Why Opt For a Cleanup Tool?
Many of us spend more time than ever trying to organize our inboxes. However, time is currency, and artificial intelligence has made automation easier than ever before. Why not delegate your email management tasks to Gmail cleanup tools that can carry it out in your stead and with the utmost precision?
Gmail offers built-in tools to clean up Gmail, but their functionality is limited. In this article, we'll delve into third-party Gmail cleanup tools that offer more advanced features and facilitate easier email management.
These tools are designed to efficiently organize your emails, saving you precious time and reducing inbox clutter. By automating the process of sorting, archiving, and deleting unnecessary messages, a Gmail inbox cleanup tool ensures that your inbox stays manageable and relevant.
The Best Gmail Cleaner Tools Reviewed
In creating the list given below, we focused on finding the most comprehensive tools that offer advanced email management features. Our comparison of these solutions was based on several criteria: automation capabilities, user-friendliness, email management efficiency, customization options, and transparency in pricing, including any hidden fees.
The 6 best cleanup tools for Gmail are:
- Clean Email : Best for Inbox Management
- Mailstrom: Great for Bulk Actions
- Shortwave: Ideal for Productivity Needs
- Mailman: Best for Timing Message Notifications
- Sanebox: Best AI-Assisted Tool
- Trimbox: Best for Unsubscribing
Each tool on our list has its strengths and weaknesses, along with unique features. We encourage you to explore them to find the best solution that suits your needs.
1. Best for Inbox Management: Clean Email
Price: Free for up to 1000 emails; Subscription (plans)
When it comes to email cleaning tools, Clean Email offers unmatched service. Many of the tools available in Clean Email go far beyond any built-in Gmail cleanup extension. First and foremost, this Gmail cleanup app provides several features that significantly exceed the basic Gmail spam filter. The Screener tool flags messages from senders you haven’t previously received messages from and separates them from your inbox in a dedicated folder.
Then, you can use the Unsubscriber tool to remove yourself from newsletters, marketing messages, and other mass mailings you don’t want in your inbox. The app also includes pre-set filters (Smart Folders) to easily identify the messages you find essential and those you do not. You can also apply actions to all messages in each of these Smart Folders, making it easy to delete, move, archive, or flag entire groups of messages all at once.
Finally, you can automate routine email tasks by using the Auto Clean tool and receive recommended actions to clean up your inbox with Cleaning Suggestions. Both of these tools make it easy to move messages and organize Gmail emails so you aren’t dealing with an overwhelming number of emails in your inbox.
Unlike other Gmail cleaning tools, Clean Email offers really competitive prices for both business accounts and personal use. Your data is never sold, shared, or stored in any way, plus the app is available on Android, iOS, MacOS, and on the web.
- Great user interface
- Privacy and security-oriented
- Easy in navigation
- Robust automation features
- Available for all IMAP-based ESPs
- Limited free plan
Follow our guide on how to clean up Gmail storage.
2. Great for Bulk Actions: Mailstrom
Price: Free for up to 1250 messages; Subscriptions start at $9/month (plans)
Mailstrom is another great Gmail cleanup tool to help you achieve Inbox Zero. It lets you apply actions to large quantities of messages at once. If saving time is your objective while cleaning your inbox, then Mailstrom is the best Gmail cleaner for you.
This Gmail cleaning tool works by bundling similar emails based on commonalities so you can take bulk action. This includes deleting, archiving, moving, and more. With Mailstrom, you can slice through thousands of messages in seconds. Additionally, this app lets you unsubscribe from mass mailings and block unwelcome senders.
Despite these benefits, Mailstrom has its fair share of drawbacks. Unlike some other best Gmail cleanup tool choices on this list, this tool does not provide suggestions on clearing your inbox. Additionally, it doesn’t necessarily screen or flag messages and prevents them from entering your inbox.
Mailstrom is only available as a web-based Gmail cleaner extension. However, it does support multiple accounts, and like Clean Email, Mailstrom doesn’t share or sell your data to third parties.
- Makes it easy to apply bulk actions
- Supports multiple service providers
- Easy to navigate
- Allows replying to and forwarding emails
- Limited email management features
- Web-based only
3. Ideal for Productivity Needs: Shortwave
Price: Free version with limited features; Full version available for $8.50/month
Shortwave is a free Gmail cleanup tool designed with productivity in mind. It offers several handy features that not only make it easy to organize your inbox, but also stay on task.
What makes this best free Gmail cleaner stand out from the rest of the options on this list is its overall approach to organization. Instead of lumping messages into folders based on commonalities, you create email threads so everything you need is in a single row. The app will automatically do this, but you can manually reorganize threads or combine them at any time.
Additionally, Shortwave is a unique tool to clean up Gmail because it goes beyond simple organization or automation. With this app, you can transfer bundles of messages over to a to-do list, meaning you can create tasks and then remove the messages. And, unlike most other tools on this list, Shortwave includes an AI-based composition tool that generates responses to message threads based on the conversation and your writing style.
Shortwave is available as a desktop app or on any mobile device (iOS and Android).
