If your entire workflow lives inside Gmail, you don’t want a bulky CRM that forces you to leave your inbox.
In 2025, tools like Freshsales, Close, and Streak are tailor-made for founders, solopreneurs, and small sales teams who want to manage leads, deals, and email follow-ups without leaving Gmail.
This article compares the top Gmail-friendly CRMs based on Gmail integration, automation, pricing, and ease of use.
Quick Comparison Table
| Feature | Freshsales | Close | Streak CRM |
|---|---|---|---|
| Best For | SMBs needing automation | Sales-focused founders | Solopreneurs & freelancers |
| Native Gmail Integration | ✅ Yes (via extension) | ✅ Email sync + tracking | ✅ Lives inside Gmail |
| Email Sequences / Follow-ups | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes | ✅ Basic pipelines |
| Calling & VoIP | ✅ Built-in | ✅ Power dialer | ❌ Not available |
| Mobile App | ✅ iOS & Android | ✅ iOS & Android | ✅ iOS & Android |
| Workflow Automation | ✅ Strong | ✅ Strong | ⚠️ Basic (manual workflows) |
| Reporting & Dashboards | ✅ Advanced | ✅ Sales-focused | ⚠️ Limited reporting |
| Pricing (Monthly) | From $15/user | From $49/user | Free / $15–$59/user |
1. Freshsales
Overview:
Freshsales is a feature-rich CRM from Freshworks that offers automation, contact enrichment, and native email/Gmail support — making it perfect for startups and SMBs ready to scale.
Best For:
Teams looking for automation + Gmail integration without high costs.
Key Features:
- Gmail & Outlook email sync
- Sales sequences + reminders
- Contact & account management
- Built-in calling + call logs
- AI insights + deal scoring
Pros:
✔ Powerful automation without coding
✔ Affordable for early-stage teams
✔ Gmail plugin + Chrome extension
✔ Great UI and mobile app
Cons:
✖ Slightly heavier than others
✖ Limited in-email features
✖ Can take time to set up
Pricing:
Free plan available
Growth plan: $15/user/month
Pro: $39/month
2. Close
Overview:
Close is built specifically for sales teams — with email outreach, pipeline tracking, and calling baked in. It’s great for teams who do lots of cold outreach and follow-up.
Best For:
Startup founders and inside sales reps using Gmail to close more deals.
Key Features:
- 2-way Gmail sync
- Email sequences with analytics
- Call + SMS integration
- Built-in pipeline with filters
- Auto logging + task reminders
Pros:
✔ Built for outreach-heavy sales
✔ Fast Gmail sync + email automation
✔ VoIP features included
✔ Works great for remote teams
Cons:
✖ Higher starting price
✖ Not ideal for non-sales users
✖ Limited visual customization
Pricing:
Startup Plan: $49/user/month
Professional: $99/user/month
3. Streak CRM
Overview:
Streak is a CRM inside Gmail — it literally runs in your inbox, turning threads into deals, leads, or tasks.
Best For:
Freelancers, solopreneurs, and Gmail power users who want a no-fuss CRM.
Key Features:
- Built directly into Gmail
- Color-coded pipelines
- Shared pipelines + tasks
- Email tracking + snippets
- Basic mail merge
Pros:
✔ No need to leave Gmail
✔ Simple setup + free plan
✔ Works great for Gmail-native teams
✔ Ideal for lightweight pipelines
Cons:
✖ Limited reporting
✖ No calling or texting features
✖ Not scalable for large teams
Pricing:
Free plan: Up to 500 contacts
Solo: $15/user/month
Pro: $49/user/month
Use Case Recommendations
| Use Case | Best Tool |
|---|---|
| Sales automation + calling | Freshsales |
| Sales outreach + cold emails | Close |
| Gmail-only users + freelancers | Streak CRM |
| AI deal scoring + contact enrichment | Freshsales |
| Built-in calling + SMS | Close |
| Visual Gmail pipelines | Streak CRM |
Final Verdict
- Choose Freshsales if you want a scalable, affordable CRM with Gmail sync and full automation for growing teams.
- Choose Close if your workflow involves cold email, outreach, and follow-ups — and you want built-in calling and sales workflows.
- Choose Streak CRM if you want to stay 100% inside Gmail and manage simple pipelines and follow-ups as a solopreneur.
