# Compose vs Shortwave

The clearest difference is rating: Shortwave at 4.7 against Compose's 3.9. Shortwave also leads on ratings volume (749 vs 7). Compose's advantage is iOS requirement (8.1 vs 14.0). On price, review sentiment, ads and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

Shortwave holds the better App Store score, 4.7 against 3.9. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Shortwave has 749 ratings behind it against 7, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 67% of Compose's written reviews are positive against 65% of Shortwave's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

## The numbers

| Metric | Compose | Shortwave |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [3.9 (7 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/compose-send-email-without-distraction/id947492678/reviews) | **[4.7 (749 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/shortwave-ai-email/id1559784681/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 7 | **749** |
| Positive reviews | **66.7% of reviews** | 65.4% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | — | Every 3 weeks |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Size | 10 MB | 26 MB |
| Requires iOS | **8.1** | 14.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPod | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Cluster Labs, Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/596595035) | [Shortwave Communications, Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/1502603969) |

## What reviewers say

### Compose

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/compose-send-email-without-distraction/id947492678)

This app offers a streamlined way to compose and send emails without the distractions of a full inbox. It focuses on a minimalist writing experience, allowing users to quickly draft messages. Email accounts must be pre-configured on the device.

**Highlights:** Minimalist email composition, Distraction-free writing environment, Quick message drafting, Requires device email configuration

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none


### Shortwave

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/shortwave-ai-email/id1559784681)

This AI-powered email client streamlines your inbox with intelligent organization, writing assistance, and team collaboration tools. It helps you manage emails, schedule meetings, and turn messages into actionable tasks, all while learning your unique style.

**Highlights:** AI-powered email writing and drafting, Intelligent inbox organization and clutter removal, Real-time team collaboration and email assignment, AI-assisted meeting scheduling, Email to-do list conversion, Customizable AI prompts and automations, Management of multiple Gmail accounts

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Excellent email management
- 👍 Clean and intuitive interface
- 🚀 Efficient email processing
- 💡 Innovative AI features
- 👍 Helpful email bundling and scheduling

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Inconsistent mobile app experience
- 🔒 Privacy concerns around data collection
- 🔍 Limited search and filtering options
- 💻 Lack of support for non-Gmail accounts
- 🔧 Missing key features like delete and landscape mode

**Reported bugs**

- Unreliable email bundling and threading
- Inconsistent performance and stability issues
- Bugs with email forwarding and attachment handling

**Requested features**

- Add support for more email providers
- Improve iPad and tablet optimization
- Enhance customization options for labels and actions
- Integrate with more productivity apps and services
- Provide better transparency around data usage and privacy


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Compose free?

Compose is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Is Shortwave free?

Shortwave is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, Compose or Shortwave?

Shortwave is rated higher. Compose averages 3.9 out of 5 from 7 ratings, while Shortwave averages 4.7 from 749 ratings.

### Do Compose or Shortwave have ads?

Neither Compose nor Shortwave shows ads.

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*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*