Overview
Superhuman is essentially a high-performance wrapper for Gmail and Outlook. It does not replace your email provider. It replaces the interface you use to access it. The entire philosophy is built around speed and the concept of "Inbox Zero."
The developers adhere to a strict "100ms Rule." This means every single interaction (searching, opening, sending) happens in under 100 milliseconds. If you are used to the split-second loading spinner in standard Gmail, this feels instant.
It is designed specifically for power users like founders, VCs, and sales leads who process 50 to 200+ emails daily. The tool forces you to adopt a "keyboard-first" workflow. You rarely touch the mouse. If you only check email casually, this is overkill. But if you spend half your day in your inbox, Superhuman attempts to turn that chore into a rapid-fire to-do list.
Key Features
The Command Palette (Cmd+K)
This is the heart of the software. By pressing Cmd+K (or Ctrl+K), you pull up a universal command bar. From here, you can do literally anything without navigating menus. You can snooze an email, set a reminder, unsubscribe from a newsletter, or switch accounts. It is similar to Spotlight on Mac or the command palette in VS Code. Once you memorize the shortcuts, you can clear an inbox without moving your wrist.
Split Inbox
Standard inboxes are messy because a newsletter sits right next to a contract offer. Superhuman solves this with "Splits." You can configure the interface to automatically route emails into different tabs based on criteria you set. You might have a split for "VIPs," one for "Team," and one for "Newsletters." This lets you ignore the low-priority noise and process the high-signal messages first.
Superhuman AI
This is where the Business plan differentiates itself. The AI features go beyond simple spellcheck.
- Auto Draft: It reads the incoming email and drafts a reply for you using the context of the conversation.
- Instant Summaries: If you get looped into a thread with 40 replies, you can hit a button to get a concise summary of who said what and what action is required.
- Ask AI: You can query your inbox using natural language, such as "What was the last thing I promised to send to Sarah?"
Read Statuses
For sales teams and recruiters, this is a major selling point. The client has built-in tracking pixels that tell you exactly when an email was opened, on what device, and how many times. You can see if a prospect opened your proposal five times in the last hour, which signals intent.
Pricing
Superhuman is a premium product with no permanent free tier. You are paying for software that acts as a layer over a free service (Gmail).
- Starter Plan ($30/month): This costs $300 if billed annually. It gives you the core speed, the keyboard shortcuts, Split Inbox, and basic AI features.
- Business Plan ($40/month): This costs $396 if billed annually. This tier is required if you want the advanced "Auto Draft" features, "Ask AI," and CRM integrations for Salesforce or HubSpot.
- Enterprise: Custom pricing for organizations needing SSO and dedicated account management.
Note: There is usually a 7-day free trial available to test the workflow.
Pros & Cons
The Good
- Speed: It is noticeably faster than the native Gmail web client. There is zero UI lag.
- Aesthetics: The interface is minimal and clean. Users often report feeling less "email anxiety" simply because the design is less cluttered.
- Onboarding: They take the learning curve seriously. New users usually get a 1-on-1 video call with a specialist to set up their workflow and learn the shortcuts.
- Snippets: You can create robust templates with attachments and CCs included, inserting them with a simple text command.
The Bad
- Price: Paying $360 a year for an email client is a hard pill to swallow for many, especially when the underlying mail service is often free.
- Steep Learning Curve: If you refuse to learn keyboard shortcuts, you will hate this tool. It requires you to change how you physically interact with your computer.
- No Unified Inbox: You can toggle between multiple accounts easily, but you cannot view all emails from all accounts in a single stream.
- Platform Limits: It only supports Gmail and Outlook. If you use iCloud mail or standard IMAP hosting, you are out of luck.
- Privacy Friction: The default "Read Statuses" (tracking pixels) can be seen as invasive by recipients who value privacy.
Verdict
Superhuman is a luxury tool, but for a specific group of people, it is a necessary one.
If you receive 20 emails a day, do not buy this. The standard Gmail interface is perfectly fine for you.
However, if you are a high-volume professional whose income depends on responsiveness (sales, executive management, deal flow), the math actually works out. If Superhuman saves you three hours a week by streamlining your triage process, and your time is worth more than $3/hour, the tool pays for itself. It is the best email experience on the market, provided you are willing to pay the premium and learn the shortcuts.