FlickSuperhuman alternatives for Mac
We make Flick, so it is listed first.
Superhuman Mail costs $30 to $40 a person a month, or $25 to $33 billed yearly, and has no free Mail plan. If you use Gmail on a Mac and want a keyboard-first app without AI, Flick costs $30 a month or $240 a year after a 14-day free trial. If you want AI, Shortwave is built around it, and Inbox Zero adds it on paid plans. Spark, Canary Mail, Airmail, and Shortwave have free plans, and Spark, Canary Mail, and Airmail also work with Outlook and iCloud accounts.
Compared
| App | Positioning | Paid plan from | Platforms | Providers | AI | Free option |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flick | Keyboard-first Gmail for Mac | $30 a month | Mac, web, iOS beta | Gmail | No | No |
| Shortwave | AI-first Gmail client | $18 a month | Mac, Windows, web, iOS, Android | Gmail | Yes | Yes |
| Spark | Cross-platform smart inbox | $10 a month | Mac, Windows, iOS, Android | Gmail, Outlook, iCloud, IMAP | Yes | Yes |
| Mimestream | Native Mac Gmail client | $4.99 a month | Mac | Gmail | None found | No |
| Missive | Team inbox and chat | $18 a month | Mac, Windows, web, iOS, Android | Gmail, Outlook, IMAP | Yes | No |
| Canary Mail | Privacy and security, with AI | $36 a year | Mac, Windows, iOS, Android | Gmail, Outlook, iCloud, IMAP | Yes | Yes |
| Airmail | Customizable Apple mail app | $7.99 a month | Mac, iPhone, iPad | Gmail, Outlook, iCloud, IMAP | Minor | Yes |
| Inbox Zero | Open-source AI email assistant | $20 a month | Mac, Windows, web, iPhone | Gmail, Outlook | Yes | Yes |
| Fyxer | AI assistant inside your inbox | $49 a month | Inside Gmail or Outlook | Gmail, Outlook | Yes | Yes |
| HEY | Its own email service | $99 a year | Mac, Windows, Linux, web, iOS, Android | HEY addresses only | Not AI-led | No |
| Superhuman | AI email for Gmail and Outlook | $30 a month | Mac, Windows, web, iOS, Android | Gmail, Outlook | Yes | No |
Prices checked 2026-10-21. Sources: Superhuman pricing, Shortwave pricing, Spark pricing, Mimestream pricing, Missive pricing, Canary Mail pricing, Airmail, Inbox Zero pricing, Fyxer pricing, HEY pricing.
The apps
Flick
Flick is a keyboard-first Gmail app for Macs with macOS 13 or later, on Apple silicon or Intel, with an iPhone and iPad beta on TestFlight and a browser version with fewer features. It has split inboxes built from searches you write, snippets, reminders, undo send, scheduled send that the Flick server runs while Flick is closed for messages up to 20 MiB scheduled more than 2 minutes ahead, local search plus Gmail search, open tracking, and Google Calendar with Meet, availability search, and booking links. It has no AI. After a 14-day trial with no card, it is part of Labs Ultra at $30 a month or $240 a year, which also includes Clak Pro and Zoomer Pro.
Source: Flick pricing
Shortwave
Shortwave is a Gmail client built around AI: an assistant, AI search, AI filters, and summaries. It works with Gmail and Google Workspace only. Its free plan has limited AI, 90 days of search, and a “Sent with Shortwave” signature. Pro is $18 a seat a month, and business plans are $30, $45, or $120 a seat a month, billed monthly only.
Source: Shortwave pricing
Spark
Spark by Readdle works with Google, Outlook, Exchange, Yahoo, iCloud, and IMAP accounts. It has a free plan. Plus is $10 a month or $99 a year, and Pro is $20 a month or $199 a year. Spark +AI writes, summarizes, and translates on a monthly quota.
Source: Spark pricing
Mimestream
Mimestream is a native Gmail app for macOS 12 or later, built on the Gmail API. It costs $4.99 a month or $49.99 a year, with a 14-day trial and no free plan. We found no AI features.
