While Superhuman has become synonymous with “email productivity,” thousands of Gmail users are discovering that Simplehuman delivers 95% of Superhuman’s core features for a fraction of the price without compromising your email privacy. Additionally, the superhuman chrome extension enhances your Gmail experience even further, making it a viable superhuman alternative.
For those seeking a superhuman alternative, this comprehensive comparison will break down everything you need to know about Simplehuman vs Superhuman to help you make the right choice for your email workflow.
In this comprehensive comparison, we’ll break down everything you need to know about Simplehuman vs Superhuman to help you make the right choice for your email workflow.
Quick Verdict: Which One Should You Choose?
Choose Simplehuman if you:
- Want keyboard shortcuts and productivity features for Gmail
- Value your privacy and don’t want AI reading your emails
- Work primarily on desktop/laptop
- Want to save $300+ per year
- Like using multiple browser extensions together
- Already use Gmail and don’t want to switch clients
Choose Superhuman if you:
- Need a mobile app (iOS/Android) for email on-the-go
- Want a completely redesigned email client separate from Gmail
- Require advanced AI features for drafting emails
- Are willing to pay $40/month ($480/year)
- Don’t mind giving an email client full read/write access to your inbox
What is Simplehuman?
Simplehuman is a browser extension that supercharges Gmail with keyboard shortcuts, a command bar, and smart productivity features. It works directly within your Gmail interface, enhancing what’s already there without replacing it.
Consider it “Gmail on steroids.” You get all the power-user features you love, but you’re still using Gmail’s familiar interface and security infrastructure.
Key Features:
- 80+ keyboard shortcuts for lightning-fast email management
- Command bar (⌘+K or Ctrl+K) for instant actions
- Natural language snooze and reminders
- Read receipts to track email opens
- One-click unsubscribe from spam
- Email signature detection
- Multiple inbox support
- Works with other Gmail extensions
What is Superhuman?
Superhuman is a standalone email client that completely replaces your Gmail interface. The product is known for its speed, AI-powered features, and premium design aesthetic.
Launched in the late 2010s, Superhuman positioned itself as “the fastest email experience ever made” and charges a premium price to match: $30 per user per month.
Key Features:
- Custom email client (separate from Gmail)
- AI-powered email drafting and responses
- Mobile apps (iOS/Android)
- Split inbox
- Read statuses
- Scheduling and calendar integrations
- Team collaboration features
- Salesforce/HubSpot integrations
Feature-by-Feature Comparison
1. Keyboard Shortcuts & Speed
For those looking for efficiency, the superhuman chrome extension is a powerful tool to consider.
| Feature | Simplehuman | Superhuman |
|---|---|---|
| Keyboard shortcuts | ✅ 80+ shortcuts | ✅ 70+ shortcuts |
| Command bar | ✅ ⌘+K / Ctrl+K | ✅ ⌘+K |
| Native Gmail shortcuts enhanced | ✅ Yes | ❌ No (separate client) |
| Learning curve | Low (builds on Gmail) | Medium (new interface) |
| Speed optimization | ✅ Fast | ✅ Very fast |
Winner: Tie. Both are lightning-fast once you learn the shortcuts. Simplehuman has a slight edge if you’re already familiar with Gmail’s interface.
2. Privacy & Data Security
| Aspect | Simplehuman | Superhuman |
|---|---|---|
| Email access required | ❌ No read/write access | ✅ Full read/write access |
| AI processes your emails | ❌ No | ✅ Yes |
| Data sent to third parties | ❌ No | ✅ For AI features |
| Open source | Partially | No |
| Privacy policy | Minimal data collection | Extensive for AI features |
Winner: Simplehuman
This represents the biggest difference between the two products.
Simplehuman does NOT require read or write access to your email content. According to the Chrome Web Store privacy declaration, Simplehuman only collects “user activity” data (meaning it tracks which features you use for analytics purposes, not the content of your emails). Simplehuman works without asking for those Gmail read and write permissions.
Superhuman requires full access to read, write, and modify your emails to power its AI features. Your email content is processed through AI models to enable features like Instant Reply, Auto Summarize, and Smart Send.
