Gmail CRM: 5 Tools that Turn Your Inbox into a Sales Powerhouse

Originally published January 21, 2025, updated January 21, 2025

Sales management starts with the right Gmail CRM – find yours now.

Choosing a Gmail CRM that suits your business best is more than just a technical decision. It's a strategic move that will impact how you manage leads, track deals, forecast revenue, and scale your operations. What can we say — the choice is important.

A CRM for Gmail like NetHunt CRM helps you sell more (for sure!).  Just look at the results that our clients achieved once they switched to NetHunt CRM:

• Recom increased its customer base x5 within 2 years.
• Powerglide saves 60 hours of work a week.
• Web-systems solutions achieved a 10x increase in lead generation efficiency.

To help you make the right decision, we’ve compiled a list of the best tools with Gmail CRM integration. Whether you're a small business or an established enterprise, there's something here for everyone.

What is a Gmail CRM?

Gmail CRM (Customer Relationship Management) is a tool or extension integrated with Gmail and used to manage and track customer interactions, leads, and sales processes directly from the email inbox. Basically, it’s a CRM in Gmail like NetHunt that captures leads, organizes customer base, tracks deals, automates processes, and tracks sales and team performance.

Moreover, solutions with CRM Gmail integration like NetHunt CRM allow you to build sales pipelines and reports, automate the sales process, and set up drip campaigns from the Gmail inbox.

Here is why NetHunt CRM is the ultimate Gmail CRM for your business

NetHunt CRM is a CRM for Gmail that lives inside your familiar inbox.

Launched back in 2015, NetHunt CRM has become a user-favorite, recognized by multiple awards, badges, and bundles of positive online reviews.

It also boasts a 4.6 rating on G2 and a 4.8 rating on Capterra.

…. And here is what made NetHunt the best CRM for Gmail.

#1: Deep Gmail and Google Workspace integration

You don’t need to pay for third-party integrators in order to connect NetHunt CRM with Gmail because NetHunt CRM is already built inside your Gmail inbox. In other words, you can manage your business without switching tabs — right within your inbox. With NetHunt’s Gmail CRM extension, you can:

• Send and receive emails to your customers right within the CRM
• Create customer records from emails and fill them with publicly available data. And if that data is not enough, you can always dig deeper with Apollo and Hunter (yes, you can integrate NetHunt CRM with these data enrichment tools too)

• Link emails to CRM records
• Access CRM records and the customer history in Timeline directly from Calendar events and get all necessary client data
• Attach documents to deals and customer profiles

#2: Organized customer base

NetHunt CRM helps you create a well-organized and easy-to-manage database without duplicates.

• Automatically capture leads from multiple sources and store their data in neat CRM records
• Keep track of every interaction in the Timeline section (communications, document sharing, manager’s notes, and more)
• Use filters and custom views to segment your contacts for precise, targeted outreach

#3: Ultra-customizable pipelines

You can organize your deals into sleek pipelines with customizable stages and elements right within your Gmail inbox. Pretty convenient, right?

• Capture leads from multiple sources, including web forms, social media platforms, and messengers, and add them to the pipeline
• See deal’s value, probability of closing, and other vital data
• Forecast sales and identify stuck revenue
• Track deal’s progress through the pipeline and get notified if any changes occur
• Build multiple ultra-customizable product & service pipelines for all company’s departments (sales, marketing, customer service, etc.)

#4: Robust sales automation

NetHunt CRM saves your sales team valuable time by automating repetitive tasks.

