Modern work lives in the Gmail inbox. We negotiate deals, nurture customer relationships, answer support questions, and coordinate next steps—often without a system to keep everything aligned. A thoughtfully chosen CRM for Gmail helps us stitch these activities together, transforming scattered messages into a repeatable process.
In this guide, we compare Gmail CRM tools, map the essential features that matter, and walk through setup, governance, and adoption. We also show how powerful CRM tools complement your stack to turn email context into action without leaving Gmail.
Key takeaways: Top 8 Gmail CRM tools in 2025
1. Lark: The collaboration and orchestration layer around your Gmail CRM
2. Streak: Pipelines and CRM inside Gmail
3. Copper: Google‑aligned CRM software with a polished Gmail experience
4. NetHunt CRM: Gmail‑centric customization with powerful automation
5. Drag: Shared inbox workflows and simple pipelines in Gmail
6. HubSpot CRM: Broad platform with a capable Gmail integration
7. Zoho CRM: Flexible suite with a Gmail add‑on
8. Agile CRM: All‑in‑one features plus Gmail integration
What is a CRM for Gmail and why it matters
A Gmail CRM is customer relationship management software that works inside Gmail or connects through seamless integration. We use it to manage contacts, track leads, and automate follow ups in the same place we send and receive messages. Some tools offer deep Gmail integration via a chrome extension; others rely on a Gmail add‑on or a web app with CRM Gmail integration. The goal is to surface relevant data next to incoming emails, reduce manual data entry, and capture the entire communication history as we work.
Why it matters:
Improve contact management and build detailed customer profiles over time.
Maintain the visibility of the whole sales process.
Reduce context switching and increase adoption.
The business case: How a Gmail CRM improves daily work
Combining your CRM system directly with Gmail creates faster feedback loops and reduces blind spots by unifying communication history, contact details, and deal stages where work already happens. Sales teams gain speed and accuracy, while support, marketing, and operations benefit from shared context and clear handoffs. With automatic logging of emails to CRM records and contextual surfacing of contacts, owners, and deal stages, decisions become data‑driven with less effort.
Less friction: Update contact details and advance deal stages in the Gmail interface with one‑click edits, inline field suggestions, and no tab‑switching.
More reliable email tracking: Track opens, link clicks, attachment views, and reply timing inside Gmail; trigger timely follow‑ups and prioritize hot threads.
Workflow automation: Convert repetitive tasks into automated workflows (auto‑log emails to deals, create tasks from unanswered threads, assign owners, set SLA timers).
Central source: Maintain a central source of CRM data—shared records with full communication history—to improve team collaboration and clean handoffs.
Clearer accountability: Threaded conversations, timestamps, and visible owners clarify responsibilities for an account manager managing complex threads, enhancing accountability.
Key features to look for in a CRM for Gmail
The best Gmail CRM tools share essential features that translate into tangible productivity. Use the checklist below to evaluate competitors and highlight trade‑offs.
Inbox‑native capabilities:
Context panel with contact data, recent activity, and relevant data.
One‑click logging of incoming emails to CRM contacts and companies.
Mail merge and email templates for personalized outreach at scale.
Email automation to automate follow ups based on opens or replies.
Pipelines and deal flow:
Visual sales pipeline with custom stages and fields to manage sales.
Ability to create tasks from messages and schedule meetings from threads.
Automatic contact creation from signatures, web forms, or new conversations.
Data and records:
Detailed customer profiles with an entire communication history.
Clean managing contacts flows that prevent duplicate contact details.
Support for attachments and notes to capture business processes context.
Automation and routing:
Workflow automation for assignments, SLAs, and reminders.
Flexible rules for track leads enrichment and lead source mapping.
Integration with google calendar to turn emails into calendar events.
Security and admin:
Granular CRM access, role permissions, and audit trails.
Clear data export paths so CRM data stays portable across other apps.
Domain install options and least‑privilege scopes.
Experience and reliability:
Deep Gmail integration that loads fast and behaves predictably.
A smooth Gmail experience on desktop and a competent mobile phone app.
Transparent pricing with a free plan to validate essential features.
Top 8 CRM software for Gmail in 2025
To help you make the best choice faster, we recommend the following products. Each option is widely recognized and brings distinct strengths to the Gmail environment.
Lark: The collaboration and orchestration layer around your Gmail CRM
Overview
Lark is a powerful platform with the strong email CRM feature— Lark Mail and seamless workflow automation tool — Base. Teams reduce manual data entry, maintain governed knowledge, collaborate across devices, and orchestrate cross‑functional processes that accelerate deals and strengthen customer relationships.
Key features
Complete customer interaction tracking: Sync emails from Gmail and other business accounts into Lark, capturing every interaction detail like email content. Integrate with your CRM to maintain a complete, traceable history of customer communications.
Deep CRM customization: Leverage Lark Base, a powerful no‑code platform, to embed synced interaction data into your CRM using powerful data management—custom fields, formula calculations, and multi‑view displays.
Seamless collaboration: Bridge asynchronous email and real‑time chat. Discuss customer emails in linked chats without losing context, @mention teammates on threads, share emails to group chats, and convert chat decisions into tracked tasks or replies—ensuring faster alignment and accountable follow‑ups.
