Hiver Alternative: Addressing Common Complaints About Hiver
Before diving into the alternatives, let’s take a look at some of the negative reviews left by Hiver customers. According to user feedback, Hiver’s main drawbacks include:
- Limited Automation: Many users have expressed frustration over the limited automation capabilities in Hiver. They mention that setting up workflows is cumbersome and that automation options are not as flexible as they need.
- Poor User Experience: Several reviewers mentioned that Hiver’s user interface can be clunky and outdated, making it difficult for teams to work efficiently. The overall experience feels unintuitive, and some users report a steep learning curve.
- High Pricing: Hiver’s pricing is often cited as a major downside, especially considering the limited features compared to competitors. In addition, Hiver has a history of regularly increasing their prices without grandfathering existing customers into their previous pricing plans. This means that even long-term users are subject to frequent price hikes, which many customers find frustrating and unfair. For larger teams, these increasing costs quickly add up, making Hiver an expensive option compared to alternatives that offer more features and better pricing stability. Customers have mentioned that the value they receive doesn’t justify the cost, particularly for larger teams.
- Lack of Advanced Features: Users have also noted the lack of advanced collaboration features, such as Kanban boards or deeper integrations with other productivity tools, which limits how effectively they can manage workflows.
- Slow Customer Support: Multiple reviews mentioned slow response times from Hiver’s customer service team whose whole team is based in India, which can be a significant issue when dealing with urgent technical problems and affects the customer service team's ability to manage inquiries effectively.
These limitations have led many teams to search for better alternatives that provide enhanced features, a more seamless experience, and a more budget-reliable vendor in the long term.
Customer Reviews Summary for Shared Inbox Alternatives
To help you make an informed decision, here’s a summary of customer reviews for each of the top Hiver alternatives in the market:
Gmelius (gmelius.com)
Gmelius leads the email collaboration market and is highly rated for its ease of use, seamless integration with Gmail, and the added flexibility of task management features like Kanban boards. When considering Gmelius vs Hiver, it's important to note that while both solutions offer similar features for email collaboration, Gmelius provides more advanced automation capabilities.
Users appreciate the automation capabilities, which are far more advanced than those offered by Hiver. However, some users mention that there is a learning curve for new features, but overall, Gmelius receives positive feedback for its versatility and value for money.
User Testimonials:
“Gmelius has completely transformed how our team collaborates on emails. The automation options save us so much time, and we love the Kanban board feature.” - Sarah M., Marketing Manager
“The integration with Slack and Trello means we no longer have to jump between apps. Everything is in one place, which makes our workflow so much smoother.” - James L., Operations Lead
Front
Front is praised for its multi-channel communication capabilities, allowing teams to manage not just emails, but also social media and SMS messages. Customers like the internal commenting system, which makes collaboration easy. However, some users feel that Front can be expensive, especially for smaller teams, and that its array of features can sometimes be overwhelming.
User Testimonial:
“The ability to assign messages and track responses has been a game changer for us. It’s a bit pricey, but the functionality makes it worth it.” - David P., Team Lead
Missive
Missive receives great feedback for its unique approach to combining email with team chat, making it a favorite among smaller teams and startups. Users love the collaborative editing and internal chat features. The unified inbox is another strong point. On the downside, a few users mention that the pricing may be high for teams with many users, and that some integrations are limited compared to other tools.
User Testimonial:
“Missive’s real-time collaboration on emails is incredible. We can discuss and draft responses all within the same thread, which saves us a lot of back and forth.” - Laura H., Customer Experience Manager
Help Scout
Help Scout is well-reviewed as a help desk software for its customer service features, especially the knowledge base and customer management functionalities. Users find it particularly useful for customer support teams, as it allows easy tracking of customer inquiries. The live chat feature is also a plus. Some reviewers note that Help Scout lacks some of the advanced workflow automation seen in other tools, and the pricing can be steep for smaller organizations. However, Help Scout remains a robust help desk tool that streamlines and automates client support services across various communication channels.
