Grammarly vs Shortwave
Which Productivity AI tool is better in 2026?
Grammarly
AI writing assistant for individuals and teams.
Shortwave
AI-native email built on Gmail with bundles, AI search, and chat.
Side-by-side
Grammarly is the more established option (raised $1.2B), but Shortwave is cheaper to start.
| Metric | Grammarly | Shortwave |
|---|---|---|
| Taglinei | AI writing assistant for individuals and teams. | AI-native email built on Gmail with bundles, AI search, and chat. |
| Foundedi | 2009🏆 | 2020 |
| HQi | San Francisco, US | US |
| Employeesi | 1001-5000 | 11-50🏆 |
| Neuron scorei | 84🏆 | 60 |
| Total fundingi | $1.2B🏆 | Undisclosed |
| Latest roundi | Growth · May 2025 | — |
| Valuationi | $13B🏆 | — |
| Cheapest paid plani | Pro (Annual) · $12/mo | —🏆 |
| Free plani | ✓ Free | ✓ Free |
| Free triali | ✓ | ✓ |
| Top tier pricei | Pro (Monthly) · $30/mo | — |
| Pricing summaryi | 6 published plans | 1 published plans |
| Categoriesi |
Capability matrix
Developer-facing capabilities and access signals for Grammarly and Shortwave.
| Capability | Grammarly | Shortwave |
|---|---|---|
| MCP support | ✗ | ✗ |
| Public API | ✓ | ✗ |
| Webhooks | ✗ | ✗ |
| OAuth 2.0 | ✓ | ✗ |
| SDK languages | 1 (JavaScript) | — |
| Free plan | ✓ | ✓ |
| Free trial | ✓ | ✓ |
| Verified | ✗ | ✗ |
| Active deal | ✓ | ✗ |
🟢 Strengths of Grammarly
- Has raised more capital ($1.2B vs Undisclosed)
- Higher Neuron score (84 vs 60)
- More mature (2009)
🔵 Strengths of Shortwave
- Lower starting price ($9/mo)
- Newer company (2020)
Which should you choose?
Choose Shortwave if price matters most — it starts at Free · From $9/mo, which is friendlier for teams watching burn. Both AI Productivity tools ship core features, so the cost delta often decides it for small teams and solo operators.
Choose Grammarly if you want the most established option — it has raised $1.2B, suggesting more runway for enterprise features, support, and long-term roadmap. For mission-critical workflows or larger teams, that stability often outweighs a lower monthly price.
💸 Deals
7-day free trial of Grammarly Premium
Try Grammarly Premium free for 7 days — AI writing assistant used by 30M+ daily.
Frequently asked questions
Grammarly vs Shortwave — which is better?
It depends on your priority. Grammarly has raised more capital and is the more established option; Shortwave is cheaper to start. See the side-by-side table above.
Is Grammarly cheaper than Shortwave?
No — Shortwave's cheapest paid plan is Free, while Grammarly's is Pro (Annual) · $12/mo.
Do Grammarly and Shortwave offer free plans?
Grammarly: Yes, has a free plan. Shortwave: Yes, has a free plan.
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