Best Gmail AI Assistants in 2026

Last updated: February 2026

Gmail AI assistants have evolved beyond simple auto-replies in 2026. Superhuman delivers blazing-fast inbox management. Google's Gemini brings AI natively to Gmail. Miniloop automates email workflows across your entire tool stack. Whether you need faster email processing, automated responses, or workflow automation, there's a specialized tool for your needs.

Email remains the backbone of business communication, but inbox overload is a real problem. The average professional receives 121 emails per day. AI assistants help by drafting responses, prioritizing messages, scheduling follow-ups, and connecting email to your other tools.

This guide covers 12+ Gmail AI assistants and when each makes sense.

Gmail AI Assistant Comparison Table 2026

The Big Four

Superhuman

Superhuman is the fastest email client available, built for professionals who live in their inbox. It uses AI to triage messages, draft responses, and surface what matters most.

Best for: Speed and inbox productivity

Key features:

• Keyboard-first design (process email 2x faster)
• AI triage and prioritization
• Split inbox by importance
• Instant reply drafts
• Read status tracking
• Scheduled sending
• Snippets and templates

Pricing:

• $30/month (individual)
• Team plans available

Strengths: Fastest email experience, beautiful design, AI triage, keyboard shortcuts Weaknesses: Expensive, Gmail/Outlook only, learning curve for shortcuts

Choose Superhuman when: Email speed is critical and you process high volumes daily.

Google Gemini

Gemini is Google's AI built directly into Gmail for Workspace users. It drafts emails, summarizes threads, suggests responses, and searches across your inbox intelligently.

Best for: Google Workspace users

Key features:

• Native Gmail integration (no extension needed)
• Draft emails from prompts
• Summarize long threads
• Smart reply suggestions
• Context from Calendar and Drive
• Search with natural language

Pricing:

• Free: Basic Gemini features
• Google One AI Premium: $20/month
• Workspace add-on: $20/user/month

Strengths: Native integration, uses Google context, no setup required Weaknesses: Requires Workspace or Google One, less powerful than dedicated tools

Choose Gemini when: You're already in Google Workspace and want built-in AI help.

Miniloop

Miniloop automates email workflows across your entire tool stack. Instead of just helping with individual emails, it connects Gmail to your CRM, databases, Slack, and other tools to automate multi-step processes.

Best for: Email workflow automation across tools

Key features:

• Connect Gmail to any tool or API
• Automate email-triggered workflows
• AI reasoning for email classification
• Route emails to the right systems
• Extract data from emails to spreadsheets/CRM
• No code required

Pricing:

• Free: Limited workflows
• Pro: $29/month (unlimited)

Strengths: Multi-tool automation, AI reasoning, connects anything, no code Weaknesses: Not an email client replacement, best for workflows vs. individual emails

Choose Miniloop when: You need to automate what happens after emails arrive, not just reply faster.

Mailbutler

Mailbutler adds smart features to your existing Gmail without changing your workflow. It includes email tracking, templates, scheduling, tasks, and AI writing assistance.

Best for: Enhancing Gmail with smart features

Key features:

• Email tracking (opens, clicks)
• Smart templates
• Send later scheduling
• Tasks from emails
• AI writing assistant
• Contact management
• Signature generator

Pricing:

• Free: Basic tracking
• Professional: $15/month
• Business: $25/month

Strengths: Works in native Gmail, comprehensive features, reasonable pricing Weaknesses: Extension-based, some features require higher tiers

Choose Mailbutler when: You want to enhance Gmail without switching clients.

Scheduling and Follow-ups

Boomerang

Boomerang pioneered email scheduling and follow-up reminders. Its AI assistant helps write better emails and ensures nothing falls through the cracks.

Best for: Scheduling and follow-up management

Key features:

• Send later scheduling
• Follow-up reminders if no reply
• Respondable AI (email effectiveness scoring)
• Inbox pause
• Meeting scheduling
• Read receipts

Pricing:

• Free: 10 credits/month
• Personal: $5/month
• Pro: $15/month

Strengths: Pioneer in scheduling, follow-up reminders, inbox pause Weaknesses: Credit-based free tier, UI feels dated

Choose Boomerang when: You need reliable scheduling and follow-up tracking.

SaneBox

SaneBox uses AI to automatically filter and organize your inbox. It learns which emails matter and moves the rest out of sight.

Best for: Inbox organization and filtering

Key features:

• AI-powered filtering
• SaneLater for non-urgent mail
• SaneBlackHole to unsubscribe
• Daily digest of filtered mail
• Works with any email client
• Deep clean for old emails

Pricing:

• Snack: $7/month (1 feature)
• Lunch: $12/month (2 features)
• Dinner: $36/month (all features)

Strengths: Works automatically, learns over time, works with any client Weaknesses: Tiered feature access, requires training period

Choose SaneBox when: You want automatic inbox organization without changing habits.

Team and Collaboration

Shortwave

Shortwave reimagines email for teams with AI-powered summaries, shared inboxes, and a modern interface. It's built on Gmail but offers a completely different experience.

Best for: Team email with AI

Key features:

• AI email summaries
• Bundled conversations
• Team shared inbox
• Instant search
• Keyboard shortcuts
• Mobile apps

Pricing:

• Free: Personal use
• Pro: $9/month
• Team: $15/user/month

Strengths: Modern interface, AI summaries, team features, fast search Weaknesses: Different from Gmail UI, learning curve

Choose Shortwave when: You want a modern email experience with team collaboration.

Gmelius

Gmelius turns Gmail into a collaborative workspace. It adds shared inboxes, email assignment, shared labels, and workflow automation directly in Gmail.