User Testimonial:
“We love the customer management features in Help Scout. It’s easy to keep track of every interaction and provide personalized support.” - Michael B., Customer Success Manager
Zoho TeamInbox
Zoho TeamInbox is appreciated for its simplicity and its seamless integration with the larger Zoho ecosystem. Customers like the straightforward approach to managing group emails and the affordability compared to other tools. Some users, however, report that the interface is not as modern or user-friendly as other options, and that the functionality may be limited if they are not using other Zoho products.
User Testimonial:
“For a small team, Zoho TeamInbox has been a good solution. It doesn’t have all the bells and whistles, but it’s reliable and integrates well with Zoho CRM.” - Arjun V., Sales Manager
The Best Hiver Alternatives Worth Considering
Let's now take an in-depth look at each of these five Hiver alternatives, highlighting the unique strengths that make them exceptional choices for collaborative email management:
1. Gmelius (gmelius.com)
An official Google Partner, Gmelius is more than just a shared inbox—it’s a complete collaboration platform that integrates seamlessly inside Gmail and also offers a standalone web application if your team prefers working outside of Gmail. Unlike Hiver, which focuses on shared email management, Gmelius provides a wider array of tools, helping teams streamline not only their email communication but also their workflows.
Think of Gmelius as an all-in-one workspace that combines email collaboration, task management, automation, and more. Gmelius leverages Gmail labels and latest developments in Artificial Intelligence for better email organization and team collaboration, enhancing project management and workflow efficiency.
Key Features:
- Shared Inbox: Like Hiver, Gmelius transforms your Gmail inbox into a shared workspace. Teams can handle shared addresses such as support@ or info@ with ease.
- Kanban Boards: Gmelius takes your email collaboration to another level with integrated Kanban boards. You can convert emails into tasks and manage them visually, something Hiver lacks.
- Automation: Gmelius offers robust automation options, allowing you to set up workflows, rules, and sequences to save time and boost productivity.
- Integrations: Gmelius integrates with tools like Slack, Trello, HubSpot, Salesforce, Zapier, and Google Workspace, allowing your team to collaborate where they’re most comfortable. Gmelius also offers a public API.
- Artificial Intelligence: Gmelius uses AI to automatically tag and classify email conversations. Customers of its Pro plan also have access to a unique email mining technology that uncovers the processes taking place within an organization.
- Affordable Pricing: Gmelius’s pricing plans tend to be more competitive, especially for growing teams.
- Trial Period & Pilot: Gmelius offers by default a 7-day free trial for teams to explore all its features before making a commitment. This free trial can be extended upon request and teams of 10+ users can start a 100% free custom-tailored 3-week pilot of the platform.
Gmelius is an ideal choice for businesses that need a powerful combination of email collaboration and task management capabilities without switching between different apps.
2. Front
Front is another popular shared inbox tool that offers a different approach to managing group email addresses, positioning itself as a robust desk software solution. Front combines the best of both a shared inbox and a communication platform, with added CRM functionalities. Its shared inboxes enhance team collaboration and efficiency by allowing multiple team members to manage emails from the same shared address, delegate tasks, and track email status.
Key Features:
- Multi-Channel Inbox: In addition to email, Front brings in social media messages, SMS, and other communication channels, making it easier for your team to respond from one place.
- Assign and Comment: Like Hiver, Front allows you to assign emails to specific teammates and collaborate using internal comments.
- Built-in Analytics: Front includes detailed analytics to track response times and team performance, providing visibility that helps improve customer interactions.
- Integrations: Front integrates with popular tools such as Salesforce, Slack, HubSpot, Asana, and Zapier, enabling seamless workflows across various platforms.
- Trial Period: Front offers a 7-day free trial for potential users to test its features and determine if it meets their needs.
Front is suitable for companies needing an all-in-one solution for managing customer communication across different channels, but it may be overkill for teams focused primarily on email.
