The average professional receives over 120 emails a day and wastes nearly 20 hours a month managing inbox chaos. Important messages get buried. Response times slow down. Focus evaporates.
The solution is a smart email sorter, a tool that organizes, prioritizes, and filters your inbox so you can actually get work done.
We tested the best email sorters available today and ranked them based on speed, intelligence, integrations, and user experience. Whether you're drowning in unread emails or just want more control, this list has you covered.
Quick comparison table
1. Superhuman – Best email sorter for speed and focus
Superhuman is built for professionals who want speed, clarity, and control in their inbox. It's especially powerful for high performers managing hundreds of emails each day.
Key Features
- Split Inbox that separates important messages from less urgent ones
- AI-native prioritization that learns how you work
- Keyboard shortcuts for faster processing
- Integrations with calendar, task apps, and CRMs
Why it stands out Superhuman doesn't just help you sort emails. It helps you focus on the messages that matter most. You can delegate faster, follow up reliably, and clear your inbox with less friction.
Use this if: You want a productivity edge and a faster way to manage high volumes of email.
Try Superhuman2. Gmail Tabs – Best free email sorter for Gmail users
Gmail's Categories organize your inbox into tabs like Primary, Social, and Promotions. It's simple, automatic, and great for casual users.
Key Features
- Machine learning automatically sorts incoming messages
- Tabs make it easy to skim and manage
- No setup required
What to know Gmail Tabs are a good start, but they don't give you much control. Important messages can sometimes be misfiled.
Use this if: You want a free, basic email sorter that works with minimal effort.
3. Outlook Focused Inbox – Best for Microsoft users
If you use Microsoft Outlook, the Focused Inbox separates your emails into Focused and Other. It learns what matters based on your habits.
Key Features
- Prioritizes emails automatically
- Syncs across Outlook desktop, mobile, and web
- Works with Teams, Calendar, and To-Do
What to know It's great for Microsoft-heavy teams. However, the sorting isn't always as accurate as newer, more advanced tools.
Use this if: You're in the Microsoft ecosystem and want a built-in solution.
4. Spark – Best for teams and collaborative sorting
Spark offers smart sorting along with collaborative features for teams. The design is intuitive and the app works across all major platforms.
Key Features
- Smart Inbox groups emails by type (personal, newsletters, notifications)
- Shared inboxes, comments, and email delegation
- Works on Mac, Windows, iOS, and Android
What to know Spark is ideal for teams who work closely together. It allows for a shared email workflow without needing extra tools.
Use this if: You want powerful team features combined with smart email sorting.
5. Clean Email – Best for inbox cleaning and privacy
Clean Email helps you declutter your inbox in bulk. It's especially useful if you've let your email go for too long and need to regain control quickly.
Key Features
- Smart filters and bulk actions
- One-click unsubscribe
- Privacy-first approach
What to know This tool is best for cleanup rather than daily triage. It's perfect for a reset, but may not suit ongoing high-volume sorting.
Use this if: You want to clean thousands of emails and improve your inbox hygiene.
6. SaneBox – Best cross-platform email sorter
SaneBox works with any email service. It sorts messages into folders like SaneLater and SaneNews, based on what you usually open and respond to.
Key Features
- AI sorting across Gmail, Outlook, Yahoo, and more
- Optional add-ons like Do Not Disturb and Follow-Up Reminders
- Works with almost any email provider
What to know The setup is simple, and it improves as it learns. Some users might find the interface dated compared to other apps.
Use this if: You want smart sorting without switching email clients.
7. Edison Mail – Best for mobile email sorting
Edison Mail is a sleek, AI-powered mobile app with some of the best sorting features for users who live on their phones.
Key Features
- Smart Assistant that finds travel plans, bills, and packages
- One-tap unsubscribe and spam blocking
- Clean, fast mobile UI
What to know It works great on mobile devices but lacks a desktop version. That can be limiting if you do most of your email on a computer.
Use this if: You want a better way to manage your inbox on mobile.
How to choose the right email sorter
Here are some quick tips to find the right one:
- High email volume? Choose Superhuman or SaneBox
- Simple and free? Go with Gmail Tabs or Outlook
- Team collaboration? Use Spark
- Inbox out of control? Clean Email is your best bet
- Need mobile-first? Try Edison Mail
Final thoughts
The right email sorter does more than clean up your inbox. It gives you focus, improves your response time, and saves hours every week.
If you're ready to stop fighting your inbox and start managing it on your terms, Superhuman is the top choice. It's fast, intelligent, and built for professionals who want email to feel effortless. Teams using Superhuman save 4 hours per person every single week, respond 12 hours faster, and respond to twice as many emails in the same amount of time.
Looking for more ways to master your inbox? Here are three helpful resources from Superhuman:
- How to Triage Email Like a Pro
- How to Stop Getting Unwanted Emails (Without Losing Your Mind)
- 16 Productivity Systems to Help You Work Smarter, Not Harder
