You want everything to be easier, right? When running or launching a small business, there is a ton on your plate, and managing it all can be a burden. With that, you’ll have a lot of emails to keep up with. Using a Customer Relationship Management (CRM) system integrated with Gmail can offer several benefits for entrepreneurs and businesses alike.

A CRM integrated with Gmail can centralize all your email communications, making it easier to manage and organize emails related to different contacts and deals. This ensures that you don’t miss important messages or forget to follow up with clients. CRM systems allow you to store and manage contact information in a structured manner. You can track interactions, view contact histories, and categorize contacts, helping you stay organized and informed.

QuickLook: Best CRM for Gmail

Why Should You Consider Using a CRM for Gmail?

A CRM integrated with Gmail can greatly enhance your productivity by centralizing customer data, streamlining communication, and providing insights that can help you close deals faster. It’s a valuable tool for individuals and businesses looking to enhance their sales and customer service efforts.

7 Best CRM for Gmail

There are several CRM systems on the market, but which one is the best for your small businesses? Several factors play into this decision, such as pricing, mobile capabilities, customization, and others. Read on as we analyze seven of the best CRMs for Gmail in 2023.

Salesforce

Salesforce is a widely used CRM platform with a Gmail integration that allows you to manage leads, opportunities, and customer data directly from your inbox. Salesforce CRM empowers small businesses to enhance customer relationships, improve sales efficiency, and drive growth by centralizing crucial customer-related information and facilitating collaboration across teams.

Key features of Salesforce CRM include:

• Email Tracking and Engagement Metrics: Salesforce CRM for Gmail allows users to track their email communications within the CRM system. This feature provides insights into when recipients open emails, click on links, or engage with attachments.
• Contact and Lead Management: Salesforce CRM for Gmail enables you to manage contacts and leads seamlessly from your Gmail interface. You can create new records, update existing ones, and assign leads directly from your inbox, saving time and reducing the need to switch between applications.
• Task and Calendar Integration: This feature allows you to create tasks and events directly from your Gmail account and have them synced with Salesforce. You can schedule follow-up activities, set reminders, and manage your calendar without leaving your Gmail.

Pricing:

• Essentials: Starts at $25 per user per month
• Professional: Starts at $75 per user per month
• Enterprise: Starts at $150 per user per month

Pros:

• Wide range of features
• Scalable and customizable
• Excellent customer support

Cons:

• Can be complex and is expensive
• Not as user-friendly as other CRMs

Get started with SalesForce

Streak

Streak is a CRM built directly into Gmail, making it easy to manage contacts, track emails, and collaborate with your team without leaving your inbox.

Key features of Streak CRM include:

• Pipeline Management: Streak transforms your Gmail inbox into a customizable sales pipeline. You can create and manage pipelines to track leads, deals, projects, or any other process that involves stages or steps. Each stage corresponds to a column in your inbox.
• Task and Follow-Up Reminders: Streak provides task and follow-up reminder features. You can set tasks associated with specific emails, deals, or contacts, and receive reminders within Gmail. This helps you stay organized and ensures that you follow up with leads and contacts at the right time.
• Integration with Other Tools: Streak offers integration with various third-party tools and services, such as Google Drive, Google Calendar, and Zapier. This allows you to connect Streak with other applications and automate workflows to enhance your productivity.

Pricing:

• Solo: Starts at $15 per user per month
• Pro: Starts at $49 per user per month
• Enterprise: Starts at $129 per user per month

Pros:

• Seamless integration
• User-friendly interface
• Customizable pipelines

Cons:

• Limited functionality
• Dependency on Gmail
• Scalability

Get Started with Streak

Hubspot

HubSpot is a user-friendly and powerful CRM platform with a focus on streamlining communication and enhancing customer relationships. HubSpot offers a free CRM that integrates seamlessly with Gmail and provides robust marketing and sales automation features.

Key features of Hubspot CRM include:

• Contact and Email Synchronization: The integration enables two-way synchronization between your Gmail account and HubSpot CRM. This means that all your email communications are automatically logged within the corresponding CRM records. It helps you maintain a comprehensive history of interactions, making it easier to reference past conversations and keep your CRM data up-to-date.
• Email Templates and Sequences: HubSpot CRM for Gmail allows you to create and use email templates and sequences directly from your Gmail interface. Email templates can save you time by providing pre-designed messages that you can customize for different recipients.
• Contact and Deal Management: You can manage your contacts, leads, and deals directly from Gmail with HubSpot CRM. Create and update contact records, track deals, and assign tasks to team members without leaving your Gmail inbox.

