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Productivity · head to head

Alfred vs Superhuman

Alfred logo

Alfred

Productivity

Mac launcher and automation tool sold as a one-time Powerpack licence rather than a subscription

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Superhuman logo

Superhuman

Technology

The fastest email experience ever made

From
$30/month
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only Alfred has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: Alfred there is no official built in AI assistant, so anything AI related depends on a community workflow calling an external API key you supply yourself.; Superhuman high pricing compared to free alternatives like Gmail
  • They diverge on capability: Alfred covers Workflows, Superhuman covers Blazing fast performance.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 1 September 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Alfred and Superhuman actually diverge.

Attributes where Alfred and Superhuman differ
AttributeAlfredSuperhuman
Starting priceFree$30/month
Pricing modelOne-time purchaseUnknown
Free tierYesNo
PlatformsMacWeb, iOS
CategoryProductivityTechnology
FoundedUnknown2015

Identical on both: user rating (Not yet rated).

What each one covers

Drawn from each product's published feature list. An absence here means we hold no record of it - not that the product lacks it.

Only in Alfred

  • Workflows
  • Clipboard history
  • Snippets
  • File actions
  • Universal actions
  • Theming

Only in Superhuman

  • Blazing fast performance
  • Keyboard-first design
  • AI-powered triage
  • Split inbox
  • Read statuses
  • Remind me later
  • Social insights
  • Calendar integration

What people use each for

The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.

Alfred

  • A developer who wants to trigger scripts, run shell commands and search files from one hotkey without a subscriptionnot Superhuman
  • A writer who wants text snippets and clipboard history and does not want built in AInot Superhuman
  • A long time Alfred user with a large personal library of custom workflows built up over yearsnot Superhuman
  • A user who prefers paying once per major version over a recurring monthly chargenot Superhuman

Superhuman

  • Email managementnot Alfred
  • Inbox zeronot Alfred
  • Team collaborationnot Alfred
  • Sales outreachnot Alfred
  • Executive communicationnot Alfred

Where each one falls short

Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.

Alfred

  • There is no official built in AI assistant, so anything AI related depends on a community workflow calling an external API key you supply yourself.
  • The workflow format is older XML and script filters, which is less approachable for a beginner than a modern extension store with typed APIs.
  • It is Mac only, so a user who splits time between Mac and Windows needs a second tool on the other machine.
  • The free tier is quite limited, with no workflows or clipboard history, so most serious users end up paying for the Powerpack anyway.
  • Because upgrades to a new major version are a separate purchase for Single Licence holders, users who skip the Mega Supporter tier can face a further one-time charge every few years.

Superhuman

  • High pricing compared to free alternatives like Gmail
  • Lacks unified inbox for managing multiple email accounts in a single view
  • Limited calendar functionality compared to dedicated scheduling tools
  • No native task management features

Pricing, plan by plan

Alfred

Free
  • FreeFree
    • Basic app and file launching
    • Web searches and system commands
    • No workflows or clipboard history
  • Powerpack Single Licence$34/one-time
    • 1 user on up to 2 Macs
    • Workflows, clipboard history and snippets
    • Free updates within the same major version
  • Powerpack Mega Supporter$59/one-time
    • 1 user on up to 4 Macs
    • Free upgrades to all future major versions
    • Early access to betas

Superhuman

$30/month
  • Starter$30/month
    • Email productivity
    • Superhuman AI
    • Team collaboration
  • Business$40/month
    • Auto Drafts
    • Ask AI
    • CRM integrations

Which should you pick?

Choose Alfred if

  • You need workflows.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Mac.
  • You also want clipboard history.
Alfred review

Choose Superhuman if

  • You need blazing fast performance.
  • You work on Web, iOS.
  • You also want keyboard-first design.
Superhuman review

Questions people ask

Is Alfred or Superhuman better?
Neither clearly leads. Alfred starts at Free and Superhuman at $30/month, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Alfred or Superhuman?
Alfred has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for Alfred and $30/month for Superhuman.
Does Alfred or Superhuman run on more platforms?
Alfred runs on Mac. Superhuman runs on Web, iOS.
Can I use Alfred for free?
Yes. Alfred has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Superhuman starts at $30/month.
What is Alfred best used for?
Alfred is most often used for a developer who wants to trigger scripts, run shell commands and search files from one hotkey without a subscription, a writer who wants text snippets and clipboard history and does not want built in ai, a long time alfred user with a large personal library of custom workflows built up over years, a user who prefers paying once per major version over a recurring monthly charge. Of those, a developer who wants to trigger scripts, run shell commands and search files from one hotkey without a subscription and a writer who wants text snippets and clipboard history and does not want built in ai are not what Superhuman is typically brought in for.
What can Alfred do that Superhuman cannot?
Alfred covers Workflows, Clipboard history, Snippets, File actions. Superhuman covers Blazing fast performance, Keyboard-first design, AI-powered triage, Split inbox.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Alfred: Is Alfred a subscription?

No. The Powerpack is a one-time purchase per major version, or a one-time Mega Supporter purchase that includes all future major version upgrades.

Superhuman: How much does Superhuman cost?

Superhuman offers three plans: Starter at $30/user/month, Business at $40/user/month, and Enterprise with custom pricing. Annual billing provides approximately 16.7% savings, bringing the Starter plan to $25/month.

Source
Alfred: Does Alfred replace Spotlight?

It can. Alfred can take over the system-wide hotkey and generally returns results faster with more configurable behaviour than Spotlight.

Superhuman: What email platforms does Superhuman work with?

Superhuman is compatible with Gmail and Outlook, and integrates with Google Calendar and Akiflow for calendar and task planning workflows.

Source
Alfred: Does Alfred have AI features?

Not officially built in. Some community workflows add AI chat or completion by calling an external API with a key you provide.

Superhuman: Does the Business plan include CRM integrations?

Yes, the Business plan at $40/month unlocks CRM integrations with HubSpot and Salesforce, along with advanced AI features like Auto Drafts and Ask AI.

Source
Superhuman: What happened to Superhuman after the Grammarly acquisition?

Superhuman was acquired by Grammarly on July 1, 2025. The company now operates under the Superhuman name while integrating with Grammarly's AI platform.

Source
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