Dodosend vs Shortwave

Two Gmail clients, two answers: AI first, or keys first

Shortwave builds your inbox around an AI assistant. Dodosend builds it around your keyboard, and keeps AI to a suggestion while you write. Both are for Gmail. Here’s how they compare, and who each one is for.

At a glance

Shortwave’s details come from its own site, checked in September 2026.

	Dodosend	Shortwave
Price	Free for one Gmail mailbox; the Multi-mailbox plan, monthly or yearly, adds more	Business $30, Premier $45 or Max $120 per seat a month, after a 14-day trial
Free plan	Yes: one Gmail mailbox, with every feature	No: a 14-day trial
Desktop apps	macOS 12+, Windows 10+, Linux (AppImage, .deb, .rpm)	macOS and Windows; a web app elsewhere
Phone and web	Not yet: desktop only	iPhone, Android and web
Email accounts	Gmail and Google Workspace	Gmail and Google Workspace
Keyboard	A key for every action, and a ⌘K / Ctrl+K palette that reads “remind me fri 10”	Keyboard shortcuts
AI	In one place: a short suggestion as you write, which Tab accepts	The center of the app: an assistant that searches, summarizes and drafts across your mail
Availability	Private beta: invites go out a few at a time	Open to everyone

Something here out of date? Tell us and we’ll fix it.

Which one is for you

Pick Dodosend if…

You want to drive, not delegate
In Dodosend every action is a key and every command is one box away. Nothing is written for you unless you press Tab.
You pay for your email yourself
Dodosend is free for one Gmail mailbox, with every feature. There’s no seat price to justify.
You’re on Linux
Dodosend has a Linux desktop build, as an AppImage, a .deb and an .rpm. Shortwave’s desktop apps are for Mac and Windows.
You like reminders you can type
“Remind me fri 10” in the palette does what it says, and ⌘⇧H brings a thread back only if nobody replies.

Pick Shortwave if…

You want AI to read and write for you
Shortwave’s assistant answers questions about your whole inbox and drafts replies. Dodosend doesn’t try to.
You triage on your phone
Shortwave has iPhone, Android and web apps. Dodosend is a desktop app; on your phone you’d still use Gmail.
You need it today
Dodosend is in private beta, and invites go out a few at a time. Shortwave is open to everyone.

Switching from Shortwave

Your mail stays in Gmail, so there’s nothing to move: sign in to Dodosend with Google and your threads, labels and drafts are there. What Shortwave’s AI made for you, like summaries, stays in Shortwave.

Questions

Does Dodosend use AI?

In one place: a short suggestion as you write a draft, which Tab accepts and typing ignores. The rest of Dodosend is keys and commands, and nothing is written for you unless you take it.

Is Dodosend free?

Yes, for one Gmail mailbox, with every feature: the command palette, reminders, scheduled send, the calendar. The Multi-mailbox plan, billed monthly or yearly, is only for connecting more mailboxes.

Is there Shortwave for Linux?

Shortwave’s desktop apps are for macOS and Windows, with a web app for everything else. Dodosend has a Linux desktop build for x86_64.

Can I try both?

Yes. Both work on top of your Gmail account, so you can go back and forth without moving anything.

Try it on your own inbox

Your Gmail, your keys, no card. Leave your email and we’ll save you a spot.