There are now more than a billion people using Gmail to manage daily work tasks. And for good reason — it’s an amazing tool. But even Gmail has its limits.
Sometimes, you probably wish there were functionalities included in the native Gmail app that just aren’t there. Those missing capabilities are something that can really slow you down and make work harder than it needs to be.
This is where Gmail add-ons and extensions come in. These are simple tools you can add on to your Gmail to extend its capabilities. There are literally thousands of them to choose from, with many big names you probably already know. But which ones are the best?
That’s the question we’ve set out to answer. At Amitree, we believe in making productivity tools that help you save time so you can get more done, looking like a pro without any extra effort.
We’ve narrowed down the list to the seven best Gmail add-ons and extensions to help you do just that. With these email tools, you’ll boost your productivity and work smarter, not harder.
What Gmail Add-Ons and Extensions Are and Why You Need Them
Add-ons and extensions are pretty common and you may already be using some of them. But if you’re new to Gmail tools, here’s a little background on what they are and why you need them.
Gmail add-ons and extensions are a kind of software tool that can work inside your Gmail app, giving it new functionality and capability. These app integrations save time and streamline your workflow because you don’t have to leave Gmail to use them.
You can use Gmail add-on and extension tools to do many different kinds of work, from sales and marketing to project management to collaboration.
You’ll hear these tools referred to with different terminology, such as add-ons, extensions or sometimes just as apps. The difference has to do with how they integrate into Gmail.
- Gmail add-ons are tools that can add new layout options and functionality to your Gmail and other Google Workspace apps like Calendar and Drive. These G-Suite add-ons work on the server side and integrate directly with the apps. You can get Gmail add-ons via the Google Workspace Marketplace, which is easily accessible from inside any Google app.
- Gmail extensions are very similar to add-ons and also add new layout options and functionality to your Gmail experience. While Gmail add-ons use backend integration, Gmail extensions are frontend and work inside your Chrome internet browser. You can get Gmail extensions from the Chrome Web Store, which is easily accessible on the web or from the Chrome menu.
- Gmail apps are another term you may see used to describe Gmail add-ons and extensions. A Gmail app is any kind of third-party tool that works with Gmail to add new layout options or functionality. While some apps are found in the Google Workspace Marketplace or Chrome Web Store, others are standalone. This means that you can also use them outside of Gmail and Chrome with other apps and browsers.
Gmail add-ons, extensions and apps are very useful when it comes to boosting your email productivity, saving valuable time and growing your business and career.
The thing that makes all these add-ons and extensions so handy is that they become a part of your inbox. You don’t need to stop what you’re doing in the middle of an email session to make notes, schedule appointments, manage tasks or handle other work items.
Best Gmail Add-Ons and Extensions of 2021
Here are our picks for the seven best Gmail add-ons and extensions to try for 2021. Our list below includes Gmail add-on examples, extension examples and standalone app examples to get you started, with tips for how to find more add-ons and extensions for your specific needs.
1. Folio for Gmail
If you’re like most people, you probably get a lot of messages. Too much incoming email can make it hard to achieve Inbox Zero or even keep up with important messages and attachments, so an add-on for getting organized should be top of your list.
Folio is a Gmail add-on that uses advanced AI to quickly help you organize your inbox. With Folio, you can collaborate, plan and track projects inside Gmail. Folio has smart folders, document sorting, project tracking, notes, reminders and scheduling capabilities, making it one of the best Gmail add-ons to try in 2021.
Folio is free to try with up to three projects.
2. DocuSign for Gmail
These days, important paperwork like contracts and legal forms that require an e-signature are often sent by email. If you are in a field where important documents cross your desk, it makes sense to get an add-on to help.
DocuSign is a Gmail add-on that lets you manage document e-signatures right inside your Gmail account. With DocuSign, you can streamline your workflow, sending and receiving documents securely to obtain e-signatures that are legally binding through your Gmail, Docs, Drive and even on mobile.
DocuSign offers a free trial for getting started.
3. Boomerang for Gmail
There can be a lot of guesswork when you reach out to new contacts and prospects, wondering when to send an email, when to follow up and worrying about when or if you’ll get a reply back. Luckily, there’s a Gmail extension to help.
Boomerang is one of the best Gmail extensions for controlling when you send and receive messages. The Boomerang app lets you schedule emails to send later and get custom follow-up reminders. Boomerang also has a great feature called Respondable that helps you write emails that are more likely to get a response.
Boomerang for Gmail is free to try for 30 days.
4. Grammarly for Gmail
Writing great emails is important for email etiquette, but it can be a challenge to perfect each and every message when you have a full inbox and are short on time. Using an extension that helps you catch spelling and grammar mistakes is a must to save time and look professional.
Grammarly is a Gmail extension that helps you compose bold, clear, mistake-free writing so you can put your best foot forward. Grammarly can be added to your Chrome browser to work with Gmail and all your other G-Suite apps, as well as other apps you use online like Slack, Twitter and Salesforce.
Grammarly offer free and upgradeable accounts.
5. Evernote for Gmail
Note-taking is important, whether you’re jotting down ideas for yourself or that you’ll need to share with others. Switching back and forth between your email and your notes can be bothersome, so this Gmail add-on comes handy.
Evernote is probably one of the most popular note-taking platforms and its add-on for Gmail lets you clip and save content from important emails and share your notes in messages without having to leave your Gmail account. It lets you keep up with messages, attachments, ideas, lists and goals.
Evernote is a free add-on for Gmail.
6. Mailstrom for Gmail
It is impossible for every inbox not to get cluttered after a while with hundreds of messages flooding in every week. That spam can take up a lot of space and make it hard to find what you need, so a Gmail app to help clean up your inbox may be in order.
Mailstrom is a standalone Gmail app that lets you clean up your inbox, unsubscribe from spam and delete old messages. Mailstrom filters and sorts messages so it’s easy to delete old, unwanted mail in batches saving lots of time and space.
Mailstrom for Gmail offers a free trial.
7. WiseStamp for Gmail
Email is often used to introduce yourself to new contacts and start a conversation, so making a good first impression is very important even when communicating digitally. A professional email signature can help you look more professional, and luckily there’s a Gmail app for that.
WiseStamp is a standalone Gmail app that lets you generate a professional-looking email signature block in Gmail. WiseStamp helps you create a signature from scratch, with a readymade template or customize your own.
WiseStamp is free to try with Gmail.
Where to Find More Useful Gmail Add-Ons and Extensions
The best Gmail add-ons and extensions can bring all kinds of needed capabilities into your Gmail inbox. All of them at the click of a button, without weighing you down with integrations you don’t need.
Depending on your professional, you may benefit from installing other Gmail add-ons and extensions to use in your workflow.
Tools like Zoom, Slack, Dropbox and more all have Gmail add-ons and extensions that integrate directly with your Gmail for better productivity.
While we’re partial to Folio, there are many great add-on and extension tools out there that can help you save time, get more done, and look like a pro.
To find more Gmail add-ons, visit the Google Workspace Marketplace and for more Gmail extensions, visit the Chrome Web Store.
To learn more about Folio and get your free trial, click here.
Who we are
We've built Folio: the first AI email assistant for professionals.
Folio plugs directly into your work email inbox and automatically organizes your email, giving you contextual access to all the information you need to increase your productivity in minutes.
We are a team of passionate product people and engineers that gets excited about solving complex processes and creating value for people.
We're a venture funded company backed by Accel Partners, Vertical Venture Partners, and other leading venture capital firms and angel investors such as Ash Patel and Jerry Yang.
