Since Google Workspace lacks a built-in CRM, B2B teams should seek a dedicated CRM with seamless Google integrations to avoid inefficient workarounds.
CRMs that embed directly within Gmail and Calendar, like Nutshell and Copper, reduce context-switching and boost productivity.
Nutshell stands out as a cost-effective, all-in-one solution with a comprehensive feature set and strong Google integrations, while other CRMs cater to specific needs.
With over 3 billion users and a market share exceeding 50%, Google Workspace has become the backbone of modern business operations. This powerful foundation is proven to deliver a remarkable 336% return on investment for enterprises, according to Forrester’s Total Economic Impact study. Given its central role, finding a customer relationship management (CRM) solution that integrates seamlessly into this ecosystem is essential, yet it can often be a tricky process.
Google Workspace users have a unique challenge when it comes to creating and managing a customer relationship management system that works with them and not against them. Google’s many essential features such as email and calendars make it a critical business tool for many.
But when CRMs don’t offer data synchronization, contact management, or event creation through Google Workspace, they can cause serious headaches for sales teams. If you’ve ever suffered the pain of having to manually copy and paste email conversations from Gmail into an individual contact record stored in your CRM then you know what we’re talking about.
In this article, we’re diving deep into how Google Workspace users can solve their most common struggles with customer relationship management. Keep reading to learn more about how you can maximize the potential of every sales interaction using the tools you know and love. After, discover what the best CRM for Google Workspace can do for your business.
Nutshell syncs seamlessly with Gmail and Google Calendar, so you can manage emails, meetings, and contacts all from inside your CRM—no need to switch between apps!
Google users often ask whether there is a Google CRM. Google Workspace has many great features but no native CRM offering.
Some users take advantage of their email contact list, Google Sheets, and Google Docs to create a simplified version of a CRM. Others use a third-party integration made available through the Google Workspace Marketplace.
For more advanced functionality, Google Workspace users typically find that a separate CRM working in sync with their Google account is best. A great Google + CRM combination is the ideal way to maximize the benefits of both tools and streamline processes for your business.
The pros and cons of using a Google Workspace CRM
The pros of using Google Workspace as a CRM are that it’s free and is already connected to your business email. This may be an ideal system for a freelancer or a business with low lead volumes and a limited number of simple, straightforward offers.
The cons of a Google Workspace CRM include:
its inability to manage large volumes of leads
the often flawed manual workarounds and systems users have to come up with on their own
lack of CRM-specific tools such as lead prioritization and automated administrative tasks that have come to be a requirement for the day-to-day work of many sales teams
The bottom line is that sales opportunities are complex to track, manage, prioritize, and analyze and opting for the most inexpensive solution isn’t always the best approach. That is why many professionals run into problems with free CRMs and find the manual email and spreadsheet system lacking.
Not only does relying on Google Workspace for your CRM limit your ability to effectively perform basic tasks, but it also runs the risk of lost time, data, and even opportunities. A top CRM, on the other hand, offers features that both simplify and improve your team’s ability to handle your many complex relationships with ease.
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These industry-leading CRMs top the charts in terms of authorized user reviews on G2 as well as their advanced performance features. And, most importantly, the tools highlighted below include integrations for Google Workspace you need to take advantage of.
All-in-one CRM and email marketing platform, Two-way Gmail sync, User-friendly Google Chrome extension, Native integration with Google Calendar, Email marketing automation including templates, sequences, and more.
Works right within Gmail, Look up details such as participants and email threads related to upcoming Google Calendar events without opening Gmail, Sync contact details between Gmail, Google Calendar, and Copper CRM.
View contact information from Freshsales directly within Gmail, Add prospect, tasks, and events from Gmail to Freshsales, View complete prospect history on desktop or mobile in Gmail.
In this section, we’ll break down the pricing, standout features, and summary of each of these top CRMs for Google Workspace. We’ll also offer analysis on why each tool is considered the best and leave you with one big takeaway from each tool.
With the help of marketing automation tools and email templates from Nutshell, you can reach more potential customers without having to spend as much time and effort on managing your CRM.
For example, with the Chrome extension for Gmail, you can easily access the most important features of the contact management software right within your inbox. Create new tasks and contact records, keep track of your communication timeline, and view scheduled activities all in one place.
Nutshell’s Google Meet integration automatically logs each Meet call to the related contact or lead, then uses AI to transcribe and generate a clear, bite-sized summary of the conversation. The highlights land right in the timeline so your whole team can revisit key takeaways and next steps without rewatching the recording.
And with seamless two-way Gmail sync and Google calendar sync, your marketing and sales teams can do high-ROI tasks faster and more efficiently.
In a nutshell:There’re multiple reasons why G2 ranks Nutshell in the top 10 CRMs for ease-of-use in Google Workspace.
Nutshell’s integrations with Google Calendar and Gmail allow you to send and receive work emails, manage contacts, and keep track of all your appointments without having to switch between applications. You can also save time with automation tools that make sales activities such as templating and project management a breeze.
