# 9 Gmail add-ons: the best Gmail extensions for Chrome With Gmail add-ons for the Chrome browser, you can customize standard Gmail features to your liking. Additional features of Gmail extensions let you optimize the performance and functionality of your mailbox. Below, we present the most practical add-ons. ## What are Gmail extensions? It’s likely you’ve encountered “extensions” online before. But [what is an add-on](https://www.ionos.com/digitalguide/websites/web-development/what-is-an-add-on/) exactly? Add-ons are extensions that are specially developed for programs to optimize **functionality and layout**. In everyday life, add-ons are mainly used in connection with browsers such as Microsoft Edge, Internet Explorer, [Mozilla Firefox or Google Chrome](https://www.ionos.com/digitalguide/websites/website-creation/chrome-vs-firefox/). Many add-ons are available as free extensions, while others require a fee. Apart from anti-tracking and ad-blocker add-ons, Gmail add-ons are among the most popular Chrome extensions because they allow home users and businesses to adjust the features of their Gmail inbox. ## How to add a Gmail extension to Chrome? If you’ve never used an add-on before, fear not! [Installing add-ons](https://www.ionos.com/digitalguide/websites/web-development/install-add-ons/ "Install add-ons") is easy as 1-2-3 and can be done in just a few clicks. **Step 1:** Launch the **Chrome Web Store** in the Chrome browser. You can view all available Chrome add-ons here, including Gmail extensions. [![Image: To select a Gmail add-ons, head to the Chrome Web Store](https://www.ionos.com/digitalguide/fileadmin/_processed_/2/f/csm_to-select-a-gmail-add-ons-head-to-the-chrome-web-store_5c515f9a41.webp "To select a Gmail add-ons, head to the Chrome Web Store")](https://www.ionos.com/digitalguide/fileadmin/DigitalGuide/Screenshots_2022/to-select-a-gmail-add-ons-head-to-the-chrome-web-store.png) Select the Chrome Web Store to search for Gmail add-ons. **Step 2:** Pick a desired Gmail add-on, click on the corresponding extension and then on “**Add to Chrome”** to the right. [![Image: Click “Add to Chrome” to the right of the selected add-on](https://www.ionos.com/digitalguide/fileadmin/_processed_/4/9/csm_click-add-to-chrome-to-the-right-of-the-selected-add-on_9f0949f567.webp "Click “Add to Chrome” to the right of the selected add-on")](https://www.ionos.com/digitalguide/fileadmin/DigitalGuide/Screenshots_2022/click-add-to-chrome-to-the-right-of-the-selected-add-on.png) To install the add-on, click “Add to Chrome” to the right of the selected extension. **Step 3:** Confirm your selection by clicking on “**Add extension**”. [![Image: Confirm your selection by clicking on “Add extension”](https://www.ionos.com/digitalguide/fileadmin/_processed_/8/9/csm_confirm-your-selection-by-clicking-on-add-extension_75cc117ca6.webp "Confirm your selection by clicking on “Add extension”")](https://www.ionos.com/digitalguide/fileadmin/DigitalGuide/Screenshots_2022/confirm-your-selection-by-clicking-on-add-extension.png) Confirm the installation by going to “Add extension”. **Step 4:** Depending on your chosen Gmail extension you may need to restart the browser. Alternatively, you may be able to continue browsing as normal after installation. **Step 5:** If you want to view your add-ons, click on the three dots at the top right (“Customize and manage Google Chrome”) > “**Settings**” and then “Extensions” to the left. You’ll be able to view the list of your current add-ons here. --- ### Tip If you want to benefit from Gmail extensions privately or professionally, you need an email address that is as unique as you are. IONOS helps you to create your [own secure email address](https://www.ionos.com/office-solutions/create-an-email-address "Personalized email address from IONOS") that matches your personal domain. --- ## Useful Gmail add-ons in Chrome The following Gmail extensions are useful for private or professional use to customize and optimize your Gmail inbox just the way you want. ### Boomerang **Functions:** - Provides **time-shifted, automated sending** of emails. - Messages to colleagues, clients or friends are not sent immediately, but at a specified time, facilitating forward task planning - Handy for sending group/mass emails - Sends reminders of unanswered mails and archives received emails - Offers various templates, **AI-assisted writing**, and read receipts **Useful for:** - Customer service operations to provide customers with quality and timely messages - For HR management to send and schedule recruiting emails on time - Forward-thinking users who may need to schedule