Frequently Asked Questions

Sifta is an AI email assistant that connects to your Gmail or Outlook inbox and texts you via iMessage when something important arrives. It has no app or dashboard — it works autonomously in the background and only contacts you when an email needs your attention.

Sifta uses an AI classifier to evaluate each email across sender importance, content urgency, thread context, and your personal response patterns. The classifier errs on the side of alerting you — it would rather send one extra text than miss a critical email.

Sifta texts you via iMessage with a concise summary: who sent it, what they need, and whether it's urgent. You can read it in under 10 seconds without opening your inbox. Alerts typically arrive within 60 seconds of the email landing.

Filtered emails are archived in your mailbox — nothing is ever deleted. They remain fully searchable and accessible in Gmail or Outlook. Sifta only moves emails out of your primary inbox view; it never permanently removes anything.

Yes. Sifta fully supports both Gmail and Outlook via secure OAuth — the same authentication Google and Microsoft use for all trusted third-party integrations. You can connect either provider during setup in about 30 seconds.

Yes. When you ask for it via iMessage, Sifta can draft a reply on your behalf based on the email thread and your instructions. You always see and approve the draft before anything is sent — Sifta never sends a message without your explicit go-ahead. Drafts can also be saved to your Gmail or Outlook drafts folder for you to finish later.

Setup takes about 2 minutes. Connect your Gmail or Outlook account via OAuth, provide your phone number for iMessage, and optionally specify VIP senders. No rules to configure, no folders to create — Sifta starts working immediately.

No. Sifta has no app to download or install. It communicates entirely through iMessage, which is already on your iPhone. Sifta appears as a contact in your existing Messages app — there is no separate interface to learn or check.

Sifta observes which alerts you act on, which you dismiss, and how quickly you respond to different senders. By day 5-7, it has a strong model of your priorities and adjusts automatically. This calibration is continuous — no manual configuration needed.

Yes. During setup, you can specify VIP senders (always alert) and topics you care about. After setup, the AI adapts automatically based on your behavior. If you consistently act on emails from a particular sender or about a particular topic, Sifta will prioritize them without any manual configuration.

Yes. Sifta connects via Gmail or Outlook OAuth with access scoped to reading, drafting, and organizing your inbox. Email content is processed through encrypted channels and never stored long-term. Your data is never used to train AI models, never shared with third parties, and you can revoke access anytime from your Google Account or Microsoft account settings.

No. Sifta analyzes each email in real time to generate a priority score and summary, then discards the content. Only the summary text (sent to you via iMessage) and metadata needed for classifier learning are retained. Your full email content remains exclusively in your Gmail or Outlook account.

Yes, at any time. For Gmail, go to your Google Account settings → Security → Third-party apps with account access → Remove Sifta. For Outlook, go to your Microsoft account → Privacy → Apps and services that can access your data → Remove Sifta. Access is revoked immediately, and Sifta will stop monitoring your inbox. All your emails remain untouched in your mailbox exactly as they were.

Sifta costs $49 per month. There is no free tier, no usage limits, and no feature gates — every subscriber gets the full product. Annual billing is also available at a discounted rate. You can cancel anytime with no cancellation fees or long-term commitments.

Yes. Sifta is a month-to-month subscription with no cancellation fees or penalties. If you cancel, Sifta stops monitoring your inbox at the end of your current billing period. All your emails remain in Gmail or Outlook, and no data is lost.

Superhuman is a premium email client that replaces Gmail's interface — you still open an inbox and process emails manually, just faster. Sifta is an autonomous AI agent that monitors your inbox and texts you via iMessage when something important arrives. You never open an inbox at all. Superhuman optimizes email processing speed; Sifta eliminates email processing entirely.

SaneBox is a background filter that sorts emails into folders (SaneLater, SaneNews, etc.) within your existing inbox. You still need to check your inbox to see the results. Sifta delivers important email summaries proactively via iMessage — you don't need to open your inbox to stay informed. SaneBox organizes your inbox; Sifta replaces the need to check it.

Gmail filters are rule-based: you manually create rules like 'if from X, apply label Y.' They break when your contacts or priorities change, and they require ongoing maintenance. Sifta uses AI that understands email content semantically and learns from your behavior automatically. No rules to write, no filters to maintain, and no manual updates when your priorities shift.

Yes. Sifta operates independently at the Gmail or Outlook level and is compatible with other email tools. You can use Superhuman as your email client for the times you do check email, SaneBox for inbox organization, and Sifta for real-time alerts on important messages. The tools address different aspects of email management and complement each other.