The Best Gmail Add-ons

Gmail is a favorite email client for many people. Released by Google in April 2004, Gmail is used by 1.5 billion active users (as of 2019) – but even Gmail can use a boost every now and then. That’s why Gmail offers extensions and add-ons to help you extend the capabilities of Gmail to make it suit your workflows better and improve your productivity. 

The best thing about Gmail extensions and add-ons is that many are free. Not all of them are produced by Google either – many of them are from partners of Gmail, and there is a vast variety of functionality to choose from. From to-do list add-ons to Kanban boards, Gmail has even more potential to help you in your work, with add-ons even from such popular giants as Slack or Zoom. 

And remember, even after you have installed an add-on or extension, you can always remove it. The possibilities for Gmail are limited only by your imagination when you take advantage of these add-ons or extensions, often for very little or low cost. 

If you didn’t know about Gmail add-ons, it’s time to explore the options that are available. 

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What is a Gmail add-on?

A Gmail add-on is an app that can be installed directly into Gmail, found through the Google Workspace Marketplace. Many apps are paid, but a significant number also offer free tiers, widening their access to more of the public. 

Add-ons enable you to keep using Gmail while using extended functionality that Gmail does not currently offer, such as replying to more than one email with the same message. There have of course, been some functions that Gmail previously did not support, such as the ability to schedule an email, which was only possible with add-ons. Gmail now offers the ability to schedule an email. 

As we have already mentioned, an add-on may or may not have been developed by Google, but Google has to approve it in order for it to be available in the Marketplace. While Google verifies add-ons, they have not been subject to the same security checks as standard Google apps, so you should be careful when installing add-ons. Stick to trusted and popular add-ons just to be safe. 

So, a Gmail add-on is simply a way to install extra features on Gmail to help you get more done. 

What is the advantage of a Gmail add-on?

If you use a Gmail add-on, you can continue using Gmail in the same way whilst making it more powerful. Many people have been using Gmail for years and they want to have integrations with external apps without leaving their favorite email client. 

The great thing about Gmail is that it has a free plan, making it a fairly low barrier to entry for the majority of users. Increasingly, organizations are adopting Google Workspace for Business and Enterprise, so Gmail has steadily permeated the working world as a rival for Outlook. Gmail has an incredibly simple user interface, and its add-ons are no exception to this trend. 

You can save time with Gmail add-ons by integrating your favorite apps, meaning you don’t have to leave the Gmail interface to complete a task. Apps can work more seamlessly together when you utilize the power of add-ons. 

Gmail add-ons enable you to customize Gmail in your own way, and the great thing about Gmail is it’s a trusted Google app, so it attracts many app partners. 

How do I get add-ons for Gmail?

You find your Gmail add-ons in the Google Workspace Marketplace. To open up the Marketplace, click the plus icon on the right-hand side of your Gmail inbox. When the window opens, you search for the Gmail add-on you would like to install or select directly from the list of options presented. 

One thing to note is that you must ensure your search is filtered only to include add-ons for Gmail so that your search is narrowed down to Gmail-specific add-ons. Once you’ve found your desired add-on, click the add-on in the Marketplace to take you to the page where you can find out more and download it. Click “Install” to start installing your add-on. 

If you install an add-on and decide you don’t like it, you can always remove it by visiting the settings page. 

Difference between Gmail add-ons and extensions

The difference between a Gmail add-on and a Gmail extension is that the former directly integrates with the Gmail app in the back end. An extension, in contrast, affects Gmail’s performance in the browser. 

The primary way the user will perceive the difference between add-ons and extensions is the place they access the tool. Add-ons can be found in Google Workspace Marketplace, while the Chrome Web Store is a repository for Gmail extensions if you use Google Chrome. The way you install extensions will differ depending on which browser you are using. 

Of course, if you switch to a different browser for Gmail, then Gmail will no longer have the extensions installed. Add-ons, in contrast, are linked directly to your Gmail account. 

What are the best Gmail add-ons?

