# Shortwave, Thunderbird vs Mailspring Comparison

| | Shortwave | Thunderbird | Mailspring | 
|---|---|---|---|
| **Star Rating** | 4.4 out of 5 | 4.3 out of 5 | 3.8 out of 5 | 
| **Total Reviews** | 68 | 339 | 18 | 
| **Largest Market Segment** | Small-Business (60.3% of reviews) | Small-Business (65.1% of reviews) | Small-Business (64.7% of reviews) | 
| **Entry Level Price** | Free 1 User Per Month | No pricing available | No pricing available | 

---
## Top Pros & Cons

### Shortwave

Pros:
- Ease of Use (3 reviews)
- AI Integration (2 reviews)

Cons:
- Editing Limitations (1 reviews)
- Gmail Dependency (1 reviews)

### Thunderbird

Pros:
- Functionality Features (4 reviews)
- Ease of Use (3 reviews)

Cons:
- Difficult Setup (2 reviews)
- Missing Features (2 reviews)

### Mailspring

**Not enough data**

---
## Ratings Comparison
| Rating | Shortwave | Thunderbird | Mailspring | 
|---|---|---|---|
  | **Meets Requirements** | 9.0 (48 reviews) | 8.7 (304 reviews) | 7.3 (16 reviews) | 
  | **Ease of Use** | 9.4 (50 reviews) | 8.7 (305 reviews) | 8.8 (16 reviews) | 
  | **Ease of Setup** | 9.4 (9 reviews) | 8.8 (75 reviews) | Not enough data | 
  | **Ease of Admin** | Not enough data | 8.4 (58 reviews) | Not enough data | 
  | **Quality of Support** | 9.0 (47 reviews) | 7.9 (222 reviews) | 7.1 (8 reviews) | 
  | **Has the product been a good partner in doing business?** | Not enough data | 8.1 (41 reviews) | Not enough data | 
  | **Product Direction (% positive)** | 9.5 (48 reviews) | 7.6 (302 reviews) | 6.1 (15 reviews) | 

---
## Pricing

### Shortwave

#### Entry-Level Pricing

Plan: Free

Price: Free 1 User Per Month

Description: For casual email users who just want the basics with an AI productivity boost

Key Features:
- AI executive assistant
- 90 days searchable email history
- Flexible inbox organization

[Browse all 4 editions](https://www.g2.com/products/shortwave-communications-inc-shortwave/pricing)

#### Free Trial

Yes

### Thunderbird

#### Entry-Level Pricing

No pricing available

#### Free Trial

No information available

### Mailspring

#### Entry-Level Pricing

No pricing available

#### Free Trial

No information available

---
## Features Comparison By Category

### Email Client

| Product | Score | Reviews |
|---|---|---|
| **Shortwave** | N/A | N/A |
| **Thunderbird** | 8.5/10 | 123 |
| **Mailspring** | 8.4/10 | 12 |

#### Inbox Tools

| Feature | Shortwave | Thunderbird | Mailspring | 
|---|---|---|---|
| **Unified Inbox** | Not enough data | 8.9 (104 reviews) | 9.2 (11 reviews) | 
| **Filters** | Not enough data | 8.9 (109 reviews) | 7.3 (10 reviews) | 
| **Reminders** | Not enough data | 8.5 (96 reviews) | 8.6 (7 reviews) | 
| **Notifications** | Not enough data | 8.7 (104 reviews) | 8.6 (11 reviews) | 

#### Coordination Tools

| Feature | Shortwave | Thunderbird | Mailspring | 
|---|---|---|---|
| **Calendar** | Not enough data | 8.4 (93 reviews) | 8.6 (7 reviews) | 
| **Contacts** | Not enough data | 8.6 (101 reviews) | 7.5 (10 reviews) | 
| **Task Management** | Not enough data | 8.4 (89 reviews) | 9.7 (6 reviews) | 

#### Software Options

| Feature | Shortwave | Thunderbird | Mailspring | 
|---|---|---|---|
| **Desktop Application** | Not enough data | 9.2 (111 reviews) | 7.8 (12 reviews) | 
| **Mobile Application** | Not enough data | 7.6 (64 reviews) | Not enough data | 

#### Email Client - Agentic AI

| Feature | Shortwave | Thunderbird | Mailspring | 
|---|---|---|---|
| **Autonomous Task Execution** | Not enough data | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Cross-system Integration** | Not enough data | 8.0 (5 reviews) | Not enough data | 

### Email Management

| Product | Score | Reviews |
|---|---|---|
| **Shortwave** | 8.2/10 | 7 |
| **Thunderbird** | 8.9/10 | 9 |
| **Mailspring** | N/A | N/A |