Why this matters:
- Your emails contain sensitive business information, passwords, financial data, and personal conversations
- AI models require your email content to be sent to external servers for processing
- Data breaches happen, even to well-secured companies
- Privacy-conscious professionals (lawyers, healthcare workers, executives) can’t risk email content exposure
3. AI Capabilities
| Feature | Simplehuman | Superhuman |
|---|---|---|
| AI email drafting | ❌ No | ✅ Instant Reply |
| AI summarization | ❌ No | ✅ Auto Summarize |
| Smart follow-ups | ❌ No | ✅ Auto Reminders |
| Tone matching | ❌ No | ✅ Voice & Tone Match |
Winner: Superhuman (if you want dedicated AI features)
Here’s an important consideration: Gmail already has AI built-in for free.
Gmail’s Native AI Features (Free):
- Gemini-powered Smart Compose (AI suggests completions as you type)
- Smart Reply (Quick AI-generated response options)
- Email summarization (Available in Gmail’s interface)
- Google Workspace Automation (Build email workflows with Apps Script)
If you’re paying Superhuman $360/year primarily for AI features, evaluate whether Gmail’s free AI already meets your needs. For most users, the native features are sufficient.
4. Pricing: The $360/Year Difference
| Plan | Simplehuman | Superhuman |
|---|---|---|
| Free Trial | 15 days (no credit card) | ❌ Not available |
| Monthly | $9/month | $30/month |
| Yearly | $79/year ($6.58/mo) | $360/year ($30/mo) |
| Lifetime | $179 one-time | ❌ Not available |
Winner: Simplehuman by a landslide
Let’s do the math:
5-Year Cost Comparison:
- Simplehuman Lifetime: $179 (pay once, use forever)
- Simplehuman Yearly: $395 ($79/year × 5 years)
- Superhuman: $1,800 ($360/year × 5 years)
You save $1,621 over 5 years by choosing Simplehuman lifetime.
That’s enough money to:
- Buy a new MacBook Air
- Take a week-long vacation
- Invest in multiple other productivity tools
- Simply save it
5. Platform & Compatibility
| Platform | Simplehuman | Superhuman |
|---|---|---|
| Desktop (Chrome/Edge/Brave) | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes (standalone app) |
| Mobile (iOS/Android) | ❌ No | ✅ Yes |
| Works with Gmail interface | ✅ Yes | ❌ No (replaces Gmail) |
| Compatible with other extensions | ✅ Yes | ❌ No |
| Offline support | Limited | ✅ Full |
Winner: Depends on your needs
If you need mobile email, Superhuman wins. They have polished iOS and Android apps that sync perfectly with the desktop experience.
If you work primarily on desktop and want to use other Gmail extensions (like Grammarly, Boomerang, or Streak CRM), Simplehuman is the clear choice. Superhuman replaces Gmail entirely, so other extensions won’t work.
6. Core Productivity Features
| Feature | Simplehuman | Superhuman |
|---|---|---|
| Natural language snooze | ✅ “Remind me Monday” | ✅ Yes |
| Email scheduling (Send Later) | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes |
| Read receipts/tracking | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes |
| Unsubscribe in 1 click | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes |
| Split inbox/tabs | ✅ Gmail native tabs | ✅ Split Inbox |
| Snippets/templates | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes |
| Multiple account switching | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes |
| Calendar integration | ✅ Gmail native | ✅ Enhanced |
| Search and filters | ✅ Gmail search | ✅ Enhanced search |
Winner: Tie. Both offer the core productivity features that matter most for “inbox zero” workflows.
Real User Reviews: What People Are Saying
Simplehuman Reviews
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Renez Van Autreve (Feb 9, 2026)
“I’ve been using Superhuman for a long time, so I was hesitant to make the switch. This extension made me realize I was paying a massive monthly subscription just for a clean interface and fast keyboard shortcuts. Simplehuman provides the same ‘Inbox Zero’ experience and speed for a fraction of the cost.”
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ James Finley (Feb 5, 2026)
“I love SimpleHuman. It does everything I liked about SuperHuman without the pretentious price. It also doesn’t force me to use all of the latest/greatest AI tools that I never wanted or needed. Kind of the best of all worlds.”
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Sam McIntire (Dec 12, 2025)
“Wonderful extension that replicates a lot of the most critical functionality of Superhuman without the crazy price tag. Saves me a decent amount of time each week with inbox management.”
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Brad Beattie (Nov 19, 2025)
“This has been a game changer for my email productivity. I made the decision that banging out emails had to be easier, and turned to Simple Human. I could never go back.”