Slack

Anyone working in a modern organization will probably be familiar with Slack. It’s a powerful internal communication tool that lets you send messages, discuss in threads, and hold virtual meetings. 

With the Slack Add-On for Gmail™, you can connect Gmail with Slack to easily send emails over to Slack when your inbox is getting too noisy. This saves you time in manually copying and pasting emails, as well as allowing you to directly send your email to a person or channel within Slack, while also including your own message and attachments if you wish. 

If someone is having a conversation about a customer within Gmail, this discussion may be more appropriate for Slack where more members of your team can dive into help. Slack is arguably superior to Gmail when it comes to group discussions so this approach can help your productivity. 

If you’re a fan of Slack, you’ll definitely want to install Slack Add-On for Gmail™. 

Price: free

Zoom

It’s a rare person who hasn’t heard of Zoom, and now Zoom integrates directly with Gmailthrough an add-on. This means that when you receive an email, you can jump directly on a Zoom call to video chat with your correspondents without leaving the comfort of Gmail. 

All the normal Zoom subscription plans and charges apply when you use this add-on, requiring you to have a Zoom account. Although there are other ways to video chat with friends, family and colleagues, Zoom is particularly full-featured and available on a free plan. 

While Gmail integrates directly with Google’s own video conferencing software, Google Meet, many users prefer to use Zoom for its simplicity and fun features. The add-on also tells you when your upcoming Zoom meetings are. 

Never miss a chance to connect with the Zoom add-on for Gmail. 

Price: Free and paid plans

Asana

If you’ve ever managed a project without using email, you’d be a very rare person indeed. That’s why Asana’s add-on for Gmail is so very appealing because you can use it for project management. Many teams prefer Asana for its very detailed and powerful interface, which you can use to create trackable tasks and assign them to teammates as part of larger projects. 

Asana’s Google Workspace add-on means you can automate key actions with rules without ever leaving your inbox by triggering when certain project parameters are met. Email context is automatically added to your Asana task so you never miss a beat. You can also refer to relevant Asana tasks while composing emails in Gmail. 

Comment on, like or complete tasks from Gmail to ensure that your Asana projects always remain updated as you manage your inbox. No matter the complexity of your project, you will always find support in Asana. 

Combine the power of email and project management with the Asana add-on for Gmail. 

Price: free

Trello

Trello is a popular productivity tool that uses cards and boards to help you organize your tasks. One of the greatest benefits of Trello is the versatility of its system which can be used for a variety of projects. To use Trello add-on for Gmail, you need to open a message and then click on a Trello icon. 

When viewing a particular message in Gmail, you can convert it into a Trello card on a board to serve as a reminder to do something. Subject lines can become card titles and email bodies can become the description, saving you huge amounts of time that would otherwise be spent copy-pasting. 

Being able to view your action items as lists enhances your productivity, which is one of the biggest appeals of Trello’s iconic method of presenting tasks and information. Two of the most powerful productivity-boosters, Trello and Gmail, come together with this add-on. 

Visually collaborate with others or keep yourself on track with Trello add-on for Gmail. 

Price: free

Zoho CRM

If you are using Zoho CRM to manage your leads and contacts then you’ll be pleased to know that it integrates with Gmail through an add-on. When you exchange emails with customers, their details are displayed alongside the email. This means you always know who you’re talking to even when you use Gmail to communicate. 

CRMs like Zoho enable sales teams to combine their efforts when dealing with leads and contacts by allowing them to record in detail every interaction with the individual. Since it’s likely that you will be using email to communicate with your leads, this solution is ideal. 

Integrating Gmail with a CRM helps you gain more ROI from your sales conversations and speed up the closing of a deal. You can even create a new contact in Zoho CRM right from your Gmail inbox. 

Follow up with more leads and benefit from added context with Zoho CRM for Gmail. 

Price: free

Evernote

People often use their emails as a form of to-do list, but what if you could integrate dedicated to-do list software with Gmail to supercharge your efficiency? Well, with Evernote for Google Gmail™, you can. 