#### Sorting & Filtering

| Feature | Shortwave | Thunderbird | Mailspring | 
|---|---|---|---|
| **Attachment Search** | 8.8 (7 reviews) | 9.2 (6 reviews) | Not enough data | 
| **Tags** | 9.3 (7 reviews) | 10.0 (7 reviews) | Not enough data | 
| **AI Sorting** | 8.3 (7 reviews) | 8.0 (5 reviews) | Not enough data | 
| **Predefined Rules** | 8.6 (7 reviews) | 9.2 (6 reviews) | Not enough data | 

#### Integrations

| Feature | Shortwave | Thunderbird | Mailspring | 
|---|---|---|---|
| **Microsoft Outlook Integration** | 6.9 (7 reviews) | 8.3 (6 reviews) | Not enough data | 
| **Gmail Integration** | 9.8 (7 reviews) | 9.0 (7 reviews) | Not enough data | 
| **Apple Calendar Integration** | 7.5 (6 reviews) | 8.1 (6 reviews) | Not enough data | 

#### Time Management

| Feature | Shortwave | Thunderbird | Mailspring | 
|---|---|---|---|
| **Unified Inbox** | 7.1 (7 reviews) | 9.4 (6 reviews) | Not enough data | 
| **Email Automation** | 7.2 (6 reviews) | 8.8 (7 reviews) | Not enough data | 
| **Snooze** | 8.8 (7 reviews) | 9.0 (5 reviews) | Not enough data | 

#### Generative AI

| Feature | Shortwave | Thunderbird | Mailspring | 
|---|---|---|---|
| **AI Text Generation** | Not enough data | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **AI Text-to-Speech** | Not enough data | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **AI Text Summarization** | Not enough data | Not enough data | Not enough data | 

#### Agentic AI - Email Management

| Feature | Shortwave | Thunderbird | Mailspring | 
|---|---|---|---|
| **Autonomous Task Execution** | Not enough data | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Cross-system Integration** | Not enough data | Not enough data | Not enough data | 

---
## Categories

**Unique to Shortwave (1):** [Email Management Software](https://www.g2.com/categories/email-management)

**Unique to Thunderbird (2):** [Email Client Software](https://www.g2.com/categories/email-client), [Email Management Software](https://www.g2.com/categories/email-management)

**Unique to Mailspring (1):** [Email Client Software](https://www.g2.com/categories/email-client)


---
## Reviewer Demographics

### By Company Size

| Segment | Shortwave | Thunderbird | Mailspring | 
|---|---|---|---|
| **Small-Business** | 60.3% | 65.1% | 64.7% | 
| **Mid-Market** | 33.8% | 24.4% | 11.8% | 
| **Enterprise** | 5.9% | 10.5% | 23.5% | 

### By Industry

#### Shortwave

- **Computer Software:** 38.2%
- **Education Management:** 7.4%
- **Marketing and Advertising:** 5.9%
- **Non-Profit Organization Management:** 4.4%
- **Telecommunications:** 2.9%
- **Information Services:** 2.9%
- **Information Technology and Services:** 2.9%
- **Computer & Network Security:** 2.9%
- **Health, Wellness and Fitness:** 1.5%
- **Financial Services:** 1.5%
- **Other:** 29.4%

#### Thunderbird

- **Information Technology and Services:** 13.0%
- **Computer Software:** 11.7%
- **Internet:** 6.6%
- **Marketing and Advertising:** 5.1%
- **Telecommunications:** 3.3%
- **Higher Education:** 2.7%
- **Consumer Goods:** 2.4%
- **Design:** 2.4%
- **Education Management:** 2.1%
- **Renewables & Environment:** 2.1%
- **Other:** 48.5%

#### Mailspring

- **Computer Software:** 29.4%
- **Information Technology and Services:** 17.6%
- **Utilities:** 5.9%
- **Transportation/Trucking/Railroad:** 5.9%
- **Marketing and Advertising:** 5.9%
- **Insurance:** 5.9%
- **Human Resources:** 5.9%
- **Higher Education:** 5.9%
- **Design:** 5.9%
- **Consumer Services:** 5.9%
- **Other:** 5.9%