Best for: Team collaboration in Gmail

Key features:

• Shared inbox
• Email assignment
• Shared labels and templates
• Workflow automation
• Kanban boards for email
• SLA tracking

Pricing:

• Free: Basic sharing
• Growth: $12/user/month
• Pro: $24/user/month

Strengths: Works in native Gmail, team features, automation Weaknesses: Per-user pricing adds up, complex for simple needs

Choose Gmelius when: Your team needs to collaborate on email without leaving Gmail.

Writing Assistance

Spark

Spark offers a smart email client with AI writing assistance. It helps draft, rewrite, and improve emails with various tone options.

Best for: AI-assisted email writing

Key features:

• AI writing assistant
• Tone adjustment
• Smart inbox prioritization
• Email delegation
• Templates and signatures
• Cross-platform apps

Pricing:

• Free: Basic features
• Premium: $8/month
• Team: $10/user/month

Strengths: Good AI writing, cross-platform, affordable Weaknesses: Separate app from Gmail, some privacy concerns

Choose Spark when: You want strong AI writing help in a dedicated email app.

Lavender

Lavender coaches sales professionals on writing better emails. It provides real-time feedback, personalization suggestions, and tracks what works.

Best for: Sales email optimization

Key features:

• Real-time email coaching
• Personalization suggestions
• Email scoring
• GIF and meme finder
• A/B testing
• CRM integration

Pricing:

• Free: 5 emails/month
• Starter: $29/month
• Team: $49/user/month

Strengths: Sales-focused, real-time coaching, data-driven Weaknesses: Sales-specific, expensive for non-sales use

Choose Lavender when: You write sales emails and want to improve performance.

Inbox Cleanup

Clean Email

Clean Email helps you organize and clean up your inbox with bulk actions, smart rules, and automated organization.

Best for: Inbox cleanup and organization

Key features:

• Smart views (social, notifications, etc.)
• Bulk actions
• Auto clean rules
• Unsubscriber
• Screener for new senders
• Privacy-focused

Pricing:

• $10/month (1 account)
• $20/month (5 accounts)

Strengths: Powerful cleanup, automated rules, privacy-focused Weaknesses: Separate tool, subscription required

Choose Clean Email when: Your inbox is a mess and you need a deep clean.

Mailmeteor

Mailmeteor enables personalized bulk email campaigns directly from Gmail and Google Sheets.

Best for: Mail merge and bulk personalized email

Key features:

• Mail merge from Google Sheets
• Personalization variables
• Tracking and analytics
• Scheduling
• Follow-up sequences
• Gmail native

Pricing:

• Free: 50 emails/day
• Premium: $10/month (500 emails/day)
• Pro: $25/month (2,000 emails/day)

Strengths: Easy mail merge, works with Sheets, generous free tier Weaknesses: Bulk email only, daily limits

Choose Mailmeteor when: You need to send personalized bulk emails from Gmail.

Specialized Use Cases

Best for Speed and Productivity

1. Superhuman (fastest email experience)
2. Shortwave (modern interface, AI summaries)
3. Spark (smart prioritization)

Best for Google Workspace Users

1. Google Gemini (native integration)
2. Mailbutler (enhances Gmail)
3. Boomerang (scheduling)

Best for Workflow Automation

1. Miniloop (multi-tool email workflows)
2. Gmelius (in-Gmail automation)
3. Zapier (simple email triggers)

Best for Teams

1. Gmelius (shared inbox in Gmail)
2. Shortwave (team email reimagined)
3. Front (shared inbox platform)

Best for Sales

1. Lavender (email coaching)
2. Mailmeteor (bulk personalization)
3. Superhuman (speed)

Best Free Options

1. Google Gemini (built into Gmail)
2. Spark (free tier)
3. Boomerang (10 credits/month)

Pricing Summary

How to Choose

Start with your primary need:

"I need to process email faster" → Superhuman "I use Google Workspace" → Gemini "I need to automate email workflows" → Miniloop "I want to enhance Gmail without switching" → Mailbutler "I need scheduling and follow-ups" → Boomerang "My team needs shared inbox" → Gmelius "I write sales emails" → Lavender "My inbox is a mess" → Clean Email or SaneBox

Key questions:

• Speed or features? Superhuman for speed, Mailbutler for features
• Individual or team? Individual tools vs. Gmelius/Shortwave for teams
• Just email or connected workflows? Email-only vs. Miniloop for multi-tool automation
• Budget sensitive? Gemini and Spark have solid free tiers

FAQs About Gmail AI Assistants

What is the best Gmail AI assistant in 2026?

Superhuman leads for speed and productivity at $30/month. Google Gemini is best for Workspace users with native integration. For workflow automation across tools, Miniloop connects Gmail to your entire stack.

Does Gmail have built-in AI?

Yes. Google Gemini is integrated into Gmail for Workspace users. It can draft emails, summarize threads, and suggest responses. Basic features are free; advanced features require Google One AI Premium ($20/month).

Can AI write emails for me?

Yes. Gemini, Spark, Superhuman, and Mailbutler all offer AI email drafting. They can generate responses based on context, adjust tone, and help with writer's block. Quality varies by tool.

What's the best free Gmail AI assistant?

Google Gemini offers free AI features built into Gmail. Spark has a generous free tier with AI writing. Boomerang offers 10 free scheduling credits monthly.

Can I automate Gmail workflows?

Yes. Miniloop automates multi-step workflows triggered by emails, connecting Gmail to CRMs, databases, and other tools. Gmelius offers simpler automation within Gmail. Zapier handles basic email triggers.

Is Superhuman worth $30/month?

For professionals who process 100+ emails daily, yes. Superhuman users report processing email 2x faster. The time savings justify the cost for high-volume email users. For lighter email use, Mailbutler or Spark offer better value.

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