Front Alternatives (2026): 10 Tools Compared

Front is a shared inbox app. It lets a team handle a common address like info@ or support@ together, with assignments, internal notes and shared drafts, so no customer email gets missed or answered twice. (If you were searching for something else called front, such as a camera or a front-end tool, this page isn't about that.) It's well liked, but it won't suit every team, and plenty of businesses want something simpler, more Gmail-based or built around different channels.

Here are ten Front alternatives in no particular order, sorted alphabetically. They all help a team share an inbox, though some run inside Gmail and others are full help desk platforms. I've mixed smaller tools with a couple of big names, and every description comes from each tool's own website and directory listings. If your needs lean towards full ticketing, my guide to help desk software for small businesses goes into that side.

Front alternatives side by side

In the free plan column, Yes means the tool's own site shows a permanent free plan. Trial only means there's a free trial but no ongoing free plan. Trial lengths and what a free plan includes can change, so check each tool's site before you rely on it.

Tool	Type	Good for	Free plan
Drag	Gmail shared inbox	Turning a shared address into a team board	Trial only
Gmelius	Gmail shared inbox	Shared inboxes and automations inside Gmail	Trial only
Help Scout	Shared inbox and help desk	A calm shared inbox with a help centre	Yes
Helpwise	Multi-channel shared inbox	Email, SMS and social messages in one team inbox	Trial only
Hiver	Gmail help desk	Shared inboxes and requests handled inside Gmail	Trial only
Keeping	Gmail shared inbox	Assigning and discussing emails without sharing passwords	Trial only
Missive	Team inbox collaboration	Discussing and delegating email together in the thread	Trial only
Re:amaze	Shared inbox help desk	Support for online shops across several channels	Trial only
Trengo	Omnichannel shared inbox	WhatsApp, email, chat and social in one inbox	Trial only
Zendesk	Customer service platform	Ticketing across email, chat, phone and social	Trial only

Ten shared inbox tools to try instead of Front

Drag

Best for: Small teams that already live in Gmail and want a shared address like support@ shown as a board people can work through.

Gmelius

Best for: Google Workspace teams who want shared inboxes and simple automations without leaving the Gmail screen they already know.

Help Scout

Best for: Support-minded teams who want a friendly shared inbox, with a free plan to try before adding more tools.

Helpwise

Best for: Teams who get customer messages by email, text and social and want them gathered in one shared place.

Hiver

Best for: Teams who want customer emails handled as assigned requests while everyone keeps working in their Gmail window.

Keeping

Best for: Teams who share an address and want to assign and discuss each email in Gmail without handing out the password.

Missive

Best for: Teams who like to chat about an email inside the thread, hand it over and turn it into a task.

Re:amaze

Best for: Online businesses who answer customers on email, chat and social and want everything in one shared view.

Trengo

Best for: Businesses who talk to customers on WhatsApp, Instagram, email and website chat and want one team inbox for all of it.

Zendesk

Best for: Larger or fast-growing support teams who want ticketing across several channels, with routing and reminders.

What a shared inbox needs to do well

A shared inbox sounds simple, but a few details decide whether your team calms down or gets more confused. Look for these before you commit.

• Clear ownership. Every email should show who's dealing with it, so two people never answer the same customer.
• Collision warnings. You want to see when a colleague is already replying.
• Internal notes. Private comments on an email save endless side chats in other apps.
• Fit with your mail. Some shared inbox tools sit inside Gmail, while others connect any address. Choose the one that matches how you already work.
• Other channels. If customers also message you on chat, text or social, check the tool handles those.
• Simple reporting. You'll want to see how quickly emails get answered, without wading through charts.

Questions to ask before choosing a shared inbox

• How many people need to see and answer the same address, and will that number grow?
• Do we mainly use Gmail, Microsoft or another provider, and does the tool work with it?
• Do we get messages from channels other than email?
• Who will set up rules, tags and assignments, and keep them tidy?
• What happens to our history if we leave? Can we export it?
• Would a simple shared mailbox do, or do we need a full ticketing system?

A shared inbox only works well when the team has habits to match. My story about the email system that saved my inbox shows how a few simple rules can calm things down.

Which shared inbox type suits which team

• Gmail-based shared inboxes suit small teams already on Google Workspace who want to keep working in a familiar screen.
• Team inbox collaboration tools suit groups who discuss email together and want chat and tasks attached to each thread.
• Multi-channel inboxes suit businesses whose customers reach them on messaging apps, social media and email alike.
• Help desks and ticketing platforms suit teams with a steady flow of support requests, service levels to keep and a help centre to maintain.
• E-commerce support tools suit online shops who answer the same order questions all day and want shortcuts.

If your team is moving towards a full help desk, my comparison of help desk tools for growing teams is worth a look as well.

Moving a team to a new shared inbox

1. List every shared address your team uses and who needs access to each one.
2. Start with one address as a pilot, such as info@, rather than moving everything at once.
3. Agree simple rules together: who assigns, who replies, and what a finished email looks like.
4. Set up saved replies for the questions you answer most often.
5. Run the old way and the new way side by side for a short time, then switch fully once the team's comfortable.

Shared inbox mistakes to avoid

• Choosing a tool with ticketing, automations and reports you'll never use, when a simple shared view would do.
• Leaving ownership unclear, so emails sit unanswered because everybody assumes someone else has them.
• Forgetting to tell customers anything has changed, then confusing them with replies from new names.
• Giving everybody full access when some people only need to read.
• Skipping a trial. Test with real emails and your whole team before you decide.

Why a smaller shared inbox tool can be a smart pick

Smaller shared inbox tools tend to do a few things well and take your team less time to learn. Many run right inside the mail window your team already uses, so there's nothing new to open.

Before relying on one, check it's actively updated, see how it handles access and your customers' messages, and read what its own site says about exporting your history.

Do you make a shared inbox or customer support tool? Tool makers can ask to be considered for a featured place on this list.

Settling on your shared inbox

Shortlist two tools that match your mail provider and the channels your customers use. Try both on a real shared address with your whole team for a week, and keep whichever one makes it obvious who's dealing with what.

Frequently asked questions

What is a shared inbox?

A shared inbox lets several people read and answer messages sent to one address, such as info@ or support@. Good ones show who owns each email, so customers get one clear reply.

Do I need a shared inbox tool, or can I use a Google Group?

A group can forward mail to several people, but it won't show who's replied or stop two people answering. A shared inbox tool adds ownership, notes and tracking.

Can a shared inbox work inside Gmail?

Yes. Several tools add shared inboxes, assignments and notes directly into the Gmail screen, so your team doesn't need to learn a new app.

What is the difference between a shared inbox and a help desk?

A shared inbox focuses on teams answering email together. A help desk adds ticketing, service targets, reporting and a help centre, so it suits bigger support operations.

How do I move customer emails into a new tool?

Most tools connect to your existing address, so new mail flows in straight away. Older messages may import or stay in your mailbox, so ask about history before you switch.