MarginMail vs Missive: your own inbox, or your team’s?
Short answer: Missive is a collaborative inbox for teams, with shared conversations, assignments, comments, multiple channels and bring-your-own-key AI, from $14 per user a month billed yearly. MarginMail is for one person: a native Mac app for your own Gmail and Google Workspace accounts, with notes about what needs you, a calendar, people pages and private, optional AI. If your team answers one address together, choose Missive. For your own inbox, try MarginMail.
Last checked: October 16, 2026. Prices in USD.
At a glance
| MarginMail | Missive | |
|---|---|---|
| Built for | One person’s mail, calendar and people | Teams sharing inboxes and channels |
| Price | Free during the beta | Starter $14, Productive $24, Business $36 per user/mo billed yearly ($18 / $30 / $45 monthly); no free plan; 30-day trial |
| Platforms | Native Mac (macOS 26+); iPhone companion later | Web, Mac, Windows, iOS, Android (desktop apps are web-based) |
| Accounts | Gmail and Google Workspace, several in one unified inbox | Gmail, Outlook/M365, IMAP, plus SMS, WhatsApp, Messenger, Instagram, live chat |
| Collaboration | None by design | Shared inboxes, assignment, comments, tasks |
| Calendar | Built in: unanswered invites marked, A / M / D, find a time with holds | Built in, rebuilt Sept 2026 with teammate availability and time-zone columns |
| People | A page per person (conversations, meetings, tasks, local time); companies by domain | Shared contact book; CRM sidebars (HubSpot, Pipedrive, Salesforce) |
| AI | Optional. Apple Intelligence on your Mac; your own Claude on click | Bring your own OpenAI, Anthropic or Gemini key, or Missive credits; AI rules, assistant, drafted replies; MCP server |
| Where AI runs | Apple Intelligence on your Mac; your own Claude plan only if you opt in, on click (that conversation goes to Anthropic under your account). No MarginMail server. | Your chosen AI provider, via Missive’s service |
| AI sends mail | Never | Approve-and-send drafted replies |
| Vendor servers | No MarginMail server; Mac ↔ Google | Missive stores mail on its servers (AWS); SOC 2 Type II |
Where Missive is the better choice
- Several people answer the same address (support@, hello@, sales@).
- You need assignment, internal comments and shared drafts.
- You manage SMS, WhatsApp or social messages alongside mail.
- You use Outlook or Windows.
Where MarginMail is the better choice
- It’s your inbox, not a team queue.
- You want calm and privacy: no vendor server, no analytics, on-device AI first.
- You want people pages and notes about what needs you, built for one person’s memory.
- You don’t want to pay per seat for yourself.
Who should choose which
Missive for teams who work an inbox together. MarginMail for the individual: founders, executives and advisors who want their own mail, calendar and people in one calm Mac window.
FAQ
Does Missive have a free plan?
Not anymore, as of October 2026. It offers a 30-day trial; paid plans start at $14 per user a month billed yearly. MarginMail is free during its beta.
Can I bring my own AI to Missive?
Yes. Missive supports your own OpenAI, Anthropic or Gemini key, or Missive-managed credits. MarginMail uses Apple Intelligence on your Mac, or your own Claude plan on click, with no API key.
Is MarginMail a shared inbox?
No. MarginMail is for one person’s mail. For a shared team inbox, Missive is built for that.
Can I use MarginMail for personal mail and Missive for team mail?
Yes. MarginMail works with your Google accounts; your team inbox can stay in Missive.
Sources
- Missive pricing: missiveapp.com/pricing (read Oct 16, 2026)
- Missive AI setup (BYOK): missiveapp.com/docs/ai/setup
- Missive changelog (calendar Sept 24, 2026; MCP Aug 28, 2026): missiveapp.com/changelog
- Missive security: missiveapp.com/security
- Missive review with monthly prices, Sept 28, 2026: usecarly.com/blog/missive-review/
For your own inbox.
Join the MarginMail beta.
You’re on the list.
We’ll email you when your invite is ready. Until then, that’s the only email you’ll get from us.
You’re already on the list.
Good news: nothing else to do. We’ll email you when your invite is ready.
That didn’t go through.
Check your email address and try again. If it keeps happening, write to hello@marginmail.ai.