Pigeon vs Superhuman.
Both are fast and both are built for people with a lot of email. One costs a fraction as much, and keeps your mail on your Mac.
Superhuman is a polished, keyboard-first client with team features and AI drafting. Pigeon gives Gmail and Microsoft 365 users the same speed for about a quarter of the annual price, keeps your mail on your own Mac instead of Superhuman's cloud, and brings Claude in rather than a bundled assistant.
Side by side
| Pigeon | Superhuman | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $69 a year or $8 a month. Free for 14 days first | From $25 a month billed annually, or $30 monthly. Sold as part of the wider Superhuman suite |
| Runs on | Mac (macOS 26 or later) | Mac, iPhone and a Chrome extension |
| Mailboxes it connects | Gmail and Microsoft 365, together in one inbox | Gmail and Microsoft 365 |
| Where your mail lives | On your Mac. Mail comes straight from Google or Microsoft, with no Pigeon server in between | Their cloud, hosted on Google Cloud, with a SOC 2 Type 2 report |
| Search | Keywords and meaning together, with filters for sender, date and attachments. Answers as you type, newest first | Advertised as instant. Where it runs is not published |
| Search offline | Yes. The whole index is on your Mac | Not stated on their site |
| Works with Claude | Yes. Ask Claude to find mail or draft a reply, and the draft opens in Pigeon for you to send | Their own AI features. Business adds a Mail MCP server |
| Blocks tracking pixels | Yes, and remote images are off until you choose to load them for a message | Not stated on their site |
We make Pigeon, so read this with that in mind. Details about Superhuman were checked in September 2026; they change, so check Superhuman's own site before you decide.
Where Pigeon pulls ahead
A fraction of the price
$69 a year, or $8 a month, against $300 a year on Superhuman's monthly Starter plan. Every Pigeon feature is in the one price.
Your mail is not on our servers
Pigeon has no servers to put your mail on. It goes from Google or Microsoft to your Mac. With Superhuman, mail is stored in their cloud, and its AI features send content to third-party vendors, which they say do not train on it.
Search that works offline
The whole index lives on your Mac, so search answers in a tunnel with one bar. It understands meaning as well as keywords.
Bring your own Claude
Pigeon plugs into the Claude you already use. Ask for a reply and the draft opens in Pigeon, unsent. You are not paying for a second AI subscription inside your mail.
Fair is fair
What Superhuman does well
- Keyboard-driven speed and a split inbox that fans of the app swear by.
- Native iPhone app, which Pigeon does not have yet.
- Team features and CRM integrations on the Business plan.
Stay with Superhuman if
- You need a polished iPhone app and a Mac app on one login.
- Your team relies on Superhuman's shared features and integrations.
- The price is a business expense you do not think about.
Questions
Is Pigeon a Superhuman alternative?
Yes, for Mac users on Gmail or Microsoft 365. It covers fast triage, fast search and AI help, at a much lower price, and keeps mail on your Mac.
Is Pigeon cheaper than Superhuman?
Yes. Pigeon is $69 a year. Superhuman's plans page lists Starter at $25 a month billed annually, which is $300 a year, and $30 a month if you pay monthly.
Does Pigeon have an iPhone app?
Not yet. If you need mail on your phone from the same app, Superhuman has one and Pigeon does not.
Try Pigeon next to Superhuman
$69 a year, every feature, and your money back within 30 days.