Best AI for Email Writing: 8 Tools to Draft Emails Faster in 2026
Best AI for Email Writing: 8 Tools to Draft Emails Faster in 2026
Email remains one of the biggest time sinks in the modern workplace. The average professional spends over two hours a day writing, reading, and responding to messages. That is time you could spend on work that actually moves the needle. The good news: AI email writing tools have matured rapidly, and the best ones in 2026 can draft, polish, and send messages that sound like you wrote them yourself. For ready-to-use templates, see our 50 best ChatGPT prompts for content writers.
Whether you need a dedicated email client with built-in AI, a browser extension that coaches you in real time, or a general-purpose assistant that can handle any writing task, there is a tool on this list that fits your workflow and budget. We researched and tested the top options so you do not have to.
TL;DR — Quick Picks
- Best overall AI email client: Superhuman — blazing-fast inbox with Auto Drafts that learn your voice
- Best for grammar and tone: Grammarly — works everywhere you write, not just email
- Best free option: ChatGPT — powerful email drafting at zero cost
- Best for sales teams: Lavender — real-time email scoring and personalization coaching
- Best for Apple Mail users: Mailbutler — lightweight AI assistant for Apple Mail, Gmail, and Outlook
- Best for deep reasoning: Claude — handles complex, nuanced email drafting with extended thinking
- Best for inbox management: SaneBox — AI-powered filtering that keeps your inbox clean
- Best for multilingual email: MailMaestro — drafts in 20+ languages with one-click replies
1. Superhuman — The Premium AI Email Client
Superhuman is the email client that set the standard for speed, and its AI features now match that ambition. In late 2025, Superhuman rolled out its biggest AI update yet: Auto Drafts, Auto Labels, and Auto Archive. Auto Drafts is the standout feature — it studies your sent messages and automatically writes follow-up drafts in your voice, so you only need to review and hit send.
The platform also includes an “Ask AI” feature that lets you generate entire emails from a short prompt, summarize long threads, and instantly adjust tone. In July 2025, Grammarly acquired Superhuman for an estimated $825 million, and the two products now share AI capabilities while remaining separate brands.
Superhuman Pricing (2026)
- Starter: $30/month ($300/year)
- Business: $40/month ($396/year) — includes Auto Drafts, Ask AI, CRM integrations
- Enterprise: Custom pricing
- 30-day free trial, no free plan
Pros
- Auto Drafts learn your writing style over time
- Lightning-fast keyboard-driven interface
- HubSpot and Salesforce integrations on Business plan
Cons
- No free plan — $30/month minimum is steep for casual users
- No refunds on annual plans
- Auto Drafts require the $40/month Business plan
2. Grammarly — The AI Writing Assistant That Works Everywhere
Grammarly needs no introduction, but its 2026 incarnation goes far beyond grammar checking. GrammarlyGO, its generative AI layer, can compose full emails from a prompt, rewrite paragraphs in a different tone, and shorten or expand text on demand. Because Grammarly works as a browser extension and desktop app, it integrates directly into Gmail, Outlook, Slack, and nearly every other platform where you type. For a deeper look, see our roundup of AI grammar checkers.
What sets Grammarly apart for email writing specifically is its tone detection. It does not just fix errors — it tells you when your phrasing sounds too aggressive, too casual, or unclear, then offers one-click rewrites. For professionals who write dozens of emails daily, this kind of real-time coaching saves hours. If you also need help with documents, reports, and social posts, Grammarly delivers value across your entire workflow. Check out our full roundup of the best AI writing tools in 2026 for more options in this category. If you’re exploring options, check out our guide to AI for academic writing.
Grammarly Pricing (2026)
- Free: Basic spelling, grammar, and punctuation
- Pro: $12/month (annual) or $30/month (monthly) — includes GrammarlyGO with 2,000 AI prompts/month, tone detection, plagiarism checker
- Enterprise: Custom pricing
Pros
- Works inside Gmail, Outlook, and almost any text field
- Tone and clarity suggestions are excellent for email
- Free plan is genuinely useful for basic corrections
Cons
- GrammarlyGO prompts are capped at 2,000/month on Pro
- Full email composition requires the paid plan
- Not specifically designed for email — it is a general writing tool
3. ChatGPT — The Versatile Email Drafting Powerhouse
ChatGPT remains the most versatile AI writing tool available, and its email capabilities are no exception. You can paste an email thread and ask for a professional reply, provide a few bullet points and get a polished cold outreach email, or simply say “write a follow-up to a client who hasn’t responded in a week” and get a ready-to-send draft in seconds.
The 2026 lineup of ChatGPT plans gives you options at every price point. The Free plan now runs GPT-5.2 (with limited messages), while Plus at $20/month removes most practical limits for individual use. The new Go plan at $8/month offers a middle ground for light users. For teams, there are Team and Enterprise plans with shared workspaces. ChatGPT is not embedded in your inbox like Superhuman or Grammarly, but its sheer flexibility makes it a top choice — especially if you already use it for other tasks. It pairs well with other AI productivity tools to supercharge your workflow. For a deeper look, see our roundup of Grammarly vs ChatGPT.