• Capture leads from web forms, social media, and messengers
• Distribute leads among sales managers according to the round-robin algorithm
• Automatically move deals from one stage to another based on specific conditions
• Get notified about deal changes
• Set up notifications to never miss an event or deadline

#5: Multichannel lead generation and nurturing

Now you know that NetHunt offers the best CRM integration with Gmail. But we also understand that businesses have more than one communication channel. That’s why you can expand and optimize your outreach through NetHunt’s multiple native integrations with social media platforms, messaging apps, and VoIP services. Once you choose NetHunt Gmail CRM, you’ll be able to :

• Send and receive messages + create records from WhatsApp, Instagram, Facebook, and other chats right within the CRM

• Manage your LinkedIn inbox right within NetHunt CRM

• Create multi-step email sequences

• Run fully automated outbound sales campaigns

#6: Smart reporting

NetHunt CRM helps you turn raw data into actionable insights.

• Track essential metrics like team performance, business growth, revenue, and deal loss reasons to refine your sales strategy
• Forecast deal closures, pipeline value, and win/loss ratios
• Use Looker Studio integration for building real-time reports

#7: Improved team collaboration

Keep your team in sync with NetHunt CRM’s collaboration features and Google Workspace integrations.

• Teams can share files, schedule meetings, and access customer data whenever they need it
• Receive notifications related to deals or clients from Slack
• Link tasks to emails and CRM records
• Automatically assign tasks to team members based on deal changes in the pipeline

⚡️ 🔗 By the way, did we tell you that NetHunt CRM natively integrates (yep, no need for Zapier) with multiple tools you already use and love? Social media (Facebook, Instagram), LinkedIn, messengers (WhatsApp, Viber), VoIP services, and more 😉

Benefits of a Gmail CRM: Do you really need a CRM that integrates with Gmail?

There are a bunch of benefits associated with a CRM integrated with Gmail, including:

• A Gmail integrated CRM allows users to manage their conversations with leads and customers directly from CRM — no need to waste time on switching tabs.
• Sales and customer support teams have a better shot at managing relationships with leads, partners, and customers by having all communication history in one place. As a result, no important email or detail gets overlooked.
• CRM that works with Gmail saves the sales team time by eliminating monotonous work, such as manual data entry, tracking follow-ups, sending repetitive emails, updating contact records, and more.
• CRM with Gmail integration reduces response times as sales reps can promptly reply to messages or send follow-ups from a single platform. Plus, sales teams have way more successful meetings. With all customer data in one place, sales reps can stay on top of a deal by easily accessing past emails, notes, and documents during a call.
• CRM software that integrates with Gmail oftentimes integrates with Google Workspace tools, which, in turn, lead to better team collaboration. Due to the native integration with Google Drive, Calendar, and Gmail, your team can effortlessly share files, schedule meetings, communicate, and access important customer information in real time.
• Don’t forget about the email outreach! With the best CRM Gmail integration, you can get custom fields and email templates, and, therefore, easily send personalized emails at scale.

How to choose your ultimate CRM for Gmail

Picking a perfect CRM software that integrates with Gmail isn't rocket science, but it might be pretty daunting if you’re doing it for the first time. Regardless of whether you’re choosing Gmail automation tools for the first time or decided to switch from another Gmail CRM system because the last one wasn’t user-friendly, efficient, or meeting your needs, this guide will help you make a confident choice.

#1: Define your business strategy

What we mean is understanding both your future goals and your current plans.  Let’s say you’re planning to expand your target audience. Then you’ll need a Gmail based CRM with email marketing features like NetHunt’s mass email campaigns and tracking tools. Or, perhaps your goal is to improve customer retention. In that case, you’ll need a CRM with advanced segmentation and workflow automation to nurture existing relationships.

#2: Identify your team’s needs

What’s the one thing your team grumbles about the most? Maybe it’s manual data entry. Maybe it’s forgetting to follow up on leads or juggling too many repetitive tasks. Ask your team which tasks they would automate if given the opportunity and what they find to be the most challenging part of their job.

For instance, if your team is stuck in a cycle of copying and pasting customer info from emails to spreadsheets, they’ll appreciate a Gmail contacts CRM like NetHunt that helps you automatically capture leads and create customer records from emails.

Another example is if your team struggles to keep track of follow-ups. In this case, you might want to look for Gmail CRM tools with automated reminders, task management, and tracking features.

