Quick Overview
- 1#1: Front - A shared inbox platform that enables teams to manage emails, chats, and SMS collaboratively with powerful automation and analytics.
- 2#2: Help Scout - Customer support software with a shared inbox designed for personalized team collaboration and efficient ticketing.
- 3#3: Missive - A team inbox and chat tool that combines email, SMS, and collaboration features in one unified interface.
- 4#4: Hiver - Shared inbox solution built directly on Gmail for seamless team email management without leaving your inbox.
- 5#5: Gorgias - E-commerce focused shared inbox platform that automates customer support across multiple channels.
- 6#6: Intercom - Customer messaging platform with a collaborative inbox for handling emails, chats, and support tickets at scale.
- 7#7: Zendesk - Comprehensive customer service platform featuring a shared inbox for multi-channel support and team workflows.
- 8#8: Freshdesk - Cloud-based ticketing system with shared inbox capabilities for collaborative customer support.
- 9#9: Gmelius - Gmail-based shared inbox tool that transforms email into a collaboration platform with automation.
- 10#10: Drag - Kanban-style shared inbox for Gmail that enables teams to manage emails like tasks.
Tools were ranked based on key metrics including functionality, user experience, scalability, and overall value, ensuring they balance robust capabilities with practical usability for modern teams.
Comparison Table
Team inbox software simplifies collaborative communication, and this comparison table explores tools like Front, Help Scout, Missive, Hiver, Gorgias, and more, detailing key features, pricing structures, and integration strengths to guide teams toward the right solution.
| # | Tool | Category | Overall | Features | Ease of Use | Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Front A shared inbox platform that enables teams to manage emails, chats, and SMS collaboratively with powerful automation and analytics. | specialized | 9.7/10 | 9.8/10 | 9.3/10 | 9.1/10 |
| 2 | Help Scout Customer support software with a shared inbox designed for personalized team collaboration and efficient ticketing. | specialized | 9.2/10 | 9.0/10 | 9.6/10 | 8.5/10 |
| 3 | Missive A team inbox and chat tool that combines email, SMS, and collaboration features in one unified interface. | specialized | 8.7/10 | 9.1/10 | 8.9/10 | 8.3/10 |
| 4 | Hiver Shared inbox solution built directly on Gmail for seamless team email management without leaving your inbox. | specialized | 8.7/10 | 8.5/10 | 9.5/10 | 8.8/10 |
| 5 | Gorgias E-commerce focused shared inbox platform that automates customer support across multiple channels. | specialized | 8.7/10 | 9.2/10 | 8.5/10 | 8.0/10 |
| 6 | Intercom Customer messaging platform with a collaborative inbox for handling emails, chats, and support tickets at scale. | enterprise | 8.7/10 | 9.4/10 | 8.1/10 | 7.6/10 |
| 7 | Zendesk Comprehensive customer service platform featuring a shared inbox for multi-channel support and team workflows. | enterprise | 8.1/10 | 9.2/10 | 7.4/10 | 7.0/10 |
| 8 | Freshdesk Cloud-based ticketing system with shared inbox capabilities for collaborative customer support. | enterprise | 8.2/10 | 8.8/10 | 8.0/10 | 7.5/10 |
| 9 | Gmelius Gmail-based shared inbox tool that transforms email into a collaboration platform with automation. | specialized | 8.6/10 | 8.8/10 | 9.2/10 | 8.2/10 |
| 10 | Drag Kanban-style shared inbox for Gmail that enables teams to manage emails like tasks. | specialized | 7.6/10 | 8.0/10 | 8.2/10 | 7.2/10 |
A shared inbox platform that enables teams to manage emails, chats, and SMS collaboratively with powerful automation and analytics.
Customer support software with a shared inbox designed for personalized team collaboration and efficient ticketing.
A team inbox and chat tool that combines email, SMS, and collaboration features in one unified interface.
Shared inbox solution built directly on Gmail for seamless team email management without leaving your inbox.