---
## Alternatives

### Alternatives to Shortwave

- [Superhuman Mail](https://www.g2.com/products/superhuman-mail/reviews) — 4.7/5 stars (1248 reviews)
- [Boomerang for Gmail](https://www.g2.com/products/boomerang-for-gmail/reviews) — 4.6/5 stars (423 reviews)
- [Front](https://www.g2.com/products/front/reviews) — 4.7/5 stars (2466 reviews)
- [Hiver](https://www.g2.com/products/hiver/reviews) — 4.6/5 stars (1283 reviews)
- [Microsoft 365](https://www.g2.com/products/microsoft365/reviews) — 4.6/5 stars (5821 reviews)
- [Missive](https://www.g2.com/products/missive/reviews) — 4.7/5 stars (830 reviews)
- [Gmelius](https://www.g2.com/products/gmelius/reviews) — 4.4/5 stars (776 reviews)
- [Hive](https://www.g2.com/products/hive-hive-hive/reviews) — 4.6/5 stars (666 reviews)
- [Titan](https://www.g2.com/products/titan-titan/reviews) — 4.6/5 stars (561 reviews)
- [Help Scout](https://www.g2.com/products/help-scout/reviews) — 4.4/5 stars (428 reviews)

### Alternatives to Thunderbird

- [Front](https://www.g2.com/products/front/reviews) — 4.7/5 stars (2466 reviews)
- [Spike](https://www.g2.com/products/spike/reviews) — 4.6/5 stars (262 reviews)
- [Mailbird](https://www.g2.com/products/mailbird/reviews) — 3.6/5 stars (101 reviews)
- [BlueMail](https://www.g2.com/products/bluemail/reviews) — 4.3/5 stars (53 reviews)
- [Microsoft Outlook](https://www.g2.com/products/microsoft-outlook/reviews) — 4.5/5 stars (3474 reviews)
- [Shift](https://www.g2.com/products/redbrick-shift/reviews) — 4.5/5 stars (264 reviews)
- [Canary Mail](https://www.g2.com/products/canary-mail/reviews) — 4.5/5 stars (53 reviews)
- [eM Client](https://www.g2.com/products/em-client/reviews) — 4.0/5 stars (61 reviews)
- [Zimbra Desktop](https://www.g2.com/products/zimbra-desktop/reviews) — 4.4/5 stars (22 reviews)
- [K-9 Mail](https://www.g2.com/products/k-9-mail/reviews) — 4.5/5 stars (13 reviews)

### Alternatives to Mailspring

- [Microsoft Outlook](https://www.g2.com/products/microsoft-outlook/reviews) — 4.5/5 stars (3474 reviews)
- [Spike](https://www.g2.com/products/spike/reviews) — 4.6/5 stars (262 reviews)
- [Mailbird](https://www.g2.com/products/mailbird/reviews) — 3.6/5 stars (101 reviews)
- [eM Client](https://www.g2.com/products/em-client/reviews) — 4.0/5 stars (61 reviews)
- [BlueMail](https://www.g2.com/products/bluemail/reviews) — 4.3/5 stars (53 reviews)
- [Front](https://www.g2.com/products/front/reviews) — 4.7/5 stars (2466 reviews)
- [Shift](https://www.g2.com/products/redbrick-shift/reviews) — 4.5/5 stars (264 reviews)
- [Zimbra Desktop](https://www.g2.com/products/zimbra-desktop/reviews) — 4.4/5 stars (22 reviews)
- [Airmail](https://www.g2.com/products/airmail/reviews) — 3.6/5 stars (22 reviews)
- [Missive](https://www.g2.com/products/missive/reviews) — 4.7/5 stars (830 reviews)

---
## Top Discussions

### Shortwave

No discussions available for this product.

### Thunderbird

- Title: [Has anyone managed to use the copy and paste function from excell?](https://www.g2.com/discussions/12306-has-anyone-managed-to-use-the-copy-and-paste-function-from-excell) — 2 comments, 1 upvote
  > **Top comment:** "Strange -- when I do it, the columns and rows are maintained (though some of the formatting is not kept). 

What version are you using? I'm still using..."
- Title: [What is the use of Thunderbird software?](https://www.g2.com/discussions/what-is-the-use-of-thunderbird-software) — 1 comment, 1 upvote
  > **Top comment:** "It allows you to manage multiple emails in a single window without back and forth switching. That's the main use I found. Besides that, it also has a good..."
- Title: [Has anyone managed to use the copy and paste function from excell?](https://www.g2.com/discussions/30110-has-anyone-managed-to-use-the-copy-and-paste-function-from-excell) — 1 comment
  > **Top comment:** "Thunderbird does not recognize Excel’s formatting the way Outlook can. But, it can recognize formatting from Word. Copy paste from Excel to Word, then from..."

### Mailspring

No discussions available for this product.

---
**Source:** [G2.com](https://www.g2.com) | [Comparison Page](https://www.g2.com/compare/shortwave-communications-inc-shortwave-vs-thunderbird-vs-mailspring)