Frequently asked questions

Is Sortwell safe to use?

Yes. Sortwell is built so the worst case is harmless. It only adds and removes Gmail labels, it never permanently deletes and never sends, and every action is logged and one-click reversible. When it is not sure where mail belongs, it leaves it in your inbox rather than guessing.

Does Sortwell read my email?

Only enough to sort it. Sortwell looks at the sender, subject, labels, and a short snippet of each message to decide where it belongs. It does not read full message bodies for any other purpose, and it never stores the contents of your email after a run finishes.

Does Sortwell store my email?

No. We never store the contents of your messages. Sortwell keeps a small record of what it organized so you can see the report and undo any move, but the email bodies stay in Gmail. They are read in the moment, used to sort, and not retained on our servers.

Does Sortwell ever delete my email?

Never on its own, and never permanently. Sortwell files and labels mail. You can teach it to send a specific sender to Trash, which simply adds Gmail's Trash label, stays recoverable for about 30 days, and is one-click undoable. There is no permanent-delete button, by design.

Will Sortwell send email on my behalf?

Never. Sortwell has no ability to send, reply, or forward mail. It does not write drafts and it does not act as you. It reads and it sorts, and that is the entire job. Many AI email tools can send for you; Sortwell deliberately cannot.

What happens if Sortwell files something in the wrong place?

Nothing is lost. Every run is logged, and one click puts a message back exactly where it was. Sortwell also leans toward caution: when it is not confident, it leaves the email in your inbox instead of guessing, so the mail that matters stays in front of you.

Is my data sold or used to train AI?

No, on both counts. We never sell or share your data, and we never use your email to train AI models. When Sortwell needs an AI tie-breaker for an ambiguous message, that call is zero-retention: the content is not kept and is not used for training. Not now, not ever.

What permissions does Sortwell ask for?

Sortwell asks for Gmail access to read messages and to add or remove labels, which is what it needs to sort your inbox. It does not request permission to send mail. You grant access through Google's standard sign-in, and you can review or revoke it from your Google account anytime.

How does Sortwell learn from me?

In Gmail, filing a message is just a label change. When you move mail to a folder, Sortwell notices and remembers the pattern, so similar mail from that sender goes there next time. No rules to write and no training screens. The more normally you use Gmail, the smarter it gets.

How is Sortwell different from SaneBox?

SaneBox also learns from how you file, but it is generic: it sorts important-versus-later into its own @Sane folders and has no idea what a receipt or a vendor is. Sortwell is business-aware, files into your own folders, has a real free plan, and never sends. See the full Sortwell vs SaneBox comparison.

How is Sortwell different from Clean Email?

Clean Email is mostly bulk cleanup with rules you build and maintain by hand. It has a free tier for cleaning up to 1,000 emails, but it does not learn continuously. Sortwell also has a free tier, runs daily on its own, and learns automatically from how you file, so the rules never rot.

How is Sortwell different from Superhuman, Shortwave, or Fyxer?

Those are AI email clients you switch to, costing roughly $15 to $40 a month, and several can send mail on your behalf. Sortwell is not a new app. It stays inside your real Gmail, quietly organizing in the background, and it never sends. You keep the inbox you already use.

Does Sortwell work with Gmail and Google Workspace?

Yes. Sortwell works with personal Gmail accounts and with Google Workspace mailboxes (your own custom-domain email on Google). It runs inside your real Gmail using Google's official sign-in, so your existing labels, folders, and filters keep working exactly as they do now.

Is there a free plan, and what does Sortwell cost?

Yes, there is a real free plan. Free is $0 with one mailbox, daily filing and sweep, a weekly report, undo, and learning for up to 10 senders. Plus is $6/mo (or $4/mo billed annually) for unlimited learning. Pro is $12/mo (or $10/mo annually) for up to 5 mailboxes.

What is included in the free plan?

The free plan covers one Gmail account with daily receipt filing and newsletter sweeping, a weekly report, one-click undo, and automatic learning for up to 10 senders. No credit card is required, and it stays free for as long as you want. Upgrade only if you need more learning or mailboxes.

How does the Plus trial work?

Plus comes with a 14-day trial that unlocks unlimited learning, learning from your moves, per-sender rules, send-to-Trash, and full reports. No card is required up front. When the 14 days end, your account simply drops back to the Free plan unless you choose to subscribe.

How do I cancel or revoke Sortwell's access?

You are always in control. Revoke Gmail access from your Google account at any time, or delete your Sortwell account with one click and your data is removed. A paid plan can be cancelled whenever you like and drops to Free. No lock-in and no hoops to jump through.

What happens to my inbox if I stop using Sortwell?

Your inbox stays exactly as it is. Everything Sortwell did was a normal Gmail label change, so your mail and folders remain in Gmail and keep working without it. Nothing was deleted and nothing is locked to Sortwell, so stopping leaves your organized inbox right where it was.