AI‑powered personalized communication: Automatically generate tailored customer content—such as follow‑up emails and marketing copy—using AI that draws on prior interactions to boost relevance, consistency, and engagement。
Mobile reliability and governance: Work seamlessly across devices with offline support, while roles, permissions, and audit logs ensure secure, compliant customer communication.
Free plan: Offers 11 powerful products including Lark Base and Lark Mail, supporting up to 20 users, 100 GB storage, 1,000 automation runs and unlimited AI translation in chats, docs and email.
Paid plans: Starts at $12/user/month, supporting up to 500 users. Includes unlimited message history, 50,000 automated Base workflow executions per month.
Enterprise plan: custom pricing.
Streak: Pipelines and CRM inside Gmail
Image source: streak.com
Overview
Streak embeds pipelines and contact management directly in the Gmail interface via a Chrome extension. It’s designed for teams that prefer to manage sales inside Gmail, with minimal context switching and a familiar Gmail experience.
Key features
Deep Gmail integration with pipeline boards and contact sidebars.
Mail merge, email templates, and basic email automation with sequences.
Automatic contact creation from signatures and new conversations.
Create tasks, update fields, and track leads without leaving Gmail.
Pricing
With a 14-day free trial. Paid plans start at $49/user/month.
Copper: Google‑aligned CRM software with a polished Gmail experience
Image source: copper.com
Overview
Copper is a Google‑first CRM that brings CRM contacts and account context into a right‑hand panel in Gmail. It suits teams seeking a full featured CRM with tight Gmail integration and Google Calendar alignment.
Key features
Clean Gmail interface panel for email tracking and contact details.
Google Calendar and Drive integrations for meetings and files.
Pipelines, automated workflows, and reporting for the sales process.
Tools for managing contacts and detailed customer profiles.
Pricing
With a 14-day free trial. Paid plans start at $9/user/month.
NetHunt CRM: Gmail‑centric customization with powerful automation
Image source: nethunt.com
Overview
NetHunt CRM focuses on CRM Gmail integration with flexible pipelines and robust workflow automation. It’s a strong fit for teams that want to refine stages, automate follow ups, and keep work inside Gmail.
Key features
Custom fields, pipelines, and automated workflows aligned to your sales pipeline.
Automatic contact creation and enrichment on incoming emails and web forms.
Email templates, mail merge, and sequences to automate follow ups.
Create tasks and manage sales activities from the Gmail sidebar.
Pricing
With a 14-day free trial. Paid plans start at $30/user/month.
Drag: Shared inbox workflows and simple pipelines in Gmail
Image source: drag.com
Overview
Drag turns the Gmail inbox into Kanban boards for triage, assignment, and simple pipeline tracking. It’s ideal for small business teams that prioritize shared inbox collaboration over complex CRM functionality.
Key features
Boards inside Gmail to assign owners and visualize status.
Templates for quick replies and standardized follow ups.
Create tasks from threads and coordinate work without leaving Gmail.
Lightweight tools to manage sales requests and operational queues.
Pricing
With a 7-day free trial. Paid plans start at $12/user/month.
HubSpot CRM: Broad platform with a capable Gmail integration
Image source: hubspot.com
Overview
HubSpot provides a full featured CRM with a Chrome extension and Gmail add‑on for logging, tracking, and templating emails. It’s a flexible option for teams planning to scale into marketing and service while keeping a strong Gmail integration.
Key features
Templates, snippets, meeting scheduling, and email tracking within Gmail.
Robust pipelines, automation, and reporting in the CRM backend.
Calendar events and tasks tied to records for consistent follow ups.
Web forms and automated workflows for lead capture and routing.
Pricing
Paid plans start at $1300/month for 5 seats.
Zoho CRM: Flexible suite with a Gmail add‑on
Image source: zoho.com
Overview
Zoho CRM offers a customizable platform with Gmail integration via add‑on and extension. It serves teams that want broad CRM functionality with the option to shape business processes across a larger suite.
Key features
Contact management with detailed customer profiles and rich fields.
Google Calendar integration for calendar events and schedule meetings flows.
Web forms to capture and track leads directly into the CRM system.
Workflow automation across sales processes and other apps in the suite.
Pricing
With a free trial. Paid plans start at $14/user/month.
Agile CRM: All‑in‑one features plus Gmail integration
Image source: agilecrm.com
Overview
Agile CRM blends sales, marketing, and service with Gmail integration to log, track, and template emails. It’s attractive for teams that want an all‑in‑one approach with balanced features and straightforward setup.
Key features
Email tracking, templates, and sequences accessible from Gmail.
Pipeline tools to manage sales and create tasks with reminders.
Lead capture via forms and simple automated workflows.
Options to track the entire communication history for customer relationships.
Pricing
With a free plan limited to 10 users. Paid plans start at $8.99/user/month.
Our tool recommendation criteria
Below are the key criteria we use when evaluating tool recommendations.
Native Gmail experience: Evaluate integration methods (Chrome extension side panels, add‑ons, or web sync) and assess seamless integration depth.
