# Notion AI vs Shortwave

> Notion AI: AI agent and writing assistant built into the Notion workspace for docs and databases
> Shortwave: AI email client for Gmail that searches, organizes, drafts and schedules from plain-language prompts

- Notion AI profile: https://finderatlas.com/tools/notion-ai
- Shortwave profile: https://finderatlas.com/tools/shortwave
- Comparison page: https://finderatlas.com/compare/notion-ai-vs-shortwave
- Last reviewed: October 2026

## Verdict

Notion AI and Shortwave are both AI Assistants tools. Notion AI scores higher in FinderAtlas's editorial review (8.5 vs 8.1 out of 10). Both have a free plan or trial. Only Notion AI is available on Web.

### Choose Notion AI if

- You want a tool built for searching and answering questions across a Notion workspace.
- Works directly on the pages and databases where teams already keep their content.
- Q&A answers include citations to workspace sources.

### Choose Shortwave if

- You want a tool built for heavy Gmail users who want AI search, drafting and inbox triage inside the email client itself.
- AI search covers up to five years of email on Business and unlimited history on Premier and Max.
- Native apps on iOS, Android, Mac and Windows, with a 4.7 average rating on the App Store.

## Pricing

| | Notion AI | Shortwave |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Pricing model | Freemium | Freemium |
| Free plan or trial | Yes | Yes |
| Starting price | $0 | $0 |

## Features

| Feature | Notion AI | Shortwave |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Notion Agent | Yes | Not listed |
| Custom Agents | Yes | Not listed |
| Q&A with citations | Yes | Not listed |
| Inline writing help | Yes | Not listed |
| AI Meeting Notes (beta) | Yes | Not listed |
| Enterprise Search (beta) | Yes | Not listed |
| Research mode | Yes | Not listed |
| Database autofill and formulas | Yes | Not listed |
| Admin controls | Yes | Not listed |
| AI Assistant | Not listed | Yes |
| AI Search | Not listed | Yes |
| Write in Your Voice | Not listed | Yes |
| AI Filters | Not listed | Yes |
| Bundles and Split Inboxes | Not listed | Yes |
| AI Scheduling | Not listed | Yes |
| Team Collaboration | Not listed | Yes |
| Tracking and Reminders | Not listed | Yes |
| App Connections and MCP | Not listed | Yes |
| Privacy Controls | Not listed | Yes |

## Platforms

| Platform | Notion AI | Shortwave |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Web | Yes | No |
| Windows | Yes | Yes |
| macOS | Yes | Yes |
| iOS | Yes | Yes |
| Android | Yes | Yes |
| API | No | No |
| Browser Extension | No | No |

## Notion AI strengths

- Works directly on the pages and databases where teams already keep their content
- Q&A answers include citations to workspace sources
- Enterprise Search reaches connected apps such as Slack, Google Drive and GitHub
- Meeting transcription works without a meeting bot
- Notion states customer data is not used for model training unless the customer opts in

## Notion AI limitations

- Full AI features (Agent, Meeting Notes, Enterprise Search) require the $20 per member Business plan
- Custom Agents and Workers use credits billed at $10 per 1,000 monthly credits
- Meeting Notes and Enterprise Search are labelled beta
- Only useful if content lives in Notion; it does not generate images

## Shortwave strengths

- AI search covers up to five years of email on Business and unlimited history on Premier and Max.
- Native apps on iOS, Android, Mac and Windows, with a 4.7 average rating on the App Store.
- Team features such as shared threads, comments and assignments sit inside the inbox.
- AI connects to outside tools including Notion, HubSpot, GitHub and MCP servers.
- Per-plan model tiers let users pay for stronger models only when needed.

## Shortwave limitations

- Paid plans are priced per seat from $30 (Business) to $120 (Max), higher than many email clients.
- Built around Gmail; support for other providers is limited or unclear.
- AI usage is capped by plan, with Business allowing roughly 150-300 Standard requests per day.
- The free tier is not clearly documented on the official pricing page.

## FAQ

**Is Notion AI better than Shortwave?**

It depends on your workflow. Notion AI is built for searching and answering questions across a Notion workspace. Shortwave is built for heavy Gmail users who want AI search, drafting and inbox triage inside the email client itself.

**What are the key feature differences between Notion AI and Shortwave?**

Notion AI: AI agent and writing assistant built into the Notion workspace for docs and databases. Shortwave: AI email client for Gmail that searches, organizes, drafts and schedules from plain-language prompts.

**Does Notion AI or Shortwave have a free plan?**

Yes, both do. Notion AI is freemium and Shortwave is freemium, and each has a free plan or trial.

**Which is cheaper, Notion AI or Shortwave?**

Both can be used for free. Paid plans differ in limits and features, so compare the tiers in the pricing table above.