# Shortwave vs Zero

Shortwave is freemium — a usable free tier with paid plans above it. Zero is free, with no paid plan attached.

| | Shortwave | Zero |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | Free tier + paid plans | Free |
| Free to start | Yes | Yes |
| Category | Productivity & Workflow | Productivity & Workflow |
| Type | Email, Scheduling & Tasks | Email, Scheduling & Tasks |
| Best for | AI email assistant for Gmail | Fully open-source (MIT license), self-hostable AI email client |

## FAQ

### Shortwave vs Zero: what is the difference?

Shortwave is freemium — a usable free tier with paid plans above it and is listed for AI email assistant for Gmail. Zero is free, with no paid plan attached and is listed for fully open-source (MIT license), self-hostable AI email client. Both sit in Email, Scheduling & Tasks.

### Is Shortwave or Zero cheaper to start with?

Zero is the cheaper starting point: it is free, with no paid plan attached, while Shortwave is freemium — a usable free tier with paid plans above it. Pricing tiers here come from the catalog, not from a promotional page.

### Which should I choose, Shortwave or Zero?

Choose Shortwave if you need AI email assistant for Gmail; choose Zero if you need fully open-source (MIT license), self-hostable AI email client. Flocci AI Tools does not rank one above the other — it shows both feature sets side by side and lets the requirement decide.

## Related

- [Shortwave](https://aitools.flocci.in/tool/shortwave)
- [Zero](https://aitools.flocci.in/tool/zero)
- [Shortwave alternatives](https://aitools.flocci.in/alternatives/shortwave)
- [Zero alternatives](https://aitools.flocci.in/alternatives/zero)
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Source: Flocci AI Tools — https://aitools.flocci.in/compare/shortwave-vs-zero

Facts last verified: October 2026