Vibecode Shortwave

track this build5 steps, step by step
KINDA · weekend project
price $18/moyou'd save $216/yrbuild time multi-daycategory 📬 emailreplaced by 0 people

The core loop is buildable, but a dependable replacement becomes a real weekend or multi-day project. For Shortwave, group Gmail conversations, add bundles and todos, and index mail locally. The hard boundary is deep gmail semantics, cloud search, ai, team features, and mobile sync, plus mail infrastructure, integrations, and client polish.

the project pack4 files · fastest path to a working personal build
README.md
# Shortwave indie build

## Goal

Build the smallest trustworthy replacement for the core Shortwave workflow for one developer or a tiny team.

## Scope

Connect an existing Gmail mailbox, group conversations into bundles with todos, index messages locally, provide a fast focused inbox, and send through the account's normal SMTP service.

## Quick start

1. Install the documented dependencies.
2. Copy `.env.example` to `.env`.
3. Run the development command chosen during implementation.
4. Complete the acceptance checks in `BUILD_PLAN.md`.

## Honest limits

This build deliberately does not replace:
- deep Gmail semantics, cloud search, AI, team features, and mobile sync
- mail hosting and deliverability
- push on every platform
- advanced team collaboration
- provider-specific AI and search

If those capabilities are essential, use mailcow instead of pretending the gap is solved.

$ choose a build depth, inspect the files, then open the complete pack in your agent · this prompt is generated from the build plan · improve it via PR

why people still pay

People still pay for Shortwave because an email client can be rebuilt; operating a trusted mail service with excellent deliverability cannot. The recurring cost buys IMAP quirks, OAuth, MIME, threading, search, attachments, offline sync, notifications, secure storage, and provider changes, not just the visible interface.

what you lose

xdeep Gmail semantics, cloud search, AI, team features, and mobile sync

xmail hosting and deliverability

xpush on every platform

xadvanced team collaboration

xprovider-specific AI and search

share on X ↗"I just replaced Shortwave ($18/mo) with one prompt"
the escape hatch

Don't feel like building it? These folks already made it free.

BlueMail PersonalClusters group related mail and the Later Board turns messages into tasks; Gmail-specific bundles are less clever.$0freeSpark FreeSmart Inbox, Set Aside and Done reproduce the focused workflow; conversation bundling is simpler.$0free

no votes, no pay-to-list · just what's real

the numbers

Shortwave pricing

planmonthlyannual (per mo)what you get
free$0/user$0/user90 days of standard and AI search history; max 15 threads per AI search; 0 AI filters; limited AI quota; mandatory 'Sent with Shortwave' signature.
pro$18/user3 years of AI search history; max 50 threads per AI search; 0 AI filters; standard AI quota.
business$30/user5 years of AI search history; max 50 threads per AI search; 3 AI filters; roughly 150-300 Standard-intelligence AI requests/day.
premier$45/userUnlimited AI search history; max 100 threads per AI search; 10 AI filters; 2x Business AI usage and 2x context.
max$120/userUnlimited AI search history; max 150 threads per AI search; 50 AI filters; 6x Business AI usage and 3x context.

free tier90 days of standard and AI search history; max 15 threads per AI search; 0 AI filters; limited AI quota; mandatory 'Sent with Shortwave' signature

billingmonthly only for new subscriptions; no annual plan; billed upfront; 14-day free trial and 14-day refund window

hidden costsEvery teammate must use the same paid tier and is billed per seat. AI capacity, search depth and filter count require tier upgrades rather than overage purchases. One paid seat covers all of that person's signed-in accounts; Tasklet 24/7 automation is a separate subscription.

price historyPro: $14 → $18 (2026-06) · Business: $24 → $30 (2026-06) · Premier: $36 → $45 (2026-06) · Max: $100 → $120 (2026-06)

verified 2026-08-12 · source ↗

questions
Vibecode Shortwave

Kinda. The core of Shortwave is buildable in a weekend with the prompt on this page, but there are real gaps: deep Gmail semantics, cloud search, AI, team features, and mobile sync, mail hosting and deliverability. Read the honest list above before committing.

How much does Shortwave cost?

Shortwave costs about $18/month (Pro, checked 2026-08-12), which is $216 per year.

What do I lose by replacing Shortwave?

Honestly: deep Gmail semantics, cloud search, AI, team features, and mobile sync; mail hosting and deliverability; push on every platform; advanced team collaboration; provider-specific AI and search. If any of those are load-bearing for you, keep paying.

Is there an open-source alternative to Shortwave?

Yes: BlueMail Personal (Clusters group related mail and the Later Board turns messages into tasks; Gmail-specific bundles are less clever.) Spark Free (Smart Inbox, Set Aside and Done reproduce the focused workflow; conversation bundling is simpler.) The prompt is for when you want it exactly your way.