Pricing:

• Starter: Starts at $45 per month per user
• Professional: Starts at $99 per month per user
• Enterprise: Starts at $399 per month per user

Pros:

• Easy to use and affordable
• Freemium plan available
• Strong integrations with other HubSpot products

Cons:

• Some features are limited in the free plan
• Not as scalable as some other CRMs

Get started with HubSpot

Pipedrive

Pipedrive is a highly effective sales-focused CRM designed to empower small and medium-sized businesses to manage their sales pipelines with efficiency. Pipedrive is known for its user-friendly interface and sales pipeline management. It integrates seamlessly with Gmail and helps sales teams track deals and communications.

Key features of Pipedrive CRM include:

• Contact and Deal Management: With Pipedrive CRM for Gmail, you can manage contacts and deals directly from your Gmail interface. Create new contacts, update existing records, and monitor deal progress without switching between applications. The integration enhances productivity by centralizing key CRM functionalities within your email environment.
• Workflow Automation: Pipedrive allows you to create customized email workflows and automation. You can set up email sequences and reminders to nurture leads or follow up with specific contacts automatically.
• Visual Pipeline: Pipedrive offers a visual sales pipeline view, reporting and analytics, and integrations with various other tools and applications. It is particularly well-suited for sales teams and small to medium-sized businesses looking for an intuitive CRM solution that integrates seamlessly with Gmail.

Pricing:

• Starter: Starts at $12.50 per user per month
• Professional: Starts at $24.95 per user per month
• Enterprise: Starts at $99 per user per month

Pros:

• Easy to use and intuitive interface
• Strong sales pipeline management features
• Good reporting and analytics

Cons:

• Limited marketing automation features
• Not as scalable as some other CRMs

Get started with Pipedrive

Zoho

Zoho offers automation features, analytics, and seamless integrations with other Zoho products. It is a good option for businesses that need a comprehensive CRM solution at a reasonable price. Zoho CRM offers an intuitive integration with Gmail, allowing you to track emails, schedule appointments, and manage contacts from your inbox.

Key features of Zoho CRM include:

• Workflow Automation: Zoho CRM offers workflow automation capabilities that can be triggered by Gmail interactions. You can set up custom workflows to automate tasks, reminders, and actions based on email activity.
• Contact Management: Manage your contacts directly from your Gmail interface. With Zoho CRM for Gmail, you can create and update contact records, assign leads, and track deal progress without leaving your email inbox.

Pricing:

• Standard: Starts at $12 per user per month
• Professional: Starts at $20 per user per month
• Enterprise: Starts at $35 per user per month

Pros:

• Affordable pricing
• Good customer support
• Easy to use

Cons:

• Can be complex to set up
• Not as user-friendly as other CRMs

Get started with Zoho

Zapier

While not a CRM itself, Zapier is an automation tool that can connect Gmail with various CRM software, allowing you to create custom workflows and integrations. While Zapier facilitates the integration between Gmail and your chosen CRM, the specific features and capabilities available will depend on the CRM and email service you are using. 

Key features of Zapier CRM include:

• Custom Trigger Actions: Zapier provides the flexibility to create custom trigger actions based on specific conditions and events in Gmail and your CRM. For instance, you can create Zaps to trigger actions when you receive emails from certain senders or when emails contain specific keywords.
• Multi-App Integration: Zapier supports integration with numerous CRM platforms and email services, allowing you to connect Gmail with a wide range of CRMs. This versatility allows you to choose the CRM that best suits your needs and still integrate it seamlessly with Gmail.
• Real-Time Updates: Zapier operates in real-time, ensuring that data is transferred and actions are triggered as soon as the predefined conditions are met in Gmail or your CRM. This real-time functionality helps you stay up-to-date with your contacts and opportunities.