their emails [![Image: Boomerang offers scheduled emails, reminders, and AI-assisted writing](https://www.ionos.com/digitalguide/fileadmin/_processed_/9/3/csm_boomerang-offers-scheduled-emails-reminders-and-ai-assisted-writing_72f4472da9.webp "Boomerang offers scheduled emails, reminders, and AI-assisted writing")](https://www.ionos.com/digitalguide/fileadmin/DigitalGuide/Screenshots_2022/boomerang-offers-scheduled-emails-reminders-and-ai-assisted-writing.png) Boomerang add-on provides reminders, time-shifted sending, and AI-assisted mail writing. ### Mailtrack **Functions:** - Script-based tracking of all email activities - **Read/open receipt** for sent emails - Real-time notifications if an email was read - **Analysis of email activities** in clear dashboard **Useful for:** - Users sharing newsletters - HR managers monitoring recruiting activities - Boards of directors and B2B marketers [![Image: Mailtrack provides read receipt and tracks activity of sent emails](https://www.ionos.com/digitalguide/fileadmin/_processed_/7/b/csm_mailtrack-provides-read-receipt-and-tracks-activity-of-sent-emails_fe4d180b86.webp "Mailtrack provides read receipt and tracks activity of sent emails")](https://www.ionos.com/digitalguide/fileadmin/DigitalGuide/Screenshots_2022/mailtrack-provides-read-receipt-and-tracks-activity-of-sent-emails.png) Mailtrack add-on tracks the activity of your sent emails and sends read receipts when your emails are opened. ### Inbox When Ready **Functions:** - Locks the Gmail inbox for a **specified period of time** until existing mails are processed - Hides inbox after specified period of time - Inbox remains active, but doesn’t alert user with inbox notifications - Limits the number or duration of inbox visits if desired **Useful for:** - Users with high mail volume - Users who prefer to work through emails in a disciplined manner within fixed time frames without being distracted by notifications [![Image: Inbox When Ready locks and blocks the inbox until all previous mails are processed](https://www.ionos.com/digitalguide/fileadmin/_processed_/d/e/csm_inbox-when-ready-locks-and-blocks-the-inbox-until-all-previous-mails-are-processed_da0fb6a871.webp "Inbox When Ready locks and blocks the inbox until all previous mails are processed")](https://www.ionos.com/digitalguide/fileadmin/DigitalGuide/Screenshots_2022/inbox-when-ready-locks-and-blocks-the-inbox-until-all-previous-mails-are-processed.png) Inbox When Ready is ideal for all the unfocused – the add-on locks the inbox until all existing mails are processed. ### Simplify Gmail **Functions:** - Provides a clean, simplified **Gmail layout and interface** - Attractive, minimalist design that highlights the most important screen elements in the inbox **Useful for:** - Users who want to focus on the essentials of email without getting distracted or losing track of what’s going on [![Image: Simplify Gmail reduces Gmail functions to the essentials](https://www.ionos.com/digitalguide/fileadmin/_processed_/e/c/csm_simplify-gmail-reduces-gmail-functions-to-the-essentials_1a344e20b8.webp "Simplify Gmail reduces Gmail functions to the essentials")](https://www.ionos.com/digitalguide/fileadmin/DigitalGuide/Screenshots_2022/simplify-gmail-reduces-gmail-functions-to-the-essentials.png) Simplify Gmail reduces Gmail functions to the essentials with an appealing design. ### Simple Gmail Notes **Functions:** - Provides note and comment functions to annotate emails - Optimizes inbox clarity and shortens reacquaintance with current or past conversations **Useful for:** - Customer service, marketing, or operations staff - Users who communicate intensively with many people and need to swap between topics or discussions quickly [![Image: Simple Gmail Notes allows to add short comments to emails for better orientation](https://www.ionos.com/digitalguide/fileadmin/_processed_/9/c/csm_simple-gmail-notes-allows-to-add-short-comments-to-emails-for-better-orientation_8ceaf10134.webp "Simple Gmail Notes allows to add short comments to emails for better orientation")](https://www.ionos.com/digitalguide/fileadmin/DigitalGuide/Screenshots_2022/simple-gmail-notes-allows-to-add-short-comments-to-emails-for-better-orientation.png) The Simple Gmail Notes add-on offers a note function that lets you add clear notes to mails. ### WiseStamp **Functions:** - Customized and personalized email signatures - Add photos, comments, notes, contact information, social media profiles, and more to personal or business email signatures. **Useful for:** - Corporate/business emails - Recruiting, application, marketing, and sales - Suitable for creatives