A group of former Pinterest employees just launched Extra, an email app that throws out the traditional inbox completely. Instead of sorting emails by when they arrived, Extra organizes them like Pinterest boards around your actual life.
This matters because email hasn’t really changed in decades, even though we use it completely differently now. Most of us get hundreds of emails about travel plans, shopping receipts, work projects, and personal stuff all mixed together in one endless list.
Email That Actually Makes Sense
Extra’s team realized that Pinterest’s visual, category-based approach could fix email’s biggest problem. The app automatically sorts your emails into life categories like “Travel,” “Shopping,” and “Work” without you doing anything. Think of it like having separate email accounts for different parts of your life, but all in one place.
The Pinterest connection isn’t just about the team – it’s about the philosophy. Pinterest succeeded because it organized things the way people actually think about them. You don’t search Pinterest chronologically; you browse by interest and purpose.
Extra also promises to cut through email overload by highlighting what actually needs your attention. Instead of starring emails or creating complex folder systems, the app learns what matters to you.
What’s Next
Extra is launching now, competing against Gmail and Outlook that have dominated email for years. The big test will be whether people are willing to switch email apps – something most of us rarely do. But if you’re drowning in email chaos, Extra might be worth trying.