When you receive a communication from a colleague, it can easily get lost in your inbox. With Evernote for Google Gmail™, you can migrate your emails over into Evernote and turn them into tasks. You can use Evernote as an archive to search past emails so you never forget anything. 

You can find saved content in Evernote through Gmail so you can compose emails faster with relevant context. By breaking down the barrier between Gmail and Evernote, your emails can become richer as you have access to your to-do list. 

Never forget anything with the Evernote for Google Gmail™ add-on by saving important knowledge. 

Price: free

Todoist

Todoist is another popular to-do list software used by 20 million people. You can use the Todoist add-on to directly turn emails into tasks by adding due dates, reminders and priorities. When you are busy with a lot of incoming emails, Todoist is perfect for helping you keep track of what you need to do. 

The big advantage of using the Todoist add-on is never having to leave the familiar interface of Gmail to schedule tasks, and its integration with Gmail means you can easily assign tasks to others. Work collaboratively with Todoist and Gmail and set recurring due dates such as every Friday, enabling you to build productive habits. 

Emails and to-do lists go hand-in-hand, especially if you are using Gmail for work. Gmail natively integrates with Google Calendar to help you remember tasks but it’s often preferable to use dedicated to-do list software. 

Stay on top of all your tasks with the Todoist add-on for Gmail.  

Price: free

Where do I find Gmail extensions?

As we’ve already mentioned, Gmail extensions will be located in different places depending on which browser you’re using. For Chrome, it’s the Chrome Web Store, which you need to access through your desktop by visiting this link. 

When visiting the Chrome Web Store, search for a desired extension and browse the extensions on offer. 

What are the best Gmail extensions? 

Keeping

We can recommend our very own Keeping as a useful Gmail extension, which is the original help desk for Gmail. If you need to manage customer support through Gmail, you can choose Gmail to adopt your favorite email provider. 

The beauty of Keeping is in allowing a team to receive and respond to emails supported by multiple collaboration features. By turning Gmail into a help desk, you retain the simplicity of your inbox but gain features such as assigning tasks to coworkers, leaving comments, and tracking vital metrics. 

If you haven’t considered using Gmail as a help desk inbox, a trial of Keeping for Gmail should get you started. You’ll find yourself solving many more tickets than relying on Gmail alone, with increased customer satisfaction. 

Batch Reply for Gmail

Batch Reply for Gmail is a Chrome extension that allows you to reply to multiple emails at once. Use this extension if you regularly receive similar emails that could all be responded to with the same message. 

Gmail Show Time 

Gmail Show Time is an extension that allows you to see the exact date and time an email was received directly from your email inbox. 

Checker Plus for Gmail

Checker Plus for Gmail allows you to manage multiple Gmail accounts without logging into Gmail. You can receive notifications, read emails and delete them without having to open Gmail. 

MailTracker

You can use MailTracker to track when your emails are opened and discover exactly how many times your emails are read. Receive a notification every time your email is read.  

Boomerang for Gmail

Boomerang for Gmail allows you to use Gmail to schedule meetings, track responses and send emails at a later time. 

Simple Gmail Notes

Simple Gmail Notes enables you to add notes to your email threads in your inbox, giving them a richer context. 

Dictation for Gmail

Dictation for Gmail allows you to dictate your messages into Gmail instead of typing. This extension supports 60 languages. 

Wrapping up

Gmail is a very popular email service provider that can be customized to suit your workflows with add-ons or extensions. Endowing Gmail with extra features is often much easier than learning to use another (and more expensive) tool. So while Gmail is already user-friendly and feature-rich right out-of-the-box, it can be made even more so with some carefully chosen add-ons. 

Many well-known companies are currently offering add-ons and extensions to Gmail, meaning you can integrate some of your most popular and frequently used apps with your inbox. Many add-ons and extensions are free, meaning that upgrading your Gmail experience is often very cost-effective. 

If you choose a Gmail extension or add-on, you’ll be in the company of millions so there’s no reason not to get started. 

Using Keeping as an extension for Gmail means you can tailor your inbox for customer service, without having to invest in costly and confusing help desk tools. Keeping operates right where you like to work so you can help more customers in less time.