E-commerce focused shared inbox platform that automates customer support across multiple channels.
Customer messaging platform with a collaborative inbox for handling emails, chats, and support tickets at scale.
Comprehensive customer service platform featuring a shared inbox for multi-channel support and team workflows.
Cloud-based ticketing system with shared inbox capabilities for collaborative customer support.
Gmail-based shared inbox tool that transforms email into a collaboration platform with automation.
Kanban-style shared inbox for Gmail that enables teams to manage emails like tasks.
Front
specializedA shared inbox platform that enables teams to manage emails, chats, and SMS collaboratively with powerful automation and analytics.
Holistic multi-channel unified inbox with real-time team collaboration tools
Front is a leading team inbox software that unifies customer communications from email, live chat, SMS, social media, voice, and more into a single shared inbox for seamless team collaboration. It enables assignments, @mentions, internal notes, and status updates to manage conversations efficiently across support, sales, and operations teams. Advanced features like automation rules, AI-powered insights, analytics dashboards, and 100+ integrations make it a comprehensive solution for scaling customer interactions.
Pros
- Unified multi-channel inbox for email, chat, SMS, and social
- Powerful automation rules and AI-driven workflows
- Deep analytics, reporting, and 100+ integrations
Cons
- Pricing starts higher for small teams
- Learning curve for advanced automation features
- Limited free tier with basic functionality only
Best For
Growing sales, support, and operations teams needing a collaborative hub for multi-channel customer communications.
Pricing
Starter at $19/user/mo, Scale at $49/user/mo, Enterprise custom (billed annually; 14-day free trial).
Help Scout
specializedCustomer support software with a shared inbox designed for personalized team collaboration and efficient ticketing.
Conversations inbox that maintains full email threading while enabling seamless team collaboration and context.
Help Scout is a customer support platform featuring a shared team inbox that transforms email into collaborative conversations for efficient support ticket management. It allows teams to assign conversations, add internal notes, use saved replies, and access customer histories without disrupting the familiar email workflow. Additional tools include reporting dashboards, performance insights, and an integrated knowledge base called Docs.
Pros
- Intuitive email-like interface that's quick for teams to adopt
- Robust collaboration tools including assignments, notes, and @mentions
- Comprehensive customer profiles and reporting for insights
Cons
- Pricing scales quickly for larger teams or advanced needs
- Limited native automation compared to enterprise competitors
- No perpetual free plan, only a 15-day trial
Best For
Small to mid-sized customer support teams wanting a simple, collaborative shared inbox without heavy ticketing complexity.
Pricing
Standard ($20/user/mo), Plus ($49/user/mo), Pro ($69/user/mo); billed annually with a 15-day free trial.
Missive
specializedA team inbox and chat tool that combines email, SMS, and collaboration features in one unified interface.
Chat-like collaboration on emails with real-time editing, reactions, and threading
Missive is a collaborative team inbox platform that unifies email, chat, SMS, WhatsApp, Twitter, and other channels into a single shared workspace. It enables real-time collaboration on conversations, with features like assignments, comments, reactions, and live editing to streamline team communication. Powerful automation rules, labels, and integrations help teams manage customer support, sales, and internal workflows efficiently.
Pros
- Multi-channel unified inbox including email, SMS, and social media
- Real-time collaborative editing and chat-like conversation interface
- Advanced automation rules, snoozing, and integrations with tools like Slack
Cons
- Pricing scales quickly for larger teams and advanced features
- Mobile app lags behind desktop in functionality
- Steep learning curve for complex rules and custom setups
Best For
Small to medium teams in customer support or sales needing collaborative, multi-channel inbox management.
Pricing
Free for individuals; team plans start at $14/user/month (Starter, annual billing) up to $48/user/month (Advanced); 30-day free trial.
Hiver
specializedShared inbox solution built directly on Gmail for seamless team email management without leaving your inbox.
