Superhuman: 10 Key Things You Must Know

Overview

Superhuman is an innovative email client designed to revolutionize how professionals manage their inboxes. Launched as a premium tool targeting high-performance users, it combines speed, AI-powered automation, and team collaboration features to enhance productivity. Notably, Superhuman promises to save users approximately four hours weekly by helping them process emails faster and more efficiently. Its recent acquisition by Grammarly marks a new phase, focusing on integrating AI agents to further transform email into a productivity powerhouse. Readers will discover the app’s origins, unique capabilities, business trajectory, and its role in the future of AI-assisted communication.

1. Origin and Founding of Superhuman

Founded in 2014 by Rahul Vohra, Vivek Sodera, and Conrad Irwin, Superhuman began as a vision to create the "fastest email experience ever." Vohra, previously known for the Gmail plugin Rapportive, aimed to streamline email handling for power users inundated with messages daily. Superhuman quickly gained attention with its sleek, minimalist interface and emphasis on keyboard shortcuts and speed. It attracted significant venture capital funding, including investments from Andreessen Horowitz and Tiger Global, underscoring broad confidence in its potential to disrupt traditional email clients.

2. Core Features that Define Superhuman

Superhuman is distinguished by several core features crafted for speed and efficiency:

Extensive keyboard shortcuts allow users to triage inboxes rapidly without touching a mouse.
"Split Inbox" feature categorizes emails into personalized segments like important contacts, notifications, and newsletters.
AI-driven email drafting and instant replies tailor responses in the user’s voice.
Integrated calendar and meeting scheduling streamline workflows without leaving the app.
Real-time read statuses and team comments enhance collaboration. These features coalesce into an experience that treats email as a high-priority task list rather than a passive message repository.

3. The Impact of AI on Superhuman’s Productivity Tools

In 2024 and beyond, Superhuman integrated advanced AI capabilities such as:

Auto Summarization of lengthy threads.
AI-generated draft emails that learn from the user’s writing style.
Smart triage algorithms that prioritize truly important emails.
Automated follow-ups, reminders, and scheduling suggestions. This intelligent assistance reduces time spent on routine tasks, allowing users to focus on decisions that require human insight. The AI features are deeply woven into the platform, making Superhuman one of the most advanced AI-native email clients currently available.

4. Subscription Model and User Base

Targeted towards heavy email users, Superhuman is offered on a subscription basis starting at about $30 per user per month. While the price point is significantly higher than most email clients, it reflects the high value placed on time savings and enhanced productivity. The app initially required onboarding calls for new users to ensure they could leverage its speed and shortcuts effectively. Superhuman’s user base primarily consists of executives, sales teams, and professionals whose workflows depend heavily on email communication.

5. Grammarly Acquisition and Strategic Expansion

In July 2025, Grammarly announced its acquisition of Superhuman, aiming to harness its technology and team to build a comprehensive AI-powered productivity suite. This move aligns with Grammarly’s broader vision of creating AI agents that assist across multiple workplace tools including email, calendars, and collaboration platforms. Post-acquisition, Rahul Vohra and many Superhuman employees transitioned to Grammarly, which plans to further invest in Superhuman’s core offering and expand AI capabilities. This deal positions Superhuman to reach millions more professionals and spearheads integration of AI-powered productivity across communication channels.

6. Design Philosophy Centered on Speed and Minimalism

Superhuman’s interface is intentionally minimalist, removing distractions common in other email apps. Every action can be performed with keyboard commands, reducing friction and cognitive load. The philosophy is to make the user "fly through email" with minimal downtime. Features like “Undo Send,” customizable reminders, and instant keyboard-driven search (Command Palette) all cater to users who prefer a fast, streamlined experience over richer but slower interfaces.

7. Team Collaboration Features

Superhuman includes functionalities that facilitate team workflows:

Shared conversation views allow multiple teammates to see and discuss emails without forwarding.
Private team comments within email threads enable internal feedback and coordination.
Team snippets let users save and share reusable text blocks.
Read and typing indicators help avoid duplicated responses. While collaboration is robust, these features shine brightest when all team members adopt the platform.

8. Security and Privacy Considerations

Superhuman is SOC 2 Type II certified, ensuring high standards of security and operational controls. It operates as a local client storing sensitive data on users’ devices, with encrypted transmissions to servers. However, AI processing involves third-party providers accessing email content to generate drafts and summaries, raising some privacy concerns for highly sensitive communications. Enterprises can access additional security options like Single Sign-On (SSO) and SCIM provisioning. Users weighing productivity gains against privacy risks should consider these aspects carefully.

9. Market Position and Comparison to Other Email Clients

Superhuman occupies the premium segment, contrasting with free or lower-cost clients like Gmail, Apple Mail, and competitors such as Spark. Its focus on speed and heavy AI integration caters to professionals who measure software by time saved. Compared to Spark, which offers broader email provider support and extensive customization at a lower price, Superhuman appeals to users willing to invest in speed and a specialized onboarding experience. Its limited provider support (only Gmail and Outlook) is a noted drawback for some users.

10. The Future of Superhuman and AI-Driven Email

With Grammarly’s backing and vast AI resources, Superhuman is poised to innovate beyond traditional email management. The vision includes multiple AI agents working simultaneously to draft messages, schedule meetings, validate facts, and tailor communication to recipient preferences. Professionals can expect continued improvements in productivity, transforming email from a time-consuming chore into a strategic tool. As AI-human collaboration deepens, Superhuman illustrates where modern workplace communication is headed — faster, smarter, and more connected.

Conclusion

Superhuman has redefined email management for the modern professional by combining minimalist design, powerful keyboard shortcuts, and cutting-edge AI capabilities. Its commitment to speed and user-centric productivity tools helps busy users reclaim valuable time otherwise lost in managing inbox clutter. The recent acquisition by Grammarly signals a new era emphasizing AI collaboration across digital workflows, further enhancing email’s role as a fundamental productivity hub. As AI continues to evolve, Superhuman offers a glimpse into the future where humans and intelligent agents work together seamlessly to optimize communication and decision-making. Will Superhuman’s vision become the standard for email worldwide? The coming years will be telling.