who want to draw attention to current or past projects and platforms as part of their email signature [![Image: WiseStamp creates individualized, personalized email signatures with photo, texts, and other personal details](https://www.ionos.com/digitalguide/fileadmin/_processed_/6/5/csm_wisestamp-creates-individualized-personalized-email-signatures-with-photo-texts-and_8ef946043d.webp "WiseStamp creates individualized, personalized email signatures with photo, texts, and other personal details")](https://www.ionos.com/digitalguide/fileadmin/DigitalGuide/Screenshots_2022/wisestamp-creates-individualized-personalized-email-signatures-with-photo-texts-and.png) The WiseStamp add-on lets you create individualized email signatures with integrated photos, contact information, and comments. ### Trocker **Functions:** - Marks and blocks mail trackers in incoming messages. - Alerts of hidden [**tracking pixels**](https://www.ionos.com/digitalguide/online-marketing/web-analytics/what-is-a-tracking-pixel/) in emails. **Useful for:** - Users who value privacy and do not want to be tracked and monitored by hidden mail trackers [![Image: Trocker blocks trackers that track and analyze email activities in a Gmail account](https://www.ionos.com/digitalguide/fileadmin/_processed_/c/e/csm_trocker-blocks-trackers-that-track-and-analyze-email-activities-in-a-gmail-account_6daf2da8ac.webp "Trocker blocks trackers that track and analyze email activities in a Gmail account")](https://www.ionos.com/digitalguide/fileadmin/DigitalGuide/Screenshots_2022/trocker-blocks-trackers-that-track-and-analyze-email-activities-in-a-gmail-account.png) Trocker marks and blocks trackers that track and evaluate your email activities such as opening mails in your Gmail account. ### FollowUp.cc **Functions:** - Users can set a time period after which a reminder is sent for mails that have been sent but are still unanswered. - **Follow-up functions** enable keeping an eye on outstanding replies even when high volumes of emails are sent, so that users can follow up again. **Useful for:** - Marketing and sales staff - B2B customer acquisition - Customer service and accounting [![Image: FollowUp.cc offers automated reminder functions for important, unanswered mails](https://www.ionos.com/digitalguide/fileadmin/_processed_/2/8/csm_followup-cc-offers-automated-reminder-functions-for-important-unanswered-mails_f33158bc1b.webp "FollowUp.cc offers automated reminder functions for important, unanswered mails")](https://www.ionos.com/digitalguide/fileadmin/DigitalGuide/Screenshots_2022/followup-cc-offers-automated-reminder-functions-for-important-unanswered-mails.png) The FollowUp.cc add-on provides scheduled notifications that remind you of important customer emails that are still unanswered. ### Streak CRM **Functions:** - Combines Gmail with practical CRM extensions - Filter function for customer information and automated overview - Pipelining of business processes - Creation of subfolders (e.g. for business deals, sales, or presentations) - Time-controlled sending of mails - An alternative CRM system for small businesses - Personalized summary of mail traffic **Useful for:** - Customer service and customer management - Marketing, sales, and distribution - Start-ups and freelancers [![Image: Streak CRM provides integrated Gmail capabilities for sales, customer mail, tracking, and pipelining]](https://www.ionos.com/digitalguide/fileadmin/_processed_/5/c/csm_streak-crm-provides-integrated-gmail-capabilities-for-sales-customer-mail-tracking-and_001c62d973.webp "Streak CRM provides integrated Gmail capabilities for sales, customer mail, tracking, and pipelining]")](https://www.ionos.com/digitalguide/fileadmin/DigitalGuide/Screenshots_2022/streak-crm-provides-integrated-gmail-capabilities-for-sales-customer-mail-tracking-and.png) Streak CRM add-on combines Gmail with CRM capabilities for automated customer email response, sales, pipelining, and tracking. --- ### Tip Note that there’s a difference between browser add-ons from the **Chrome Web Store** and add-ons from the **Google Workspace Marketplace**. The Marketplace also offers Gmail add-ons that can be installed for backend apps. Use [Google Workspace by Google Cloud](https://www.ionos.com/office-solutions/google-workspace "Google Workspace Office solution – IONOS") at a rate to suit your needs with IONOS – for a professional appearance across all Google apps. --- This is a markdown version of: [https://www.ionos.com/digitalguide/e-mail/technical-matters/gmail-add-ons/](https://www.ionos.com/digitalguide/e-mail/technical-matters/gmail-add-ons/) for AI/LLM consumption.