Inbox by Gmail

Inbox by Gmail
Developer(s)Google LLC
Initial release
  • October 22, 2014; 10 years ago (2014-10-22) (invitation-only)
  • May 28, 2015; 9 years ago (2015-05-28) (public)
Stable release(s) [±]
Android1.78.217178463 / October 16, 2018; 6 years ago (2018-10-16)[1]
iOS1.3.181119 / December 11, 2018; 5 years ago (2018-12-11)[2]
Operating systemAndroid, iOS
SuccessorGmail
TypeEmail client
LicenseFreeware
Websiteinbox.google.com

Inbox by Gmail was an email service developed by Google. Announced on a limited invitation-only basis on October 22, 2014, it was officially released to the public on May 28, 2015. Inbox was shut down by Google on April 2, 2019.

Available on the web, and through mobile apps for Android and iOS, Inbox by Gmail aimed to improve email productivity and organization through several key features. Bundles gathered emails on the same topic together; highlighted surface key details from messages, reminders and assists; and a "snooze" functionality enabled users to control when specific information would appear. Updates to the service enabled an "undo send" feature; a "Smart Reply" feature that automatically generated short reply examples for certain emails; integration with Google Calendar for event organization, previews of newsletters; and a "Save to Inbox" feature that let users save links for later use.

Inbox by Gmail received generally positive reviews. At its launch, it was called "minimalist and lovely, full of layers and easy to navigate",[3] with features deemed helpful in finding the right messages—one reviewer noted that the service felt "a lot like the future of email". However, it also received criticism, particularly for a low density of information, algorithms that needed tweaking, and because the service required users to "give up the control" of organizing their own email, meaning that "Anyone who already has a system for organizing their emails will likely find themselves fighting Google's system".[4] Google noted in March 2016 that 10% of all replies on mobile originated from Inbox's Smart Reply feature.

Google discontinued the service in March 2019.

  1. ^ "Inbox by Gmail". APKMirror. Android Police. October 16, 2018. Retrieved December 21, 2018.
  2. ^ "Inbox by Gmail". App Store. Apple Inc. December 11, 2018. Retrieved December 21, 2018.
  3. ^ Pierce, David (October 22, 2014). "Using Google Inbox: this feels like the future of email". The Verge. Retrieved January 18, 2024.
  4. ^ Mitroff, Sarah. "Inbox by Gmail review: Personalized email with a learning curve". CNET. Retrieved January 18, 2024.