Are you still juggling multiple email platforms and struggling to keep your digital life organized? Unlock a world of seamless communication and organization with Gmail, the email client that does more than just send and receive messages.
From robust security features to unparalleled accessibility and constant innovation, find out why Gmail is the go-to choice for over 1.5 billion users worldwide. Dive in to explore the pros and cons and make an informed decision for your communication needs.
Read further to learn more about Gmail, in our review we will detail its features, pros and cons with our rating, and a conclusion about why you should use it.
Click on “open” if you want to see exactly what we will talk about in the rest of this article.
Overview
What is Gmail?
Gmail is a secure and smart email client that is part of Google Workspace. It offers industry-leading encryption for all messages and blocks 99.9% of spam, malware, and dangerous links.
The platform is integrated with Google Chat, Google Meet, and other productivity tools, allowing for seamless collaboration.
Gmail also features advanced phishing protections and offers a Confidential Mode, which lets you set expirations for emails and restrict forwarding, copying, and printing options.
It is compatible with desktop clients like Microsoft Outlook, Apple Mail, and Mozilla Thunderbird. Gmail can be accessed offline and is designed to work efficiently on various devices.
Gmail specifications
Features | Auto-Advance / Bookmarking URLs / Custom Domains / Customizable interface / Email Notifications and Updates / Google calendar sync / In-Built Google Translate / Multi-Platform Support / Multilingual Support / Multiple Email Account Management / Prioritize Important Emails with Inbox Management / Save Attachments to Google Drive / Scheduled Emails / Smart Search / Sub-Labels / Support Multiple Devices / Support Multiple Languages / Tabbed Inbox |
Best suited for | Individuals, Freelancers, Small businesses, Mid size businesses, Large enterprises |
Website languages | Brasil / Chinese / Deutsch / English / French / Indonesian / Italian / Japanese / Korean / Nederlands / Norsk / Polsky / Portuguese / Russian / Spanish / Suomi / Svenska / Thai / Turkish / Vietnamese |
Website URL | Visit official website |
Support link | Support page |
Live chat | No |
Company address | Mountain View, California |
Year founded | 2009 |
Pricing
Gmail pricing: How much does Gmail cost?
Gmail offers a versatile range of pricing options to fit your specific needs. While the basic version is free and packed with essential features, the premium plans kick it up a notch.
Starting at $12 USD per user per month, these plans offer advanced functionalities. Whether you’re an individual user or a large enterprise, Gmail has a pricing plan that’s just right for you !
Pricing range | From $6 to $12 per month |
Pricing types | Free / Monthly subscription |
Free plan | Yes |
Free trial | Yes, 14 days |
Money back guarantee | No |
Pricing page link | See plans |
Gmail pricing plans
Additional Features in Gmail Paid Plans :
- Custom email (@yourcompany.com)
- Unlimited group email addresses
- 99.9% guaranteed uptime
- Twice the storage of personal Gmail
- Zero ads
- 24/7 support
- Google Workspace Sync for Microsoft Outlook, and more.
Business Starter
- Cost: $6 per user per month (1-year commitment)
- Features:
- Custom and secure business email
- 100 participant video meetings
- 30 GB pooled storage per user*
- Security and management controls
- Standard Support
Business Standard
- Cost: $12 per user per month (1-year commitment)
- Features:
- Custom and secure business email
- 150 participant video meetings + recording
- 2 TB pooled storage per user*
- Security and management controls
- Standard Support (paid upgrade to Enhanced Support)
Business Plus
- Cost: $18 per user per month (1-year commitment)
- Features:
- Custom and secure business email + eDiscovery, retention
- 500 participant video meetings + recording, attendance tracking
- 5 TB pooled storage per user*
- Enhanced security and management controls, including Vault and advanced endpoint management
- Standard Support (paid upgrade to Enhanced Support)
Enterprise
- Cost: Contact sales
- Features:
- Custom and secure business email + eDiscovery, retention, S/MIME encryption
- 1000 participant video meetings + recording, attendance tracking, noise cancellation, in-domain live streaming
- 5 TB pooled storage per user, with ability to request more*
- Advanced security, management, and compliance controls, including Vault, DLP, data regions, and enterprise endpoint management
- Enhanced Support (paid upgrade to Premium Support)
Note: All plans come with a 14-day free trial. The Business Starter, Business Standard, and Business Plus plans can be purchased for a maximum of 300 users. There is no user limit for Enterprise plans. Storage is flexible and pooled per user, shared across the organization.
Features
Gmail features: What can you do with it?
Gmail, a widely-used email client, offers a plethora of features designed to enhance user experience and productivity.
From the ability to undo sent emails to advanced search functionalities, Gmail provides a comprehensive set of tools that go beyond basic email sending and receiving.
Undo Send
The “Undo Send” feature allows you to retract an email within a time frame that you can set yourself. This is particularly useful if you realize you’ve made an error after hitting the send button.
You can adjust the time frame for this feature from 5 to 30 seconds. Once you send an email, a small pop-up appears, giving you the option to undo the send action within the time you’ve set.
Email Scheduling
Gmail’s “Email Scheduling” feature lets you set a specific time and date for your email to be sent. This is useful for sending emails to people in different time zones or for setting reminders.
When composing an email, you’ll find the “Schedule send” option next to the regular “Send” button, allowing you to choose when the email will be delivered.
Offline Access
The “Offline Access” feature allows you to read, reply, and search your Gmail messages even when you’re not connected to the internet.
