HubSpot Chrome Extension: How it works and the best alternatives

Fed up of switching in-between your tab and CRM system?

A good Chrome extension can help you capture contact information from anywhere on the web. Including social media channels. A great one can go a step further and make a difference to your entire workflow. From capturing leads, to reaching out to prospects.

In this blog post, we’ll unpack what you need to know about:

• The HubSpot Sales Chrome extension
• Its pros and cons
• Top alternatives including folk, Mixmax, Yesware, and more.

How the HubSpot Chrome extension works 

The HubSpot Sales Chrome Extension was designed to integrate seamlessly with your Gmail inbox, enhancing your sales and marketing efforts by providing real-time insights and streamlined communication features. It connects to yourHubSpot CRM, to allow for efficient email tracking, contact management, and access to various sales tools without leaving your inbox.

Key features of the HubSpot Sales Chrome Extension

• Email Tracking: Receive real-time notifications when recipients open your emails, enabling timely follow-ups and engagement strategies.
• Email Logging: Automatically log sent emails to the corresponding contact records in HubSpot CRM, ensuring a complete history of interactions for your team. 
• Meeting Scheduler: Share your availability and allow contacts to book meetings with you effortlessly, reducing the back-and-forth of scheduling.
• Sales Tools Integration: Access HubSpot's suite of sales tools, including sequences, documents, and tasks, directly from your inbox to enhance productivity. 

Pros and Cons of the HubSpot Sales Chrome Extension

Let's take a closer look at the HubSpot Chrome extension's pros and cons.

Pros

• Seamless CRM Integration: Directly connects with HubSpot CRM, ensuring all communications are logged and accessible.
• Real-Time Engagement Insights: Provides immediate notifications for email opens, allowing for prompt follow-ups.
• Enhanced Productivity: Access to sales tools and templates within Gmail streamlines workflow.

Cons

• Feature Limitations on Free Plan: Some advanced features require a paid subscription.
• Gmail Exclusivity: Primarily designed for Gmail users; Outlook users need a separate add-in.
• Learning Curve: New users may require time to fully utilize all features effectively.

Top five alternatives to the HubSpot Sales Chrome extension

1. folk X Chrome Extension

Ideal for teams looking for a lightweight yet powerful alternative to traditional CRMs, folk’s Chrome extension simplifies contact management without unnecessary complexity. The extension helps teams manage relationships more efficiently by integrating contact management and email tracking directly into Gmail. It is designed for teams that prioritize personalized outreach and collaboration.

Key features

• Smart capture: Capture contact information from anywhere on the web including popular social media channels LinkedIn and Instagram. Send it directly to your folk CRM without leaving the page.
• Smart contact enrichment: Automatically gathers and updates contact details from emails.
• Email tracking: See when emails are opened to time follow-ups effectively.
• Team collaboration: Share and update contact records in real time.
• Custom tags & segmentation: Organize contacts with tags for better workflow management.‍
• CRM integration: Syncs seamlessly with folk’s web platform for full relationship tracking.

2. Mixmax Chrome Extension

The Mixmax Chrome extension is built for sales teams that need advanced email automation and engagement tracking within Gmail. It enhances productivity with scheduling, automation, and analytics tools.

Key features

• Advanced email tracking: Monitor email opens, clicks, and downloads in real time.
• Automated sequences: Set up email sequences with personalized follow-ups.
• Meeting scheduling: Embed calendar links directly into emails for easy booking.
• Email templates: Use pre-built templates to speed up outreach efforts.
• CRM sync: Integrates with Salesforce and other CRM platforms for streamlined workflows.

3. Yesware Chrome Extension

The Yesware Chrome extension is a sales engagement tool designed for teams that need email tracking, analytics, and automation to improve outreach efficiency. It works within Gmail and Outlook to help users monitor and optimize their email performance.

Key features

• Email tracking: Get instant notifications when emails are opened or links are clicked.
• Engagement analytics: View detailed reports on email performance.
• Templates & campaigns: Automate outreach with email templates and multi-step campaigns.
• Meeting scheduler: Send calendar links that allow prospects to book meetings with ease.
• CRM integration: Syncs with Salesforce, keeping all interactions logged.

4. Streak Chrome Extension

For teams that want a CRM experience without leaving Gmail, Streak's Chrome extension provides an integrated and streamlined workflow. The extension turns Gmail into a full-featured CRM, making it a great option for teams that want to manage pipelines without switching platforms. It enables contact tracking, email automation, and collaboration directly inside Gmail.

Key features

• Pipeline management: Track deals and sales stages directly in Gmail.
• Email tracking: Get real-time notifications for email opens.
• Mail merge: Send personalized bulk emails with tracking.
• Collaboration tools: Share emails, notes, and deal updates with team members.
• Task reminders: Set follow-up reminders for leads and opportunities.

5. Salesloft Chrome Extension

The Salesloft Chrome extension helps sales teams improve prospecting and outreach by integrating sales engagement tools directly into Gmail. It provides deep engagement tracking and automation features.

Key features

• Email & link tracking: Monitor when prospects engage with emails and attachments.
• Call & meeting integration: Schedule calls and track activity within the extension.
• Personalized sales cadences: Automate multi-touch sales workflows.
• CRM sync: Logs all sales activities in Salesforce and other CRMs.

Conclusion

The HubSpot Sales Chrome Extension enhances sales and marketing workflows by integrating essential tools directly into your Gmail inbox. However, depending on your specific needs, exploring alternatives like Folk CRM, Mixmax, or Yesware may offer features better aligned with your business objectives. Get started by trying folk X. 

Frequently Asked Questions about HubSpot Chrome extension

Is the HubSpot Chrome extension free?

Yes, HubSpot offers a free version of its Chrome extension that includes basic features like email tracking and CRM integration. However, advanced features such as automated sequences, detailed reporting, and enhanced meeting scheduling require a paid HubSpot Sales Hub subscription.

What are the best alternatives to the HubSpot Chrome extension?

If HubSpot’s Chrome extension doesn’t fit your needs, here are some of the best alternatives:

• folk Chrome Extension: A lightweight contact management tool with smart enrichment, email tracking, and team collaboration features. Ideal for relationship-driven workflows. Also has a great CRM system.  
• Mixmax: Best for sales teams needing advanced email tracking, scheduling, and automation. Integrates with multiple CRMs beyond HubSpot.
• Yesware: Great for sales engagement with tracking, templates, and campaign analytics. Works with Gmail and Outlook.
• Streak CRM for Gmail: A full-featured CRM built into Gmail, offering pipeline tracking, mail merge, and collaboration tools.
• Salesloft Chrome Extension: Best for structured sales cadences, integrating directly with Salesforce and offering multi-touch engagement tracking.

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