Pricing:

• Starter: Starts at $19.99 per month
• Professional: Starts at $49 per month
• Team: Starts at $69 per month
• Company: The Company plan is the highest-tier option. Pricing is available upon request

Pros:

• Customization
• Integration flexibility
• Automation

Cons

• Complexity
• Latency
• Higher costs

Get Started with Zapier

Freshsales

Freshsales is a powerful CRM system with AI-powered features, email tracking, and built-in phone capabilities, designed to empower sales teams. Freshsales by Freshworks offers a Gmail integration that simplifies email tracking, lead management, and contact synchronization.

Key features of Freshsales CRM include:

• Task and Reminder Integration: Freshsales CRM for Gmail enables you to create tasks, reminders, and appointments directly from Gmail. These tasks and events sync with the CRM, ensuring that you stay organized and never miss important follow-ups or meetings related to your contacts and deals.
• Email Templates and Sequences: You can create and utilize email templates and sequences within Freshsales CRM for Gmail. Email templates save time by allowing you to use pre-designed email content for common messages. Email sequences enable you to automate follow-up emails and nurture leads with personalized messaging.
• Marketing Automation: Freshsales CRM offers marketing automation, reporting and analytics, lead scoring, and integrations with various other tools. It’s a CRM solution suitable for businesses looking to manage customer relationships and sales processes effectively, especially when integrated with Gmail for streamlined email communication.

Pricing:

• Blossom: Starts at $12 per user per month
• Garden: $25 per user per month
• Estate: $49 per user per month
• Forest: The Forest plan is the highest-tier option. Pricing is available upon request

Pros:

• User-friendly interface
• Affordable pricing plans
• Offers extensive customization options

Cons:

• Limited integration options compared to other CRMs
• Advanced features require higher-priced plans
• Customization options can be limited for certain features

Get started with Freshsales

Features to Consider When Choosing the Best CRM for Gmail 

There are several factors to consider when selecting the best CRM for Gmail. From integration to user-friendliness, it depends on your business which features should take priority. With that being said, here are five of the most important features to consider:

1. Integration with Gmail

The CRM should seamlessly integrate with Gmail, allowing you to access and manage customer data directly within your Gmail inbox. This saves time and reduces the need to switch between applications.

2. User-Friendly Interface 

Look for a CRM that has a user-friendly interface and is easy to navigate. This makes things easier for new and experienced employees alike.

3. Advanced Contact Management Features

The CRM should offer robust contact management capabilities, such as the ability to create and track customer profiles, manage email communication history, set reminders for follow-ups, and segment contacts based on various criteria.

4. Automation and Workflow Capabilities

An ideal CRM for Gmail should have automation and workflow capabilities to streamline your sales and marketing processes.

5. Integration With Other Tools and Software

Consider the CRM’s ability to integrate with other tools and software that you use in your business ecosystem.

Choosing the Best CRM For Your Gmail

Choosing the right CRM for Gmail can significantly enhance your small business’s efficiency and customer relationships. The seven options we’ve discussed offer a range of features and pricing options to cater to your specific needs.

With the right CRM in place, you can centralize your email communications, stay organized, and ultimately drive growth by providing better customer service and closing deals more efficiently. So, take the time to assess your business requirements and choose the CRM that aligns best with your goals and objectives.

FAQs

Is it possible to synchronize my emails and contacts with a CRM?

Yes! Synchronizing your emails and contacts with a CRM is perhaps the most beneficial feature of a CRM. This synchronization enables the CRM to capture and store your email communications within the CRM platform.

Can a CRM help me manage my sales pipeline?

Yes, a CRM system is a great tool for managing your sales pipeline effectively. Managing a sales pipeline involves tracking and nurturing leads and opportunities as they progress through various stages of the sales process.

Are there any free CRM options available for Gmail?

Yes, most of the CRMs mentioned in this article as well as others on the market offer a free trial period.

Is it easy to set up and customize a CRM for Gmail?

Setting up and customizing a CRM system for Gmail can vary in complexity depending on the CRM you choose and your specific requirements. It’s important to invest time in the initial setup and configuration to ensure that the CRM aligns with your specific business needs.

Will my data be secure if I use a CRM for Gmail?

The security of your data when using a CRM system for Gmail depends on several factors, including the CRM provider, your own security practices, and the measures you put in place. While the CRM provider is responsible for the security of their platform, you are responsible for securing access to your CRM account and maintaining good security practices within your organization.