- Superhuman Definition
- a premium email client designed for speed. It uses keyboard shortcuts, split inboxes, AI-assisted writing, and workflow optimizations to help you process email faster. Superhuman makes YOU faster at email.
- alfred_ Definition
- an AI executive assistant that handles your email, calendar, and tasks automatically. alfred_ triages your inbox, drafts replies, extracts action items, and escalates only what needs your judgment. alfred_ handles email FOR you.
The Fundamental Difference: Faster vs. Done
Superhuman and alfred_ represent fundamentally different philosophies about email:
Superhuman's philosophy
Email is a skill. Get better at it. Process faster.
alfred_'s philosophy
Email is admin work. Delegate it. Make decisions, not keystrokes.
With Superhuman, you become a faster email processor. With alfred_, you stop being an email processor entirely. See how both rank among alternatives in our best AI executive assistants roundup.
28%
of the average workweek spent on email
What Superhuman Does For You
Speed Optimizations
- Keyboard-first design (process email without touching mouse)
- Split inboxes (separate important from everything else)
- Read receipts and scheduling features
- Blazing-fast search and snooze
AI Writing Assistance
- AI helps you write emails faster
- Autocomplete suggestions as you type
- You still write every email, just faster
What alfred_ Does For You
Proactive Email Triage
- alfred_ reads your inbox
- Archives the noise automatically
- Flags only what actually needs your attention
- You don’t triage. alfred_ does.
Response Drafting
- alfred_ drafts replies for you to review
- You tap to send, or edit and send
- No typing, no composing, no crafting
- You approve responses; alfred_ writes them
Task Extraction
- Creates tasks from emails automatically
- Tracks commitments and follow-ups
- Links tasks back to source emails
- You don’t manually add tasks; alfred_ extracts them
Side-by-Side: Different Approaches to Email
Scenario: The Same Morning, Two Different Tools
Your Morning With Superhuman
- 7:30 AM: Open Superhuman. 53 new emails since yesterday.
- 7:31 AM: Start processing. J, J, J (archive). E (reply). K (next). Repeat.
- 7:45 AM: Write a response to client. AI suggests phrases. You accept or modify.
- 8:00 AM: Still processing. 31 emails left.
- 8:20 AM: Done with email. Manually add 4 tasks to your task app.
- 8:30 AM: Start your real work. Time on email: 60 minutes (fast!)
Your Morning With alfred_
- 7:30 AM: Open alfred_. morning brief loads.
- 7:31 AM: alfred_ says: “53 emails overnight. I handled 47. Here are 6 that need you.”
- 7:32 AM: Review first escalation. Draft reply ready. Tap to send.
- 7:35 AM: Review remaining 5 escalations. Edit one draft. Approve the rest.
- 7:40 AM: alfred_ shows 4 tasks extracted from yesterday’s emails. Already in your task list.
- 7:42 AM: Start your real work. Time on email: 12 minutes.
When to Choose Each Tool
Pros
- You enjoy email: some people genuinely like the rhythm of processing inbox
- You need full control: every email requires your personal voice and judgment
- Your email is highly sensitive: legal, medical, or contexts where AI isn't appropriate
- You value keyboard shortcuts: speed comes from muscle memory you'll build
Cons
- Email is a burden: you see it as admin work that steals from real work
- You want delegation: you'd hire an assistant if you could; now you can
- Time is money: your hourly rate means every minute on email costs real revenue
- You're overwhelmed: 50+ emails daily and you want to make decisions, not process
The Math: Time Savings Comparison
$156K–520K
Annual revenue lost to email for consultants at $200–500/hour billing 15–20 hours/week on email
Pricing Comparison
Our verdict