#3: Consider your budget and choose a suitable pricing model

Let’s talk money. How much are you willing to invest in the best CRM with Gmail integration? Whether your budget is tight or flexible, it’s important to find a system that delivers value without draining your wallet.

First, set a realistic budget. Don’t worry if you’re a small business with limited resources! There are plenty of Gmail CRM apps on the market designed to meet your needs without breaking the bank. For instance, NetHunt CRM offers a basic plan with essential features that you can test-drive for 14 days ( free!) and decide whether you want to commit or not.

🚩 By the way, don’t be penny wise and pound foolish — invest in scalable options that are easy to upgrade once your business grows and you need more features so you don’t pay twice.

Second, learn more about pricing models. Most often, CRM providers offer a subscription-based model, where you pay a monthly or annual fee per user. Others might offer you a flat-rate plan — you pay a fixed amount regardless of the number of users.

🔔 During this step, please learn more about the hidden costs as well. Some companies might ask you to pay for add-ons when it comes to third-party integrations, onboarding support, or using more advanced features like reporting and analytics. The best thing you can do here is ask for a free trial and test the waters before fully committing.

#4: Check user reviews

User reviews speak volumes! Head over to trusted platforms like G2, Capterra, or even the Google Workspace Marketplace. These sites are treasure troves of insights from teams that have already walked the path of choosing the best Gmail CRM integration.

💡 Pro Tip: Look for reviews from companies similar to your in size or industry as their feedback is often the most relevant. Also, don’t forget to check the review’s date —  a glowing review from three years ago may not reflect the tool’s current state ⏰.

#5: Focus on features that matter

It’s easy to get overwhelmed by a long list of Gmail integration CRM features. Trust us, you don’t need all of them. Here are the top features to focus on when looking for Gmail automation tools:

• Deep Gmail integration. Sure, sidebars can display basic CRM data or help you search for contacts, but they’re often limited and require tons of manual effort. Meanwhile, deep Gmail integration offers you way more automation and robustness: think linking emails to CRM records, creating deals from Gmail, or syncing with Google Calendar. In other words, think a CRM inside Gmail 👏
• Email marketing features. Send mass email campaigns from Gmail to the whole audience or just a segment thereof. Then, track your emails to know whether your leads open them, click the links, or download attachments. It can help you prioritise follow-ups and gauge your email campaign's success.
• Email templates. Save time and maintain consistency by creating and using pre-written email templates stored in your CRM software that integrates with Gmail. It's handy for repetitive emails like welcome messages, follow-ups, and meeting requests.
• Automated lead capture and contact management. Automatically capture leads and customer data from emails and web forms. Then, manage all your contacts in one place, including their contact details, email history, notes, and tags. A CRM with Gmail integration that offers this functionality makes it easier to personalize your communication and improve customer relationships.
• Integration with other apps. A CRM that integrates with Gmail is excellent, but your business likely has more solutions in your tool stack. Therefore, you need to find a CRM that integrates with them as well. Look for a system that offers integrations with Google apps, social media platforms, messengers, Slack, LinkedIn, Zapier, and more.
• Analytics and reports. Gain insights into your team's email performance and effectiveness with analytics and reports. A CRM for Gmail that offers reporting functionality will help you make data-driven decisions and improve your email strategy over time.

Now when you know everything about the best CRM for Gmail (ehhhhmmm… NetHunt CRM 👀) and how to recognize and choose one, let’s move to other options on our list.

5 best Gmail CRM systems for your business, compared

Final Thoughts

Whether you're looking to automate lead capture, manage customer relationships more effectively, or track sales progress, CRM with the best Gmail integrations can make all the difference.

But don't rush the decision! Take the time to explore your options, read reviews, and focus on the features that matter most to your team. The right choice will support your business now and scale with you as you grow. So, why wait? Your new Gmail integrated CRM is just a few clicks away!

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