The idea behind communicating, sharing and collaborating via email is as old as the early days of the internet. Even decades later, the way we interact with email in today’s world isn’t very different. We continue to use email for work, school, play, and especially in our personal lives, for everything else in between. While checking your email was a semi-routine activity a decade ago, it’s always available now, thanks to our phones.
Our email accounts can also be cluttered with spam or other unwanted threads, which can cause us to miss important messages. In this guide, we’d like to highlight some interesting apps and tools for desktop Gmail that can help you check your inbox. You should be in charge of your inbox, not the other way around. Gmail has far more options than what’s shown here, so don’t worry if your favorite app isn’t properly prompted.
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The third-party apps and tools on this list are from the officially verified Google Workspace app store, so you know they’re safe to use. Many of them are also professional businesses or brands. Since they both rely on Gmail, you must be signed in with your Google Account to use them anyway. Some are also geared towards business users, but you can also incorporate them into your personal life.
In the business world and even in our own personal lives, we may need to send a lot of emails at times. Mailman is an open-source and completely free-to-use Gmail application that simplifies sending and personalizing bulk emails. Its open source nature also means you don’t have to worry about your personal data being snooped on, which is helpful. You can even link Mailman with Google Sheets to track specific real-time email statistics such as clicks, bounces, and replies.
Much like Mailman, Mailmeteror allows you to easily create, track, and manage bulk emails within Gmail itself. It may not be as open source as Mailman; however, it’s still a solid option if you’re looking for something extra. Its focus on ease of use, user privacy, and advanced features makes it a great choice for anyone who might be curious. Mailmeteror is free for up to 75 emails per day, with some paid tiers if you need more emails and advanced features.
Gone are the days when you needed the necessary skills and knowledge to create beautiful email designs. Email templates bring the idea of quickly sending professional-looking emails with just a click of the mouse. You can choose from hundreds of pre-made templates for free to help level up your design game. They have everything you could possibly need, from personalized birthday cards to work newsletters. There is also a paid option for those who want more of the service.
Today, with more and more people working from home, we often use email to keep up with and notify our colleagues of important tasks. Because emails are kept as a separate entity outside of your typical workflow environment, they are sometimes missed or forgotten. Zapier hopes to solve this problem by allowing you to integrate Gmail threads directly into your favorite messaging platform. It’s completely free for 100 tasks per month and has multiple paid tiers to suit your needs.
Sometimes you might miss important emails from family or friends because they’re mixed in with everything else. With Evernote, you can take those personal emails out of your Gmail inbox, turn them into notes, and keep them all in one place. Having your personal emails in their own space means you can come back to them later without distraction. If you need more storage or extra features, you can get 60 MB of free uploads per month and a choice of some premium plans.
Evernote also has an Android app that you can use alongside the aforementioned Gmail desktop app, giving you the best of both worlds.
Since emails are always pouring in, you never really get a chance to take a break from them. With Boomerang, you can temporarily suspend your Gmail inbox for a specified time so you can focus on other things. You can also set reminders for important emails, which will help you stay organized. You get 10 free messaging credits per month, plus various paid plans to access more advanced features. As a bonus, all new Boomerang accounts include a 30-day premium trial.
Boomerang also has an Android app that you can use alongside the aforementioned Gmail desktop app, giving you the best of both worlds.
Typing on a keyboard may not always be the best option when it comes to putting your thoughts on the screen. Some users prefer to use the text-to-text tool to quickly jot down their thoughts as it is more efficient for them. Voice Notes is a middle ground between the two, allowing you to reply and compose emails directly in Gmail using your voice. This free tool uses a dedicated built-in audio recording tool rather than simply attaching audio files you have recorded elsewhere.
Of all the items on this list, Superhuman can safely fall into its own category. While other extensions are extensions that work with Gmail, Superhuman advertises itself as a brand new Gmail platform with unique AI capabilities. In theory, this should help you get through your emails faster. It also happens to be an invite-only program at this point and a huge waitlist. If you’re accepted into Superhuman, you can expect a $30 monthly subscription fee to use its services.
There are many ways to make your Gmail inbox experience better and more organized, and these are just a few options you can consider. Since they’re all free to try or use, you can easily test out which one is the most interesting for your personal needs. You might also be interested in learning how to customize your desktop Gmail keyboard shortcuts for more control over your inbox.
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