3. Missive
Missive is a great alternative to Hiver, especially if you’re looking for a blend of chat and email collaboration that enhances team communication. With Missive, teams can collaborate directly on emails using built-in chat features, making it a great choice for fast-paced teams. Additionally, Missive enhances team collaboration by providing scalable solutions that foster better interaction among team members.
Key Features:
- Collaborative Email Editing: Missive allows your team to draft and edit emails together in real time. This is particularly useful for customer support teams that want to ensure quality responses.
- Integrated Chat: With Missive, you can chat with teammates directly within email threads, avoiding the back-and-forth that comes with using separate chat applications.
- Unified Inbox: Manage not only your emails but also SMS and social media messages from a single inbox.
- Integrations: Missive integrates with tools like Slack, Asana, Trello, and Dropbox, allowing teams to streamline communication and task management.
- Trial Period: Missive provides a 30-day free trial for users to fully explore its capabilities.
Missive is ideal for smaller teams that prioritize collaboration and don’t want to switch between different communication tools.
4. Help Scout
Help Scout is a customer service-focused tool that serves as a solid alternative to Hiver for teams handling support tickets. It’s not just about email; Help Scout provides a complete help desk solution.
Key Features:
- Shared Inbox and Messaging: Manage shared email accounts effectively while also utilizing live chat and messaging features.
- Knowledge Base: Help Scout allows you to create a self-service portal for your customers, reducing the number of incoming support requests.
- Customer Management: You get access to customer profiles directly within email threads, providing valuable context for every conversation.
- Integrations: Help Scout integrates with Slack, HubSpot, Zapier, Shopify, and WordPress, making it easy to connect with other tools that your team is already using.
- Trial Period: Help Scout offers a 15-day free trial for potential users to explore its features.
Help Scout is a great fit if you’re looking for a tool that combines email support with more advanced customer service features, like a knowledge base.
5. Zoho TeamInbox
Zoho TeamInbox is a lesser-known but powerful alternative to Hiver, designed for teams wanting an affordable and simple way to manage group email addresses.
Key Features:
- Streamlined Shared Inbox: Manage multiple group email accounts effectively and assign ownership of conversations to ensure accountability.
- Thread Management: Zoho TeamInbox offers tools to categorize, label, and manage threads, helping keep your inbox organized.
- Part of the Zoho Suite: If you’re already using other Zoho products, TeamInbox integrates seamlessly, which can be a major advantage for your business.
- Integrations: As part of the Zoho ecosystem, Zoho TeamInbox integrates with Zoho CRM, Zoho Desk, Zapier, and Google Workspace to provide a comprehensive productivity solution.
- Trial Period: Zoho TeamInbox offers a 15-day free trial to help teams determine if it meets their needs.
Zoho TeamInbox is best for teams looking for a straightforward shared inbox solution that also fits into the larger Zoho ecosystem.
Pricing Comparison Table
Below is a comparison chart of the pricing plans for Hiver and its top alternatives:
Google Workspace Integration Options Comparison Table
Below is a comparison chart of the integration options for Hiver and its top alternatives:
Trial Period Comparison Table
Below is a comparison chart of the trial periods for Hiver and its top alternatives:
Choosing the Right Hiver Alternative for Team Collaboration
The right Hiver alternative depends on your team's specific needs. If you’re looking for a versatile platform that combines email collaboration with task management, Gmelius might be your best bet. For teams needing to handle customer interactions across multiple channels, Front provides a powerful multi-channel communication hub. Meanwhile, Missive offers a unique chat-integrated experience, and Help Scout provides a more customer service-oriented approach.
Each of these tools brings something different to the table, but they all address the limitations that some users experience with Hiver. Whether it’s the need for better automation, additional collaboration features, or just more viable pricing, there is a solution out there that matches your requirements.
Ready to make the switch? Start by exploring Gmelius and see how it transforms the way your team collaborates over email and beyond.