Pipeline customization: Support for custom fields, stage transition rules, and alignment with sales processes.
Email outreach capabilities: Reliability of email tracking, template libraries, sequencing tools, and link tracking.
Automation & integrations: Support for triggered rules, webhook configurations, and pre‑built connectors to essential apps.
Collaboration & governance: Features for shared pipeline visibility, internal commenting, granular CRM access controls, and audit logs.
Pricing & scalability: Free plan limitations, transparent upgrade paths, and enterprise‑grade admin controls.
How to choose the right CRM for Gmail
Our choice depends on workflow complexity, collaboration needs, and budget. Below are scenario‑based recommendations to help narrow options and avoid misalignment.
Solo or small business teams
Prioritize ease of use, a free CRM option, and core CRM functionality.
Ensure mail merge, templates, and tracking work reliably inside Gmail.
Add mobile access for on‑the‑go updates and quick note logging after calls.
Favor cost‑effective plans with simple setup and minimal admin overhead.
Growing sales team
Emphasize team collaboration, permissions, and automated workflows.
Look for analytics that surface valuable insights without heavy setup.
Require pipeline management, forecasting, and easy stage customization.
Check integrations with calendars, dialers, and scheduling tools to reduce context switching.
Account management and success
Choose tools that display the entire communication history per account.
Ensure it is easy to create tasks, schedule meetings, and capture stakeholder maps.
Add account health scoring and alerts for at‑risk customers.
Track renewals, SLAs, and upsell opportunities with reminders tied to email activity.
Compliance‑sensitive organizations
Focus on admin controls, CRM access, and clear data lifecycles.
Validate SSO, logs, and data export workflows before rollout.
Require data residency options and certifications (e.g., GDPR, HIPAA).
Ensure robust audit trails, field‑level permissions, and retention policies.
Setup guide: Make your CRM for Gmail launch smooth and predictable
A thoughtful setup produces early wins and lasting adoption. We keep the plan simple: prepare, install, migrate, and iterate. The aim is to get value quickly while building good habits around hygiene and handoffs.
Pre‑install checklist:
Confirm CRM access roles and permission models for each Gmail account.
Map essential fields for contact details, companies, and deals.
Standardize naming for stages and define minimal templates and playbooks.
Decide which teams need chrome extension installs versus add‑ons.
Installation and configuration:
Choose domain‑wide or user‑level installs based on governance.
Connect calendar so we can schedule meetings from Gmail.
Enable automatic contact creation and logging of incoming emails.
Configure mail merge defaults, email templates, and sequences.
Data migration:
Prepare contact data in CSVs; validate field mapping for managing contacts.
Import legacy communication history where supported.
Test a small batch to ensure relevant data displays correctly inside Gmail.
Go‑live practices:
Teach how to create tasks from threads and set reminders.
Encourage notes on records to capture entire communication history.
Review early signals weekly and tune automated workflows carefully.
Security, compliance, and admin guardrails
Trust grows when we control who sees what and how data moves. Strong admin posture also makes it easier to scale processes and onboard new teammates without risk. We prioritize clarity and least‑privilege settings so the CRM system remains predictable.
Access and permissions:
Document CRM access by role and apply read/write rules to sensitive CRM data.
Use SSO where available to streamline onboarding and offboarding.
Data lifecycle:
Keep exports documented so you can move CRM data into other apps if needed.
Decide retention rules for email logs, notes, and attachments.
Device and mobility:
Validate behavior on a mobile phone and test the add‑on experience.
Ensure tracking features behave responsibly across clients and devices.
Change management:
Announce changes early and maintain brief overviews of new key features.
Audit fields quarterly to prevent bloat in contact management.
Conclusion
A well‑implemented Gmail CRM feels like a natural extension of the inbox. We see contact details in context, trigger automated workflows at the right time, and keep momentum without leaving Gmail. When the CRM functionality aligns to real work, teams log better data, manage sales more confidently, and collaborate without friction.
Pair your Gmail with powerful CRM tools like Lark to turn insights into action—organize tasks, capture playbooks, and orchestrate multi‑step processes across teams. With the right foundation, growth follows naturally, driven by clarity and consistent execution.
FAQs
Does Gmail have a CRM system?
Gmail isn’t a full CRM, but many tools plug in via add‑ons, Chrome extensions, or web sync. Prioritize deep Gmail integration to surface contacts, timelines, and templates beside threads, so reps manage deals without constant tab‑switching.
Does Google have a free CRM?
Google doesn’t offer a dedicated CRM. However, several vendors provide a free plan covering core essentials like contacts, deals, email templates, and basic reporting—enough to validate fit before upgrading as user seats, data volume, or complexity increases.
Is Streak CRM for Gmail safe?
Yes. Streak follows strong security practices, including encryption in transit and at rest, granular permissions, and audit logs for activity visibility. Review data handling policies, OAuth scopes, and admin controls to ensure alignment with your organization’s compliance requirements.
What are the 4 types of CRM?
Common categories include operational CRM focused on sales and marketing automation; analytical CRM for insights and forecasting; collaborative CRM to streamline cross‑team sharing; and strategic CRM that aligns customer initiatives with long‑term business goals and value creation.
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