ActiveCampaign syncs with your contact book, spreadsheets, and campaign data stored in Google. You can also connect any email account to Active Campaign’s Deals CRM to sync data from existing contacts to new messages.
While many of these features are beneficial for sales teams, ActiveCampaign markets itself primarily as a marketing automation software and users largely consider it a good alternative to other email marketing giants such as MailChimp.
In a nutshell: ActiveCampaign offers marketing integrations with Google Workspace, including Sheets and Analytics, which can be useful for some sales-exclusive teams. This makes it a useful Google customer relationship management tool.
Upload Google Drive documents directly to Agile CRM
Sync contacts and view them in either app
Sync Google Calendar events with Agile CRM
Agile CRM offers a Google CRM solution for both marketing and sales teams that use Google Workspace. Activity and data is synced between Agile CRM and Google Drive, Contacts, Calendar, Docs, and Gmail. Beyond cross-platform syncing, Agile CRM also offers its G Suite users customizations such as email triggers based on tags added to G Suite Contacts.
In a nutshell: Agile CRM allows users to synchronize their CRM activities with their documents, contact book, calendar, and email with some customization available.
Look up details such as participants and email threads related to upcoming Google Calendar events without opening Gmail
Sync contact details between Gmail, Google Calendar, and Copper CRM
Copper CRM is a Google Chrome Enterprise Partner meaning they are authorized to sell Chrome browser products. Their app is accessed directly within Gmail and Google Calendar through a page that opens in side view. Users can sync and update contacts across Gmail, Google Calendar, and Copper CRM at the same time no matter which of the three they are operating in.
In a nutshell: Copper CRM offers in-app CRM access through side view and enables contact, notes, and document synchronization between it, Gmail, and Google Calendar.
Pricing: Free version available, paid versions starting at $15 per month
Standout features:
View contact information from Freshsales directly within Gmail
Add prospect, tasks, and events from Gmail to Freshsales
View complete prospect history on desktop or mobile in Gmail
Freshsales is a sales CRM created by Freshworks that offers Gmail integration, making it a useful CRM for Google. Its features center around one central concept: Users can view and edit Freshsales without leaving Gmail. Users can also create tasks, appointments, and new notes without opening additional tabs.
In a nutshell: Freshsales offers Gmail integration that allows you to make updates to the CRM without having to leave your inbox.
Which of these top CRMs work best with Gmail?
Nutshell
ActiveCampaign
Agile CRM
Copper CRM
Freshsales
Starting price
$13/mo
$9/mo
$14.99/mo
$29/mo
$15/mo
Gmail integration
★★★★★
★★★★☆
★★★★☆
★★★★★
★★★★☆
Google Calendar sync
★★★★★
★★★☆☆
★★★★☆
★★★★★
★★★☆☆
Mobile support
★★★★★
★★★★☆
★★★☆☆
★★★★☆
★★★★☆
Email marketing
Yes
Yes
Yes
Limited
Yes
Automation
Advanced
Advanced
Basic
Moderate
Moderate
Chrome extension
Yes
No
Yes
Yes
Yes
API access
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Gmail is the most popular and important tool within the Google Workspace platform. And if you use Gmail for your sales job, you’ll absolutely need a CRM that integrates with it.
Not only will the best CRMs for Google Workspace make it easier for you to update contact information on the fly, autosync features allow you to track, save, and later make notes on email threads with prospective clients. This saves you time and energy on administrative tasks that could otherwise be used building relationships, scaling cold reach outs, and other high ROI tactics.
Of all the best CRMs for Google Workspace mentioned above, Nutshell offers the most robust Gmail integration. Nutshell makes it possible for you to auto sync contacts and conversations. You can also synchronize your Google calendar, add the Chrome extension, and use either application with full confidence knowing that the information is always up to date between them.
Emerging trends in CRM for Google Workspace
The CRM landscape is constantly evolving, with several key trends aimed at creating more intelligent, user-friendly, and customized solutions for Google Workspace users.
1. AI-powered CRM integration
Artificial intelligence is no longer a futuristic buzzword but a transformative force in CRM. AI-powered CRMs can automate repetitive tasks, provide predictive analytics for customer behavior, and enhance communication through tools like chatbots. This allows sales teams to focus on building relationships rather than on manual data entry. With a significant number of companies already leveraging generative AI in their CRMs, this trend is set to redefine sales efficiency and customer interactions.
2. Seamless user experience
A seamless user experience is critical for CRM adoption. The goal is to create an “omnichannel experience” where customer data and interactions are consistent across all platforms. The best CRMs for Google Workspace offer deep integration, allowing users to manage their sales pipeline directly from their Gmail inbox or schedule meetings in their Google Calendar without switching between applications. This “channel-less” approach centralizes all interactions, boosting productivity and reducing the learning curve for new users.