ChatGPT Pricing (2026)
- Free: $0 — GPT-5.2 with limited messages
- Go: $8/month
- Plus: $20/month — 5x usage, priority access
- Pro: $200/month — unlimited access, Deep Research
- Team: $25–$30/user/month
- Enterprise: Custom pricing
Pros
- Free plan is surprisingly capable for email drafting
- Handles any email scenario — cold outreach, follow-ups, apologies, negotiations
- Can adapt tone, length, and formality with a simple instruction
Cons
- Not integrated into your email client — requires copy-paste
- Free plan message limits can be restrictive for heavy use
- No email-specific features like send-time optimization or scoring
4. Claude — Nuanced Email Writing With Extended Thinking
Claude, developed by Anthropic, has earned a reputation for producing writing that feels natural and thoughtful rather than generic. For email writing, this matters more than you might think. Claude excels at tasks that require nuance — diplomatically declining a request, navigating a sensitive HR conversation, or crafting a persuasive pitch that does not sound like a template.
Claude’s extended thinking capability lets it reason through complex scenarios before drafting, which leads to emails that are better structured and more contextually aware. The Pro plan at $20/month also includes Claude Code and web search, making it a powerful general-purpose assistant. For teams, pricing starts at $25/person/month. If you value writing quality over inbox integration, Claude is a compelling choice.
Claude Pricing (2026)
- Free: $0 — access on web, iOS, Android, and desktop
- Pro: $20/month ($17/month annual) — extended thinking, web search, Claude Code
- Max: $100–$200/month — 5x to 20x usage of Pro
- Team: $25–$30/person/month
- Enterprise: Custom pricing
Pros
- Exceptional at nuanced, context-sensitive email writing
- Extended thinking produces well-structured responses to complex scenarios
- Free plan available with solid capabilities
Cons
- No direct email client integration — requires copy-paste workflow
- Smaller plugin ecosystem compared to ChatGPT
- Max plan is expensive for individual users
5. Lavender — The AI Email Coach for Sales Teams
Lavender is purpose-built for one thing: helping salespeople write emails that get replies. It installs as a Chrome extension and works inside Gmail, Outlook, Outreach, Salesloft, HubSpot, and other sales platforms. As you type, Lavender scores your email on a 0–100 scale and gives real-time suggestions to improve it — shorter sentences, better subject lines, more personalization.
The Deep Personalization Assistant is Lavender’s secret weapon. It scans your recipient’s LinkedIn profile, company website, and recent news to suggest relevant talking points, so your outreach feels personal rather than templated. Companies using Lavender have reported dramatic improvements in reply rates. If your business depends on outbound email, this tool pays for itself quickly. See more sales-focused tools in our guide to the best AI tools for business.
Lavender Pricing (2026)
- Free: $0 — 5 emails/month
- Starter: $29/month — email scoring, AI coaching, analytics
- Individual Pro: $49/month — advanced personalization, priority support
- Teams: $89/seat/month — team analytics, coaching dashboard
- Free for students, job seekers, and bootstrapped founders
Pros
- Real-time email scoring drives measurable improvement
- Deep Personalization Assistant saves hours of prospect research
- Integrates with major sales platforms (Outreach, Salesloft, HubSpot)
Cons
- Focused on sales — not ideal for general business email
- Pricing gets expensive at the team level ($89/seat)
- Free plan is extremely limited at 5 emails/month
6. Mailbutler — Lightweight AI for Apple Mail, Gmail, and Outlook
Mailbutler is a versatile email productivity tool that adds AI-powered drafting, scheduling, tracking, and task management to your existing email client. Its Smart Assistant (powered by GPT-4o) can compose messages from keywords, generate replies, summarize long threads, and correct grammar — all without leaving your inbox.
What makes Mailbutler unique is its native Apple Mail support. While most AI email tools focus on Gmail and Outlook, Mailbutler is one of the few that works seamlessly with Apple Mail, making it the go-to choice for Mac users. It also suggests optimal send times based on recipient behavior, which can improve open and reply rates.
Mailbutler Pricing (2026)
- Free: Limited features
- Smart: $11/month (annual) or $14/month (monthly) — includes AI Smart Assistant
- Business: Higher tier with advanced features
- 14-day free trial with full access
Pros
- One of the few AI tools that supports Apple Mail natively
- Affordable entry point compared to Superhuman
- Email tracking and send-time optimization included
Cons
- AI features require Smart plan or above — not on free tier
- Less powerful AI than dedicated tools like ChatGPT or Claude
- Limited to email — no broader writing assistance
7. SaneBox — AI Email Management That Cleans Your Inbox
SaneBox takes a different approach from the other tools on this list. Instead of helping you write emails, it uses AI to organize your inbox so you spend less time on email overall. SaneBox analyzes your email patterns and automatically sorts incoming messages into folders like SaneLater (non-urgent), SaneNews (newsletters), and SaneBlackHole (permanent unsubscribe). It works with every major email provider, including Gmail, Outlook, iCloud, and Yahoo Mail.
