The short answer
PR and communications teams need a shared inbox that answers journalists fast without risking a wrong fact. Tutti is built for that: press@ and every other Gmail account in one inbox, AI that labels press requests and drafts replies with unknowns left as [placeholders], and a senior reviewer approving each send. Front and Missive are capable general team inboxes, and HubSpot fits teams that want everything in a CRM.
On this page
What a PR team needs from a shared inbox
A press inbox is different from a support queue. Journalists work to deadlines, a reply can end up quoted in print, and the same request often reaches several people at once. Email is still where this work happens: Cision's 2025 State of the Media, based on more than 3,000 journalists in 19 markets, found 85% say the best way to build a relationship is to introduce yourself by email, and Muck Rack's State of Journalism 2025 found 62% of journalists prefer email pitches.
That shapes the requirements:
- Speed without mistakes. Fast first drafts, but a senior person signs off on anything on the record.
- One view of every address. press@, the spokesperson's inbox, and the agency's inbox in one place.
- Clear triage. Interview requests, quote requests, embargoes, and pitches sorted automatically.
- No invented facts. A draft should never guess a name, a date, or a number.
Shared inboxes for PR teams at a glance
The best shared inboxes for PR and communications teams
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
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
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
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
HubSpot Service Hub
CRM-connected help desk
Best for: Companies already running sales and marketing on HubSpot CRM
Pricing: Starter from $20/seat monthly; Professional $90/seat plus $1,500 onboarding
AI: Breeze Copilot and Customer Agent, powered by HubSpot Credits
Strengths
- Every conversation tied to CRM records
- Calling, knowledge base, and portals
Keep in mind
- Onboarding fees on higher tiers
- A CRM rollout to get the full value
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?
For PR and communications teams on Gmail, Tutti is purpose-built: AI labels press requests and drafts replies from the full thread, unknowns stay as [placeholders], and a reviewer approves every send. It costs $250 per month per workspace with up to 5 teammates.
If your team also handles SMS and social messages, Front or Missive covers more channels. If your company runs on HubSpot CRM, Service Hub keeps media contacts next to sales data.
Next: how to respond to a journalist request and our press email templates.
Frequently asked questions
How should a PR team manage a press@ inbox?
Put press@ in a shared inbox with clear ownership, label requests by type (interview, quote, embargo), draft replies quickly, and have a senior person approve anything on the record. Tutti automates the labeling and drafting and enforces the approval.
Why does approval matter for press email?
A reply to a journalist can end up in print. An approval step catches wrong names, dates, or claims before they leave. Tutti requires a person to approve every message and never auto-sends.
Can AI write replies to journalists?
It can draft them. Tutti's AI writes from the full thread and leaves anything it does not know, such as a spokesperson or a date, as a [placeholder], so a person fills in the facts before approving.