent drafts that reflect your overall tone. Shortwave and Spark offer more basic AI drafting. ProtonMail and Outlook do not have built-in AI drafting (Outlook has Copilot as a separate paid add-on).

If you want faster email processing, Superhuman is built specifically for speed with keyboard shortcuts, split inbox, and an inbox zero methodology. Shortwave and Spark also offer inbox productivity features, though less polished than Superhuman's.

If privacy is your priority, ProtonMail is the only option with true end-to-end encryption. No other tool on this list offers the same level of privacy protection.

If you want to stay in the Gmail ecosystem, Draftery (works with Gmail), Shortwave (replaces Gmail UI but keeps your account), and Spark (supports Gmail) all work with your existing Gmail account. ProtonMail and Outlook require a new email address.

If budget is your primary concern, ProtonMail (free), Spark ($4.99 per month), and Shortwave (free tier) are the most affordable options. Outlook's free web version is also very capable.

If you need team features, Spark ($4.99 per seat per month) offers the most affordable team collaboration. Fyxer and Superhuman also support team use at higher price points.

• Best AI drafting: Draftery ($19.99/mo) -- per-recipient voice matching for the most authentic-sounding drafts
• Best speed: Superhuman ($30/mo) -- keyboard-driven inbox zero for high-volume email processors
• Best all-in-one: Fyxer ($30/mo) -- drafting, inbox labels, meeting notes, and CRM in one tool
• Best AI-native Gmail: Shortwave ($14/mo) -- modern AI interface that works with your Gmail account
• Best for teams: Spark ($4.99/mo) -- collaborative email with shared inboxes at the lowest team price
• Best privacy: ProtonMail (free / $4.99/mo) -- end-to-end encryption that Gmail cannot match
• Best Microsoft alternative: Outlook (free / $6.99/mo) -- full Microsoft ecosystem with the best calendar integration

Gmail is a great email service, but it is not the only one -- and for many professionals, it is not the best one. The right alternative depends entirely on what you need most.

If your main frustration with Gmail is that AI drafting is limited and generic, Draftery adds per-recipient voice matching that makes every email sound authentically like you. It works with your existing Gmail account, so you do not need to switch email providers. At $19.99 per month, it costs less than premium alternatives while offering the most advanced voice matching available.

If your main frustration is speed, Superhuman's keyboard-driven interface and inbox zero methodology will transform how you process email. If you want everything in one tool, Fyxer bundles drafting with inbox management and meeting notes. If privacy matters above all else, ProtonMail is the only real option.

Every tool on this list offers a free trial or free tier, so you can experience the difference before committing. We recommend trying the one that addresses your biggest Gmail frustration first -- and giving it at least a week to see the full impact on your workflow.