3. Enhanced customization
One-size-fits-all solutions are rarely optimal. The ability to customize a CRM to fit specific business processes is a significant advantage. This can range from creating custom data fields and sales pipelines to tailoring email templates and reports. Some CRMs even allow for advanced customizations, such as triggering automated actions based on specific tags in Google Contacts. This level of flexibility ensures that the CRM adapts to your workflow, not the other way around.
4. Addressing adoption challenges
User adoption remains a primary obstacle to successful CRM implementation. To overcome this, it’s crucial to involve the sales team in the selection process and to provide comprehensive, role-specific training. Starting with a clear plan and measurable goals can also help demonstrate the value of the CRM and encourage buy-in from leadership and team members. A phased rollout, beginning with a pilot group, can help identify and address any friction points before a company-wide implementation.
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What features to look for when choosing a Google CRM software solution
Still not sure which of the best CRMs for Google Workspace are best for your unique team? No matter what industry you’re in or what your sales goals are, there are certain CRM features that Google Workspace users simply should not live without.
At a minimum, you should keep an eye out for an application that can integrate with your Google account and allow you to do each of the following actions:
Create, edit, and update contacts with changes automatically synced across platforms
Sync calendar events and tasks between both platforms
Track communication timelines and add notes to individual contacts, groups, and more
Auto-generate complete Google Meet call transcripts and AI summarizations
Access, manage, and share Google Meet recordings, notes, and more directly from the contact timeline
View all Google Meet calls through a dedicated Meetings page for quick and easy organization
Add notes to your CRM right from Gmail
View and manage which emails have been seen by team members
Share prospect and customer email threads without forwarding or BCC’ing directly through Gmail
Wrap-up
At the end of the day, a CRM that makes it easy for Google Workspace users to streamline and automate their daily tasks in one centralized location will produce better results than any spreadsheet or limited featured app. Plus, if your sales strategy changes or your team grows, you’ll need a solution that makes it easy to track all your moving pieces without skipping a beat.
We recommend trying Nutshell free for 14 days and comparing it side by side with one of the other best CRMs for Google Workspace listed above. Nutshell’s competitive pricing and advanced sales features make it a truly excellent alternative to manual Doc and Sheet upkeep or any Chrome integration that has little to offer except fewer things for you to copy and paste.
Frequently asked questions about Google Workspace CRM integration
Here are some frequently asked questions about the best CRMs for Google Workspace.
1. Does Google Workspace have its own CRM?
No, Google Workspace does not offer a native CRM. While some users adapt tools like Google Sheets and Contacts to function as a simplified CRM, this approach is often inefficient for growing businesses. For advanced functionality, it’s best to use a separate, dedicated CRM that integrates with your Google account.
2. What are the essential features of a CRM for Google Workspace?
A good CRM for Google Workspace should allow you to:
Create, edit, and update contacts with changes automatically syncing between platforms.
Sync calendar events and tasks seamlessly.
Track communication timelines and add notes to contacts directly from Gmail.
View and manage which team members have seen specific emails.
Share email threads without needing to forward or BCC.
3. Why is integrating a CRM with Google Workspace so important?
Integrating a CRM with Google Workspace centralizes your customer data and streamlines your team’s workflow. It eliminates the need to manually copy and paste information between your inbox and your CRM, which saves time and reduces errors. This allows your team to manage contacts, view scheduled activities, and track communications all from within the familiar Gmail interface, boosting productivity.
4. What is Nutshell and how does it integrate with Google Workspace?
Nutshell is an all-in-one CRM and email marketing platform designed to be powerful yet easy to use. It offers deep integration with Google Workspace, including:
A two-way sync with Gmail and Google Calendar.
A Google Chrome extension that brings CRM features directly into your inbox.
The ability to create contacts and tasks, track communications, and use email templates from within Gmail.
Integration with Google Meet for call logging, transcription, and AI-powered summaries.
5. What are some of the top-rated CRMs for Google Workspace?
Besides Nutshell, other CRMs known for strong Google Workspace integration include:
Copper: Specifically designed for Google Workspace users.
Agile CRM: Offers data syncing across Google Drive, Contacts, Calendar, and Gmail.
ActiveCampaign: A popular choice with robust automation features.
Freshsales: Known for its user-friendly interface.
6. How does a Google Workspace CRM help sales and marketing teams?
For sales teams, a well-integrated CRM automates administrative tasks, provides a clear view of the sales pipeline, and helps prioritize leads. Marketing teams can use the CRM to create targeted email campaigns, build landing pages, and track lead sources to inform their strategies. The seamless flow of information between sales and marketing departments ensures everyone is working with up-to-date information.
7. Can I manage my sales pipeline directly from Gmail?
Yes, with CRMs like Nutshell that offer a Google Chrome extension, you can manage many CRM functions without leaving your Gmail inbox. This includes creating contacts and tasks, viewing your pipeline, tracking communications, and using email templates. This “in-app” functionality is a key benefit of a deeply integrated CRM.
