Mobile email management is getting a new interaction model. According to TechCrunch, Avec, a mobile-first email app initially available on iOS, aims to move users through their inbox with Tinder-style swipe cards and voice-based replies, building on the broader “inbox zero” push that has already produced desktop-focused apps such as Superhuman and Mimestream.
Card swipes for inbox triage
The core interface Avec introduces is a stack of email “cards” that users swipe through. By default, a left swipe adds an email to a pile for later review, while a right swipe adds it to the “done” (or archive) pile. This approach targets speed by turning email triage into a gesture-based workflow rather than a multi-step selection-and-action sequence.
Avec also includes a gesture for marking messages as unimportant: users can swipe down on emails they consider unimportant. According to TechCrunch, the app will learn from what’s put in the unimportant pile and can show those emails together in a group instead of requiring individual triage of each one.
While the swipe-based card interface is Avec’s primary feature, the app also supports a plain list-based view. This accommodates different user preferences—some users prefer scanning in a traditional list format, while others may favor gesture-driven processing.
Voice replies with transcription drafts
Beyond swiping, Avec adds voice interaction for composing replies. According to TechCrunch, the email “stack” includes a button at the bottom that lets users hold it to reply using voice. When the user releases the button after speaking, the app displays the transcription as a draft.
The workflow includes a review step: users can review the transcription for errors, edit as needed, and then send the email. The app’s voice input is presented as a way to generate a draft that the user can correct, rather than as fully autonomous sending.
Avec’s approach to Apple API constraints
TechCrunch notes that apps like Wispr Flow, Willow, and Monologue exist but are constrained by Apple’s APIs. These tools require users to install them as separate keyboard apps to function.
According to the company, Avec’s differentiator is that it can operate with full context of the email. This allows Avec to understand names and apply edits based on the tone of the email. The company also claims that with this context, it can recognize a user’s personal email style.
Inbox zero on mobile
TechCrunch frames Avec as part of the effort to help users process their inbox efficiently, referencing earlier attempts to reach “inbox zero” on desktop with apps like Superhuman and Mimestream. Avec applies this approach to mobile with a card-based navigation model and voice drafting.
Some elements remain familiar: swiping to archive or defer is a recognizable pattern across mobile productivity apps, and list-based views preserve a conventional interface option. The combination of swipe-first triage paired with voice-to-draft replies represents Avec’s primary distinction.
Avec was founded by Jonathan Unikowski, who previously worked at Replit in a product engineering role. According to TechCrunch, Unikowski said he was thinking about building tools he would use every day, explored ideas like building a browser, and eventually focused on email.
Source: TechCrunch