Native Gmail integration that overlays team collaboration tools directly in your existing inbox
Hiver is a shared inbox tool that turns Gmail into a collaborative team inbox for customer support, sales, and other teams. It enables features like assigning emails via labels, adding internal notes, collision alerts to prevent duplicate replies, and basic analytics—all without leaving the Gmail interface. This makes it a lightweight solution for email-only workflows.
Pros
- Seamless integration directly within Gmail—no apps or forwarding needed
- Quick setup with minimal training required
- Affordable pricing with a free plan for small teams
Cons
- Limited to Gmail only; no support for Outlook or other email providers
- Lacks multi-channel support like chat or social media
- Reporting and automation features are basic compared to dedicated CRMs
Best For
Gmail-dependent teams seeking a simple, native shared inbox for email collaboration without complex setups.
Pricing
Free plan available; paid plans start at $15/user/month (Lite), $25 (Growth), $45 (Pro), billed annually with custom Enterprise options.
Gorgias
specializedE-commerce focused shared inbox platform that automates customer support across multiple channels.
Deep e-commerce integrations that embed full order details and one-click actions directly into support tickets
Gorgias is a customer service platform tailored for e-commerce businesses, providing a unified team inbox that centralizes support tickets from email, live chat, SMS, social media, and more. It enables collaborative ticket management with automation rules, macros, and AI-driven categorization to streamline responses. Deep integrations with platforms like Shopify pull in order data directly into tickets for faster, context-aware resolutions.
Pros
- Seamless multi-channel inbox unification
- Powerful e-commerce integrations like Shopify with order data access
- Advanced automation and AI for ticket handling
Cons
- Higher pricing scales quickly for larger teams
- Steeper learning curve for non-e-commerce users
- Limited customization outside e-commerce focus
Best For
E-commerce teams, especially those on Shopify, needing a collaborative inbox with deep platform integrations for efficient support.
Pricing
Starts at $10/agent/month (Starter), $60/agent/month (Basic), $360/agent/month (Pro), with custom enterprise plans; billed annually.
Intercom
enterpriseCustomer messaging platform with a collaborative inbox for handling emails, chats, and support tickets at scale.
Fin AI agent for autonomous query resolution and handoff to human agents in the shared inbox
Intercom is a comprehensive customer messaging platform featuring a shared team inbox that unifies conversations from chat, email, SMS, social media, and more into a single workspace. It enables teams to collaborate on support, sales, and marketing interactions with tools like assignments, notes, snoozing, and real-time updates. Advanced automation via AI bots and proactive messaging helps scale customer engagement without adding headcount.
Pros
- Unified multi-channel inbox for seamless team collaboration
- Powerful AI automation and bots to handle routine queries
- Robust analytics and reporting for conversation insights
Cons
- High cost, especially as user volume grows
- Steep learning curve for full feature utilization
- Overkill for very small teams with basic needs
Best For
Mid-sized SaaS or tech companies needing scalable, multi-channel team inbox with integrated AI and product messaging.
Pricing
Usage-based pricing starts at $74/month for Essential (up to 75 active users), $139/month for Advanced (250 users), with Expert and Enterprise custom plans.
Zendesk
enterpriseComprehensive customer service platform featuring a shared inbox for multi-channel support and team workflows.
Collision detection and shared ownership to prevent duplicate responses in real-time team collaboration
Zendesk is a robust customer service platform that functions as a team inbox by converting emails, chats, social messages, and other channels into collaborative tickets. Teams can assign, comment on, and resolve inquiries in a shared workspace with features like macros, triggers, and automation. It's designed for scaling support operations rather than simple email inboxes, offering deep customization for enterprise needs.
Pros
- Extensive automation and triggers for efficient ticket routing
- Seamless multi-channel integration into a unified inbox
- Powerful reporting and analytics for team performance
Cons
- Steep learning curve for setup and customization
- High pricing that scales poorly for small teams
- Overkill for basic shared inbox needs without full ticketing
Best For
Mid-to-large support teams requiring scalable, omnichannel collaboration beyond simple email inboxes.