Use Case Scenarios: Which Is Right for You?
Scenario 1: The Busy Founder/Executive
Need: Process 100+ emails daily, maintain inbox zero, need mobile access
Best Choice: Superhuman if mobile is critical, Simplehuman if you primarily work from desktop
Reasoning: If you’re frequently away from your desk and need to triage email on your phone, Superhuman’s mobile apps are excellent. However, if you do 90% of email on desktop, save the $360/year and use Gmail’s mobile app with Simplehuman on desktop.
Scenario 2: The Privacy-Conscious Professional
Need: Fast email workflows without compromising data security (lawyers, healthcare, finance professionals)
Best Choice: Simplehuman
Reasoning: Simplehuman doesn’t require read/write access to your emails. Your client communications, financial data, and sensitive information never leave Gmail’s secure infrastructure.
Scenario 3: The Startup Team
Need: 5-10 team members need email productivity tools
Cost Comparison:
- Simplehuman: $79/year × 10 people = $790/year
- Superhuman Business: $480/year × 10 people = $4,800/year
Savings: $4,010/year (enough to hire another team member in many markets)
Best Choice: Simplehuman
Scenario 4: The AI Enthusiast
Need: Want AI to draft emails, summarize threads, and automate responses
Best Choice: Superhuman
Reasoning: If AI features are your primary driver and you’re comfortable with the privacy trade-offs, Superhuman’s AI capabilities are more advanced than what Gmail offers natively.
Scenario 5: The Sales Professional
Need: CRM integrations (Salesforce, HubSpot), read tracking, team collaboration
Best Choice: Superhuman Business plan
Reasoning: Superhuman’s sales-focused features and CRM integrations are built specifically for this use case.
What You Give Up by Choosing Simplehuman
Let’s be honest about the trade-offs:
1. Mobile App
- Simplehuman has no mobile app
- You’ll use Gmail’s standard mobile app on your phone
- Keyboard shortcuts don’t translate to mobile
2. Separate Email Client
- You remain in Gmail’s interface (which many consider a benefit)
- No “Sent via Superhuman” email signature
3. Team Collaboration Features
- Fewer built-in team tools
- No shared conversations or team comments
- Better suited for individual use
What You Give Up by Choosing Superhuman
1. Privacy
- Full read/write access to all emails required
- Email content processed by AI models
- Data shared with third-party services
2. Cost
- $360/year per user vs $79/year for Simplehuman
- No lifetime option available
3. Extension Compatibility
- Can’t use other Gmail extensions (StreakCRM, Boomerang, etc.)
- Must adopt Superhuman’s ecosystem entirely
4. Gmail Interface
- Need to relearn email client interface
- Can’t leverage Gmail’s latest features immediately
Migration: Switching from Superhuman to Simplehuman
Switching is painless since Simplehuman works with Gmail.
Steps:
- Install the Simplehuman Chrome Extension
- Start the 15-day free trial (no credit card required)
- Learn the keyboard shortcuts (most are similar to Superhuman)
- Cancel your Superhuman subscription
- Save $300/year
Keyboard Shortcut Comparison:
Most shortcuts are identical or very similar:
- Archive:
e(both) - Compose:
c(both) - Reply:
r(both) - Command bar:
⌘+KorCtrl+K(both) - Snooze:
h(both)
Full shortcut documentation available in Simplehuman’s help center.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Can I use Simplehuman with my work Gmail/Google Workspace account?
Yes! Simplehuman works with both personal Gmail and Google Workspace accounts.
Q: Does Simplehuman slow down Gmail?
No. The extension is optimized to be lightweight (only 2MB) and doesn’t impact Gmail’s performance.
Q: Can I use Simplehuman on multiple computers?
Yes. Your subscription is tied to your account, not a specific device. Install the extension on any Chrome/Brave/Edge browser and log in. You can use the same Simplehuman account with multiple Gmail inboxes.
Q: What happens if Simplehuman shuts down?
Since Simplehuman is a browser extension that enhances Gmail (rather than replacing it), your email remains safe in Gmail. You would simply lose the productivity features but retain full access to your email.
Q: Does Superhuman offer a lifetime plan?
No. Superhuman only offers monthly and annual subscriptions. Simplehuman is the only one offering a lifetime plan at $179.