While SaneBox does not draft emails for you, it solves a critical problem: inbox overload. By filtering out noise, it ensures you spend your writing time on messages that actually matter. Pair it with one of the AI writing tools above, and you have a complete email productivity system. SaneBox only analyzes email headers — never message content — which makes it a strong choice for privacy-conscious users.
SaneBox Pricing (2026)
- Snack: $7/month — 1 email account, 2 features
- Lunch: $12/month — 2 accounts, 6 features
- Dinner: $36/month — 4 accounts, all features
- 14-day free trial, 25% off for education and nonprofits
Pros
- Works with every major email provider and IMAP server
- Privacy-first: only reads email headers, not content
- Set-and-forget — minimal setup, immediate time savings
Cons
- Does not write or draft emails — strictly inbox management
- Dinner plan is pricey at $36/month
- Takes a few days to learn your preferences accurately
8. MailMaestro — AI Email Drafting in 20+ Languages
MailMaestro (formerly Flowrite) is an AI email assistant that integrates directly into Outlook and Gmail. Its standout feature is multilingual support — it can draft, reply, and summarize emails in over 20 languages, making it ideal for international teams and professionals who communicate across borders.
The one-click reply feature analyzes an incoming email and generates three distinct draft responses, each with a different tone or approach. You can also compose emails from scratch by specifying the language, tone, and length. MailMaestro is SOC 2 Type II certified and GDPR compliant, with zero-day data retention on AI processing, which gives it strong privacy credentials for enterprise use.
MailMaestro Pricing (2026)
- Free: Limited AI features
- Professional: $15/month ($144/year)
- Team: $15/seat/month
- Enterprise: Custom pricing
- 14-day free trial, no credit card required
Pros
- Drafts emails in 20+ languages with native fluency
- One-click replies generate three options to choose from
- Strong security: SOC 2 Type II, GDPR compliant, zero-day data retention
Cons
- Free plan is quite limited
- Only works with Outlook and Gmail — no Apple Mail support
- Relatively new brand after Flowrite acquisition — smaller user community
Comparison Table: Best AI Email Writing Tools in 2026
| Tool | Best For | Starting Price | Free Plan | Email Client Integration | Key AI Feature |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Superhuman | Power users | $30/mo | No (30-day trial) | Native client | Auto Drafts in your voice |
| Grammarly | Grammar & tone | $12/mo (annual) | Yes | Gmail, Outlook (extension) | Tone detection & rewrite |
| ChatGPT | Versatility | Free / $20/mo | Yes | No (copy-paste) | Any email scenario on demand |
| Claude | Nuanced writing | Free / $20/mo | Yes | No (copy-paste) | Extended thinking for complex emails |
| Lavender | Sales teams | $29/mo | Yes (5 emails) | Gmail, Outlook, Outreach, Salesloft | Real-time email scoring |
| Mailbutler | Apple Mail users | $11/mo (annual) | Yes (limited) | Apple Mail, Gmail, Outlook | Smart send-time suggestions |
| SaneBox | Inbox management | $7/mo | No (14-day trial) | All providers (IMAP) | AI inbox filtering |
| MailMaestro | Multilingual email | $15/mo | Yes (limited) | Gmail, Outlook | Drafts in 20+ languages |
How to Choose the Best AI Email Writing Tool for You
With eight strong options on the table, the right choice depends on your specific needs. Here is a framework to help you decide:
Consider your email volume and type
If you send dozens of sales emails daily, Lavender’s scoring and personalization will deliver the highest ROI. If your emails are mostly internal communications and client updates, Grammarly or Superhuman is a better fit. For occasional but important emails — board updates, investor communications, sensitive HR matters — Claude’s nuanced writing is hard to beat.
Think about integration
Tools like Superhuman, Grammarly, Mailbutler, and Lavender live inside your inbox, which means zero friction. ChatGPT and Claude require a copy-paste workflow, which adds a step but gives you more flexibility and control over the output.
Set a realistic budget
If budget is a constraint, ChatGPT’s free plan and Grammarly’s free tier give you solid capabilities at no cost. Mailbutler and SaneBox offer affordable paid plans under $15/month. Superhuman and Lavender are premium tools that justify their cost for power users and sales professionals.
Do not overlook inbox management
The fastest email you will ever write is the one you do not have to write at all. SaneBox’s AI filtering removes noise so you can focus your energy on messages that matter. It pairs well with any of the writing tools on this list.
Test before you commit
Every tool on this list offers either a free plan or a free trial. Take advantage of that. Spend a week with your top two choices and see which one fits your workflow naturally. The best AI email tool is the one you actually use.
The email tools landscape is evolving fast, and what works best often depends on your role, industry, and communication style. For more AI-powered tools that can boost your efficiency beyond email, explore our guides to the best AI writing tools, top AI productivity tools, and best AI tools for business in 2026.
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