Pricing
Starts at $55/user/month (billed annually) for Suite Team plan; higher tiers up to $115/user/month for enterprise features.
Freshdesk
enterpriseCloud-based ticketing system with shared inbox capabilities for collaborative customer support.
Fred AI for intelligent ticket summarization, auto-suggestions, and predictive field population
Freshdesk is a cloud-based customer support platform that functions as a shared team inbox for handling tickets from email, chat, social media, phone, and web forms. It enables team collaboration through assignments, internal notes, @mentions, and collision detection to prevent duplicate work. The tool includes automation rules, AI-powered responses, SLAs, and analytics to streamline support workflows.
Pros
- Multi-channel shared inbox with collision detection
- Powerful automation and AI via Fred for quick resolutions
- Extensive integrations with 1000+ apps
Cons
- Advanced features locked behind higher pricing tiers
- Steep learning curve for complex automations
- Limited free plan capabilities for scaling teams
Best For
Mid-sized support teams managing high-volume, omnichannel customer inquiries.
Pricing
Free for up to 10 agents; paid plans start at $15/agent/month (Sprout), up to $79/agent/month (Enterprise), billed annually.
Gmelius
specializedGmail-based shared inbox tool that transforms email into a collaboration platform with automation.
Label-based shared inboxes with collision alerts that transform Gmail into a true team collaboration hub
Gmelius is a Gmail-centric team inbox solution that converts standard Gmail labels into collaborative shared inboxes, enabling teams to manage emails collectively without migrating data. It includes automation rules, email sequences, internal notes, collision detection to avoid duplicate replies, and AI-powered features like content generation. Designed for Google Workspace users, it streamlines support, sales, and internal communications directly within the familiar Gmail interface.
Pros
- Seamless integration with Gmail—no email migration required
- Powerful automation, sequences, and collision detection for efficient teamwork
- Intuitive interface that feels native to Gmail users
Cons
- Limited to Google Workspace/Gmail ecosystem—no Outlook support
- Advanced features require higher-tier plans, which can be pricey for large teams
- Reporting and analytics are functional but less robust than dedicated platforms
Best For
Small to medium-sized teams using Google Workspace who want quick, lightweight email collaboration without switching tools.
Pricing
Free plan for basics; Basic at $24/user/mo, Advanced at $36/user/mo (billed annually); custom enterprise options.
Drag
specializedKanban-style shared inbox for Gmail that enables teams to manage emails like tasks.
Email-to-kanban card conversion for drag-and-drop team workflows
Drag is a Gmail-based team inbox solution that converts emails into interactive kanban board cards for collaborative task management. Teams can assign emails to members, add labels, set due dates, and track progress in real-time without leaving Gmail. It emphasizes visual workflows with features like shared boards, snooze, and reminders to streamline shared inbox operations.
Pros
- Seamless Gmail integration with no data migration needed
- Intuitive kanban board for visualizing email workflows
- Real-time collaboration and assignment tools
Cons
- Limited to Gmail users only, no Outlook support
- Lacks advanced automation and AI features of top competitors
- Free plan has significant limitations for teams
Best For
Small to medium sales or support teams heavily reliant on Gmail seeking a visual shared inbox.
Pricing
Free for individuals; Pro at $8/user/month; Business at $16/user/month (billed annually).
Conclusion
Front leads the pack as the top team inbox tool, offering robust collaboration, automation, and multi-channel management. Close behind, Help Scout and Missive excel with personalized support and unified workflows, respectively, ensuring there’s a strong option for various team needs. Each tool in the list brings unique strengths, making the choice dependent on specific workflow requirements.
Elevate your team’s communication today—give Front a try to unlock seamless collaboration and efficient management of emails, chats, and more.
Tools Reviewed
All tools were independently evaluated for this comparison