This is achieved by storing a cached version of your inbox on your device. You can choose how many days’ worth of emails get synced for offline access.
Tabbed Inbox
The “Tabbed Inbox” feature automatically sorts your incoming emails into various categories like Primary, Social, and Updates.
This helps in decluttering your inbox and focusing on more important emails. You can also manually drag emails between these tabs, and Gmail will remember your preference for future emails from the same sender.
Right-Click Features
By right-clicking on an email thread, you can access a variety of options such as moving the email to a different tab, snoozing it for later, or muting the conversation.
This feature enhances your ability to manage your inbox directly from the main Gmail interface without having to open each email.
Advanced Search
The “Advanced Search” feature allows you to use specific queries to find emails. For example, you can search for emails sent before or after a certain date. This makes it easier to locate older emails or emails within a specific time frame.
Density Views
The “Density Views” feature allows you to customize how your emails are displayed. You can choose from three options: Default, Comfortable, and Compact.
The Default view shows attachment previews right in your inbox, Comfortable hides these previews, and Compact minimizes the space between emails for a denser look.
Confidential Mode
In “Confidential Mode,” you can send emails that recipients can’t forward, copy, or download. You can also set an expiration date for the email, after which it will be automatically deleted from the recipient’s inbox.
Smart Compose
“Smart Compose” is a machine learning-based feature that predicts the next words in your sentence as you type. This can speed up your email composition process. You can enable or disable this feature in the General settings.
High-Priority Notifications
This feature allows you to receive notifications only for emails that Gmail considers high-priority. This helps to minimize distractions from less important emails. You can configure this setting in the Gmail app on both iOS and Android platforms.
Customizable Stars
You can use different types of stars and symbols to mark important emails. These custom stars can be used in search queries to quickly find emails you’ve marked as important.
Preview Pane
The “Preview Pane” feature gives your inbox a desktop email client look by showing a preview of the email content next to or below the email list. You can enable this feature from the Reading pane in the settings.
Save Attachments to Google Drive
Any email attachments can be directly saved to Google Drive with just a click or a tap. This is especially useful if you frequently use Google Drive and want to keep all your files in one place.
Integrated Google Apps
Gmail offers a side panel that integrates other Google services like Calendar, Keep, and Tasks. This allows you to multitask without having to switch between different tabs or apps.
In-Built Google Translate
If you receive an email in a language you don’t understand, Gmail’s built-in Google Translate feature can translate it for you. You can select the source and target languages, and the translation will appear right within the email.
Multiple Email Account Management
Gmail allows you to add other email accounts and manage them within the Gmail interface. This feature extends Gmail’s spam protection and sorting algorithms to your other email accounts.
Theme Customization
With Theme Customization, you can give your Gmail interface a personal touch. Gmail offers a variety of themes to choose from, ranging from minimalistic designs to more vibrant and colorful options.
You can also upload your own photos to create a unique, personalized look. This feature allows you to make your inbox more visually appealing and in line with your personal aesthetic.
Auto-Advance
The Auto-Advance feature is a time-saver for those who deal with a high volume of emails daily. Once you archive, delete, or perform another action on an email, Gmail automatically takes you to the next email in your list.
This eliminates the need to go back to the inbox and select the next email manually, streamlining your email management process.
Sub-Labels
Sub-Labels offer an additional layer of organization within your Gmail account. They function as sub-categories under your main labels.
For instance, if you have a main label for “Work,” you can create sub-labels like “Projects,” “Meetings,” and “Finance.” This hierarchical structure makes it easier to sort and find emails related to specific aspects of your work or personal life.
Sync Settings
The Sync Settings feature gives you control over the amount of email data stored on your mobile device. You can customize the settings to sync emails from the last few days, weeks, or even months.
This is particularly useful for those who are conscious about the storage space on their mobile devices or for those who need to access older emails while on the go.
Bookmarking URLs
Bookmarking URLs is a feature that enhances navigation within your Gmail account. You can bookmark URLs to quickly jump to specific sections like the drafts folder, sent emails, or any label.
This is especially useful for those who frequently access certain parts of their Gmail and want to do so without navigating through the menu.
Conclusion
Gmail review: Why you should use it?
Gmail stands out as an email client for several compelling reasons. It offers seamless integration with other Google platforms like Drive, Maps, and Photos, as well as compatibility with over 4,000 third-party apps.
Accessibility is another strong suit; you can access Gmail on various devices and browsers, ensuring you’re always connected to your inbox. Security features like robust spam and malware prevention are top-notch, blocking millions of unwanted emails per minute.
Personalization options let you organize your inbox according to your preferences, and the platform is continually updated with new features to enhance user experience. Best of all, it’s free to use.
Pros and Cons
Pros :
- Seamless Integration: Easily connects with other Google services and third-party apps.
- High Accessibility: Available on multiple devices and web browsers.
- Robust Security: Strong spam and malware filters.
- Personalization: Allows for inbox customization and rule-setting.
- Constant Updates: Regularly adds new features for an improved user experience.
- Free to Use: No cost involved for the basic service.
Cons :
- Threaded Messages: While useful for conversations, it can make finding specific information in a thread more challenging.
- Data Privacy: Being a part of the Google ecosystem, concerns about data privacy and how information is used for advertising can be an issue.
- Complexity: With numerous features and settings, the platform might seem overwhelming to new users.
FAQ