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Head-to-head · Email Collaboration Software

Google Groups Collaborative Inbox vs Front

  • Updated Oct 2026
  • Both researched from official sources
  • 4 checks side by side
Higher score Google Groups Collaborative Inbox #3 in Email Collaboration Software 8.8/10 Free plan Free plan✓ 1 of 3 features Visit Google Groups
Front #5 in Email Collaboration Software 8.7/10 From $25/user/mo (annual) · 14-day trial ✓ 0 of 3 features Visit Front

Google Groups Collaborative Inbox leads on 2 checks, Front on 0, and 2 are even. Who comes out ahead on the 4 yes/no, price and count checks where we have data for both products. The editor score weighs everything else too.

Our verdict

  • Highest scoreGoogle Groups Collaborative Inbox · 8.8/10
  • Free planonly Google Groups Collaborative Inbox
  • Most featuresGoogle Groups Collaborative Inbox · 1 of 3

Google Groups Collaborative Inbox scores higher on our rubric for email collaboration software: 8.8 against 8.7 out of 10; our editors rank them #3 and #5.

Google Groups Collaborative Inbox offers free plan; Front doesn't. Google Groups Collaborative Inbox offers email assignment; Front doesn't publish it.

Google Groups Collaborative Inbox is the better fit for groups needing a simple, free shared email queue. Front is the better fit for support teams needing omnichannel workflows and SLAs.

  • Google Groups Collaborative Inbox fits best

    Groups needing a simple, free shared email queue

  • Front fits best

    Support teams needing omnichannel workflows and SLAs

Advertiser disclosure: iTechGuides is reader-supported. We may earn a commission when you click some links. How we rank.

Side by side

Feature Google Groups Collaborative Inbox 8.8/10 Visit ↗ Front 8.7/10 Visit ↗
At a glance
Editor score 8.8 8.7
Ranking #3 in Email Collaboration Software #5 in Email Collaboration Software
Best for Groups needing a simple, free shared email queue Support teams needing omnichannel workflows and SLAs
Pricing model Free plan + paid Paid
Starting price Not published $25/user/mo
Free plan ✓ (best) —
Free trial — —
Deployment Cloud Cloud, Desktop, Mobile
Platforms Web Web, Windows, macOS, iOS, Android
Support Docs, Community Email, Live chat, Tickets, Community, Docs
Built for Solo, Small business, Mid-market, Enterprise Small business, Mid-market, Enterprise
Features Google Groups Collaborative Inbox 1/3 · Front 0/3
Email assignment ✓ (best) Not published
Shared drafts — Not published
Email approvals — Not published
Specs
Inbox channels Email Not published
Email providers Other Not published
Automation rules Not published Not published
Our review
Pros
  • Assign or reassign conversations and let members claim them.
  • Track complete, duplicate, and no-action-needed states.
  • Use shared labels and search by assignee or resolution status.
  • Combines shared inboxes, ticketing, routing, and time-goal tracking
  • Professional adds omnichannel support, advanced analytics, SSO, and SCIM
  • Help center, customer portal, API access, and 130 integrations
Cons
  • Focused on email conversations sent to a group address.
  • Draft collaboration and approval workflows are not included.
  • Work or school accounts need Groups for Business to enable these features.
  • Starter is limited to single-channel support
  • Professional costs $65 per seat per month with annual billing
  • Enterprise is $105 per seat per month with annual billing
Our verdict

Google Groups Collaborative Inbox turns messages sent to a group address into a shared queue for teams that need basic coordination. Members with the right permissions can take conversations to volunteer to respond, assign or reassign…

Read the review →

Front brings customer conversations into shared inboxes and adds ticketing, workflow automation, analytics, and self-service tools. It is aimed at support and customer operations teams that need to coordinate work across channels, with…

Read the review →
  1. Google Groups Collaborative InboxEmail Collaboration Software 8.8Free plan
  2. FrontEmail Collaboration Software 8.7From $25/user/mo (annual) · 14-day trial

Strengths and trade-offs

  • Google Groups Collaborative Inbox — where it wins

    • Assign or reassign conversations and let members claim them.
    • Track complete, duplicate, and no-action-needed states.
    • Use shared labels and search by assignee or resolution status.

    Where it doesn't

    • Focused on email conversations sent to a group address.
    • Draft collaboration and approval workflows are not included.
    • Work or school accounts need Groups for Business to enable these features.

  • Front — where it wins

    • Combines shared inboxes, ticketing, routing, and time-goal tracking
    • Professional adds omnichannel support, advanced analytics, SSO, and SCIM
    • Help center, customer portal, API access, and 130 integrations

    Where it doesn't

    • Starter is limited to single-channel support
    • Professional costs $65 per seat per month with annual billing
    • Enterprise is $105 per seat per month with annual billing
  • Google Groups Collaborative Inbox8.8/10 · Free plan

    A free shared queue for teams that need basic email assignment and resolution tracking.

    Visit Google GroupsFull verdict →
  • Front8.7/10 · From $25/user/mo (annual) · 14-day trial

    A capable support workspace with omnichannel tools, automation, and seat-based pricing.

    Visit FrontFull verdict →

More comparisons

All email collaboration software comparisons → · Full ranking →

Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026

Last updated · How we research and update