Source: Mimestream pricing
Missive
Missive is built for team collaboration: shared inboxes, with SMS, WhatsApp, Messenger, and Instagram next to Gmail, Outlook, and IMAP mail. Plans are $14, $24, or $36 a user a month billed yearly, or $18, $30, or $45 billed monthly, with a 30-day trial and no free plan. It has AI drafting, summaries, and translation.
Source: Missive pricing
Canary Mail
Canary Mail works with all your email accounts and focuses on privacy and security, with PGP encryption and an AI writer. It has a free plan. Growth is $36 a year and Pro+ is $100 a year; there is no monthly plan.
Source: Canary Mail pricing
Airmail
Airmail is a customizable mail app for Mac, iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch, and Vision Pro. It works with Gmail, iCloud, Exchange, Outlook, IMAP, and POP3 accounts. It is free, and Airmail Pro is $7.99 a month or $39.99 a year in the App Store.
Source: Airmail
Inbox Zero
Inbox Zero is an open-source email app for Gmail and Outlook that you can host yourself. The email app is free. Its AI plans label mail, pre-draft replies, and unsubscribe in bulk, for $18, $28, or $42 a user a month billed yearly, or $20, $35, or $50 billed monthly.
Source: Inbox Zero pricing
Fyxer
Fyxer is not a separate email app. It works inside Gmail or Outlook: it labels mail, drafts replies in your voice, and takes meeting notes. Pro is $37 and Team is $64 a person a month billed yearly, or $49 and $99 billed monthly. After a 14-day trial, it moves to a free plan.
Source: Fyxer pricing
HEY
HEY is an email service with its own addresses, at hey.com or your own domain. It is not a client for a Gmail or Outlook account. HEY for You is $99 a year and HEY for Domains is $12 a user a month, with a 30-day trial.
Source: HEY pricing
When Superhuman is the better choice
- You use Outlook or Microsoft 365. Superhuman works with Gmail and Outlook; Flick works with Gmail only.
- You work on Windows or Android, or want the full app in a browser. Superhuman runs on Mac, Windows, the web, iPhone, and Android. Flick runs on Mac, with an iPhone and iPad beta and a browser version without reminders, scheduled send, undo send, or open tracking.
- You want AI to sort, draft, and answer mail for you. Superhuman includes Superhuman AI on every plan, and Auto Drafts and Ask AI on Business. Flick has no AI.
- Your team shares and comments on emails. Superhuman lets a team share and comment on emails. Flick has no team features.
Questions
Is there a free version of Superhuman?
No. Superhuman has no free Mail plan. Its pricing page can offer the first month for $0 through a referral, and then the list price applies: Starter is $30 a person a month, or $25 billed yearly.
Is there a free Superhuman alternative?
Spark, Canary Mail, Airmail, and Shortwave have free plans, and the Inbox Zero email app is free. Fyxer moves to a free plan after its trial, but it works inside Gmail or Outlook rather than as its own app. Flick has a 14-day free trial with no card, and no free plan after it.
What is a cheaper Superhuman alternative for Mac?
Mimestream, a Gmail app for Mac, is $49.99 a year. Spark Plus is $99 a year, and Canary Mail Growth is $36 a year. Flick is $240 a year with Labs Ultra. Superhuman Starter billed yearly is $300 a year.
Is there an email client with no AI?
Flick has no AI: no AI drafting, replies, summaries, or triage. Its split inboxes come from searches you write. We also found no AI features in Mimestream. Superhuman, Shortwave, Spark, Canary Mail, Missive, Inbox Zero, and Fyxer all include AI.
Does Superhuman work with iCloud or IMAP?
No. Superhuman Mail works with Gmail and Outlook only, with no IMAP, iCloud, Fastmail, or Proton accounts. Spark, Canary Mail, and Airmail work with iCloud and IMAP accounts.
Does Flick work with Outlook or on Windows?
No. Flick works with Gmail only. It runs on Macs with macOS 13 or later, with an iPhone and iPad beta on TestFlight and a browser version with fewer features. There is no Outlook, IMAP, Windows, or Android support.
Try Flick for 14 days
Every Flick feature is free for 14 days from your first sign-in, with no card.
macOS 13 or later · Apple silicon and Intel