Email, SMS and WhatsApp marketing platform with an AI assistant for writing campaigns.
Best for: Small businesses that want many channels at a fair price.
Why pick it: Free plan with unlimited contacts; Many channels in one tool.
Updated 2026
Shortwave: AI-first Gmail client that summarises threads, drafts replies and finds anything in your inbox. If it is not quite right for you, these tools do a similar job, ranked by our editors, and 9 of them can be used for free.
Most similar first. Each entry says what it is best for and how it compares.
Email, SMS and WhatsApp marketing platform with an AI assistant for writing campaigns.
Best for: Small businesses that want many channels at a fair price.
Why pick it: Free plan with unlimited contacts; Many channels in one tool.
Email marketing and automation platform with AI that builds journeys and writes content.
Best for: Businesses that want advanced automated email journeys.
Why pick it: Very flexible automations; Strong integrations.
Cold email outreach platform with inbox warm-up, a lead database and AI-written sequences.
Best for: Agencies and sales teams running cold email campaigns.
Why pick it: Built for deliverability; Scales to many inboxes.
Email marketing platform with AI tools that help write campaigns, pick send times and segment lists.
Best for: Small businesses that want a familiar, all-round email marketing tool.
Why pick it: Easy to start; Lots of templates and integrations.
Email and SMS marketing for online stores, with AI that builds segments, flows and campaign copy.
Best for: Online shops on platforms such as Shopify that want data-driven email.
Why pick it: Powerful store-based targeting; Strong e-commerce focus.
Smart email app from Readdle with an AI writer, priority inbox and team features.
Best for: Anyone who wants a tidy, cross-device email app with light AI help.
Why pick it: Clean design on every platform; Free plan for personal use.
Simple email marketing tool with an AI writing assistant, landing pages and automations.
Best for: Creators and small businesses who want a simple, affordable email tool.
Why pick it: Clean and beginner friendly; Generous free plan.
Newsletter platform with growth tools, monetisation and AI help for writing and images.
Best for: Writers and creators building a newsletter business.
Why pick it: Built for newsletter growth; Free plan to start.
AI email coach that scores and improves sales emails as you write them in your inbox.
Best for: Sales reps who want better reply rates on cold emails.
Why pick it: Teaches better writing habits; Fits into your existing inbox.
Email filter that learns what matters and moves less important mail out of your inbox.
Best for: People who want a calmer inbox without switching email apps.
Why pick it: Works with any email app; Little setup needed.
Secure email app with an AI copilot for writing and summarising, plus encryption options.
Best for: Privacy-minded users who still want AI help with email.
Why pick it: Privacy features plus AI; Works with most email providers.
Flexible modern CRM that builds itself from your email and calendar, with AI research and automation.
Best for: Startups and modern teams that want a flexible CRM.
Why pick it: Flexible and fast; Free plan for small teams.
Our top pick is Brevo: Email, SMS and WhatsApp marketing platform with an AI assistant for writing campaigns. ActiveCampaign and Instantly are close behind.
Yes. Brevo, Mailchimp, Klaviyo, Spark Mail can be used without paying, on a free plan or as open source. Free limits change often, so check each site.
People usually switch for price, a feature Shortwave lacks, a different platform or simply a style of results they prefer. A common reason: only for Gmail and Google Workspace accounts.
We list tools that do a similar job, most similar first, and rank them by our editorial score for usefulness, maturity and free-plan value. No listing is paid for.