The short answer
The best shared inbox for Gmail depends on the work. For communications teams handling press, partner, and event email, Tutti is the top pick: every Gmail account in one inbox, AI labels and drafts on every thread, and approval before each send. Hiver and Gmelius suit support work inside Gmail, Missive is the budget team inbox, and the Google Groups collaborative inbox is the free starting point.
On this page
What counts as a shared inbox for Gmail
A shared inbox lets several people work the same email together: everyone sees the same conversations, knows who is handling what, and can reply from the shared address. Gmail on its own offers two partial versions:
- Gmail delegation lets someone read, send, and delete mail on another account's behalf. Personal accounts can add up to 10 delegates and work accounts up to 1,000, and in Google Workspace an admin must turn it on.
- The Google Groups collaborative inbox lets members of a group address assign conversations and mark them complete.
Dedicated shared inbox tools add a single view across many addresses, clear ownership, and increasingly AI that sorts mail and drafts replies. Our guide to Gmail delegation vs collaborative inbox vs shared inbox covers the differences in detail.
How we compared them
We looked at each tool from the point of view of a small team on Google Workspace:
- Gmail fit: does it connect Gmail accounts directly, and does the team have to migrate?
- AI: does it label and draft automatically, and what does AI cost?
- Control: is there an approval step before messages send?
- Price for five people, using each vendor's public list prices.
Shared inboxes for Gmail at a glance
The best shared inboxes for Gmail
Tutti
AI shared inbox for Gmail
Best for: Communications teams (press, partnerships, events, agencies) answering relationship email across Gmail accounts
Pricing: $250/month per workspace, up to 5 teammates, every feature included; 14-day free trial, no credit card
AI: Labels every conversation and drafts every reply from the full thread; unknowns left as [placeholders]; zero-data-retention providers
Strengths
- AI triage and a drafted reply on every thread, with no per-seat AI add-on
- Built-in approval queue: nothing sends without a person
- Keeps Gmail as the system of record; only label-matched mail is stored
Keep in mind
- Gmail and Google Workspace only
- Email only, no chat, SMS, or help center
Hiver
Customer service platform that started in Gmail
Best for: Customer service and operations teams that want AI agents and SLAs
Pricing: $25 to $85 per user/month billed annually ($35 to $95 monthly)
AI: AI Copilot drafts replies; AI Agents can resolve requests end to end
Strengths
- Available inside Gmail or as a standalone platform
- Support analytics, SLAs, and CSAT
Keep in mind
- Built around support tickets rather than relationship email
- Per-user pricing
Gmelius
Collaboration layer inside Gmail
Best for: Teams that want boards, sequences, and shared inboxes without leaving the Gmail interface
Pricing: $19 to $40 per user/month billed annually ($21 to $50 monthly)
AI: AI assistant drafts replies, classifies mail, and automates follow-ups
Strengths
- Works inside Gmail through an extension
- Kanban boards, sequences, and SLA rules
Keep in mind
- Collaboration via notes and mentions rather than an approval queue
- Per-user pricing
Missive
Collaborative team inbox
Best for: Small teams that want email, chat, and tasks in one affordable app
Pricing: $14 to $36 per user/month billed annually ($18 to $45 monthly)
AI: AI drafting and AI rules on paid plans, with several model providers
Strengths
- Low per-seat price
- Internal chat in every thread, plus SMS and social channels
Keep in mind
- AI is a tool you invoke, not a default on every thread
- No dedicated approval queue
Front
Omnichannel customer operations platform
Best for: Support and account teams running many channels with SLAs and analytics
Pricing: $25 to $105 per seat/month billed monthly; Copilot $20/seat add-on below Enterprise
AI: AI Topics and limited compose on lower plans; Copilot, Smart QA, and Autopilot as add-ons or on Enterprise
Strengths
- Email, SMS, WhatsApp, chat, social, and voice in one queue
- Mature routing, SLAs, and reporting
Keep in mind
- Per-seat pricing plus AI add-ons adds up for small teams
- A separate platform to move the team into
Help Scout
Help desk for customer support
Best for: Customer support teams that also want a knowledge base and chat widget
Pricing: Free plan; $25 to $75 per user/month; AI Answers $0.75 per resolution
AI: AI Assist on all plans; AI Drafts and Summarize from Plus ($45/user)
Strengths
- Friendly help desk with Docs and Beacon chat
- Free plan for very small teams
Keep in mind
- Mailboxes usually fed by forwarding rather than your Gmail itself
- Support-first workflow
Google Groups collaborative inbox
Free Google Workspace feature
Best for: Low-volume teams sharing one group address
Pricing: Included with Google Workspace where Groups is enabled
AI: No AI drafting or classification described in Google's documentation
Strengths
- No extra cost
- Assign conversations and mark them resolved
Keep in mind
- One group address per inbox, in the Groups interface
- No AI and no approvals
Which one should you pick?
- Communications, PR, partnerships, or events team: Tutti. AI labels and drafts every conversation, and a person approves every send, for $250 per month per workspace with up to 5 teammates.
- Customer support inside Gmail: Hiver or Gmelius.
- Tiny budget, many channels: Missive.
- Omnichannel support operation: Front or Help Scout.
- A handful of emails a day: the free Google Groups collaborative inbox.
Ready to set one up? Follow how to set up a shared inbox in Gmail.
Frequently asked questions
Does Gmail have a built-in shared inbox?
Not a full one. Google Workspace offers Gmail delegation and the Google Groups collaborative inbox, which lets group members assign conversations and mark them resolved. Neither adds AI drafting or an approval step.
What is the best shared inbox for Google Workspace?
For communications teams, Tutti, which connects any number of Gmail and Google Workspace accounts to one AI shared inbox with approvals. For customer support teams, Hiver or Gmelius.
How much does a Gmail shared inbox cost?
From free (Google Groups) to around $100 per seat per month for enterprise tiers. Tutti is $250 per month per workspace for up to 5 teammates with a 14-day free trial.