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Head-to-head · Email Collaboration Software

Google Groups Collaborative Inbox vs Hiver

  • 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
Hiver #6 in Email Collaboration Software 8.6/10 Free plan · paid from $25/user/mo (annual) · 7-day trial Free plan✓ 0 of 3 features Visit Hiver

Google Groups Collaborative Inbox leads on 1 check, Hiver on 0, and 3 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 planboth
  • Most featuresGoogle Groups Collaborative Inbox · 1 of 3

Google Groups Collaborative Inbox scores higher on our rubric for email collaboration software: 8.8 against 8.6 out of 10; our editors rank them #3 and #6.

Google Groups Collaborative Inbox offers email assignment; Hiver doesn't publish it.

Google Groups Collaborative Inbox is the better fit for groups needing a simple, free shared email queue. Hiver is the better fit for teams needing email support plus help-center tooling.

  • Google Groups Collaborative Inbox fits best

    Groups needing a simple, free shared email queue

  • Hiver fits best

    Teams needing email support plus help-center tooling

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 ↗ Hiver 8.6/10 Visit ↗
At a glance
Editor score 8.8 8.6
Ranking #3 in Email Collaboration Software #6 in Email Collaboration Software
Best for Groups needing a simple, free shared email queue Teams needing email support plus help-center tooling
Pricing model Free plan + paid Free plan + paid
Starting price Not published $25/user/mo
Free plan ✓ ✓
Free trial — —
Deployment Cloud Cloud, Mobile, Browser extension
Platforms Web Web, iOS, Android, Chrome extension
Support Docs, Community Email, Live chat, Docs · 24/7
Built for Solo, Small business, Mid-market, Enterprise Small business, Mid-market, Enterprise
Features Google Groups Collaborative Inbox 1/3 · Hiver 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, and rule-based automation
  • Growth includes a Help Center; Pro adds customer portal and SLAs
  • Web, mobile, and Chrome extension access, plus listed 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.
  • Growth starts at $25 per user monthly with annual billing
  • Customer portal, SLAs, and API access begin with Pro
  • AI QA and AI Insights are limited to the Elite tier
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 →

Hiver brings shared inboxes and help-desk workflows together for support, finance, IT, HR, and other customer-facing teams. It offers Hiver in Gmail and Hiver Omni, a standalone web application for handling email and other listed channels.…

Read the review →
  1. Google Groups Collaborative InboxEmail Collaboration Software 8.8Free plan
  2. HiverEmail Collaboration Software 8.6Free plan · paid from $25/user/mo (annual) · 7-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.

  • Hiver — where it wins

    • Combines shared inboxes, ticketing, and rule-based automation
    • Growth includes a Help Center; Pro adds customer portal and SLAs
    • Web, mobile, and Chrome extension access, plus listed integrations

    Where it doesn't

    • Growth starts at $25 per user monthly with annual billing
    • Customer portal, SLAs, and API access begin with Pro
    • AI QA and AI Insights are limited to the Elite tier
  • 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 →
  • Hiver8.6/10 · Free plan · paid from $25/user/mo (annual) · 7-day trial

    Hiver pairs collaborative email management with help-desk workflows and knowledge tools.

    Visit HiverFull 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