Streak

Streak takes a fundamentally different approach to CRM by embedding itself directly into Gmail rather than asking users to adopt yet another application. After using it for several weeks, this approach works brilliantly for the right audience and falls flat for everyone else. The distinction is simple: if your sales process lives in email and your team runs on Google Workspace, Streak eliminates the friction that kills most CRM adoption efforts.

The Gmail integration is genuinely seamless. Pipeline columns appear in your sidebar, deals attach to email threads automatically, and tracking opens and clicks happens without leaving your inbox. Mail merge for personalized outreach works well for small-scale campaigns. The experience feels native to Gmail rather than bolted on, which is a significant achievement and the primary reason Streak's adoption rates tend to be higher than traditional CRMs.

Where Streak impresses most is for solo professionals and small teams. Freelancers managing client pipelines, real estate agents tracking leads, recruiters following up with candidates, and small agencies coordinating deals all find Streak fits their workflow naturally. The free plan with unlimited pipelines and 500 contacts is genuinely generous for individual users, and the Solo plan at $15/user/month adds the email tracking and mail merge that make it a productivity tool, not just a contact list.

The limitations become apparent as needs grow. Reporting is basic compared to HubSpot, Salesforce, or even Pipedrive. There is no marketing automation, no advanced lead scoring, and no sophisticated deal forecasting. The Pro plan at $49/user/month adds shared pipelines and team features, but at that price point, standalone CRMs offer substantially more functionality. And critically, Streak only works with Gmail, so if even one team member uses Outlook, you cannot use it as your team CRM.

The bottom line: Streak is the best CRM for Gmail power users who want pipeline management without the overhead of a separate application. It excels for solopreneurs, freelancers, and small teams with straightforward sales processes. Once your needs extend to complex workflows, advanced reporting, or team-wide adoption beyond Gmail users, you will need to graduate to a full-featured CRM.