- Bundles messages into threads instead of folders
- Includes composition tools
- Available on mobile and PC
- The free version limits features
- Fewer inbox organization and spam blocking features than competitors
4. Best for Timing Message Notifications: Mailman
Price: 21-day free trial; Subscriptions available for $10/month
As an exclusive Gmail cleaner, Mailman is optimized to make organizing your Google’s inbox easier than ever. Like other apps to clean Gmail inbox, Mailman allows you to block specific senders or remove yourself from subscription lists. Furthermore, you can use the VIP List to ensure you always see important messages from specific senders or emails that contain keywords you specify.
However, what really makes Mailman stand out from other options for the best email cleaner for Gmail is its ability to control when you get your messages. With the Do Not Disturb feature, you can block notifications during certain times of the day so emails don’t interrupt you. Similarly, you can use the Delivery Slots feature to control how many times per day and when you receive message notifications.
Unfortunately, Mailman isn’t a complete solution for everyone due to the lack of certain features. For instance, it doesn’t provide any automation features, nor does it offer any sort of filtering like other apps on this list.
Also, unlike other easy Gmail cleanup tools, Mailman is only available through your internet browser, meaning you can’t take it on the go.
- Lets you control when you receive messages
- Easy to block senders and remove spam
- Not available for mobile devices
- No free version
5. Best AI-Assisted Tool: Sanebox
Price: 14-day free trial; Subscriptions starting at $7/month
SaneBox is a Gmail cleaner app that utilizes artificial intelligence to help save you time when dealing with incoming messages. In other words, the service sorts your messages based on their level of importance so you can focus on the most important items and leave the rest for when you have time.
What makes SaneBox unique is its approach to inbox management. Instead of having an inbox and a bunch of random folders, this best Gmail cleaner app utilizes custom folders to sort all messages: SaneLater, SaneTomorrow, SaneBulk, SaneNews, SaneBlackHole, and more. As you move messages yourself and take other actions, SaneBox watches and learns. Eventually, this Gmail cleaner tool will start taking actions on its own based on what it learned from you.
However, that’s not all SaneBox has to offer. In fact, this Gmail cleaner tool includes several other tools to help organize your mailbox, like Email Deep Clean (a tool to remove old messages) and SaneAttachments (a feature that makes it easy to download attachments so you can remove messages).
During our extensive review process, we did notice a few shortcomings with SaneBox, though. Most notably, the app doesn’t offer automation features like some of the other options on this list. Also, it only includes a 14-day free trial, which may not be enough time to determine if you like how its system works.
- AI means you can set it and forget it
- Makes it easy to unsubscribe from unwanted mailings
- Available on mobile (iOS) and PC
- Limited spam-blocking features
- Initially challenging to configure
6. Best for Quick Unsubscribing: Trimbox
Price: Free trial up to 10 unsubscriptions. Subscription starts at $3.33 monthly, billed annually at $39.99
If you’re looking for a Gmail cleaner that operates entirely in your mail account and strictly focuses on removing spam, then Trimbox is the tool for you. It works as a Chrome extension, meaning you don’t have to download or integrate anything beyond a simple browser tool.
This solution stands out from other options because of its simplicity and ease of use. You don’t have to navigate through complicated menus since the Chrome extension works directly from your Gmail inbox. This is a significant advantage over other apps we reviewed, as most of them function as separate entities.
What Trimbox is mainly known for is its one-click Unsubscribe tool. Once you connect the extension to your account, the Trimbox logo appears next to any message eligible for unsubscription. Additionally, you can use the 'Delete all emails' option to remove all messages from a sender.
Similar to Shortwave, Trimbox also includes an AI composition feature. When composing a message in Gmail, you’ll find the option to use Trimbox AI, which can expedite your reply process.
That being said, Trimbox is missing many of the other features that apps like Clean Email have to offer. It is designed to do one thing well: unsubscribe. It’s not designed to be the best Gmail cleanup tool for those who want features like automation options and smart sorting.
- Chrome extension that works within Gmail inbox
- One-click unsubscribe
- AI composition feature
- Lacks many other cleanup features
Conclusion
In summary, this article has provided insights into some of the best Gmail cleanup tools available, each offering unique features to cater to different email management needs. From Clean Email's comprehensive inbox organization to Trimbox's efficient unsubscribing feature, these tools vary in functionality like bulk actions, AI prioritization, and notification management.
While each tool has its strengths and limitations, the right choice depends on your specific requirements, such as advanced features, ease of use, and cost-effectiveness. By considering these factors, you can find the ideal Gmail cleaner to clean up your inbox and enhance your overall email productivity.
Best Gmail Cleanup Tools - FAQs
What is the easiest way to clean up Gmail?
The easiest way to clean up Gmail while saving time is by using a mailbox cleanup tool. Ensure you choose a cleaning tool that is self-sufficient and gets the tasks done with only a few inputs from you.
Why do I need a Gmail cleanup tool?
If you have ever spent hours cleaning a cluttered mailbox then you ought to have a Gmail cleanup tool. This cuts down your email cleaning time from hours to a few minutes with the right software.
Is there an app to clean up Gmail inbox?
Yes, and Clean Email is one of the best apps to help you clean your Gmail inbox. It organizes your emails into relevant bundles, and you can easily apply any action to a group of similar messages instead of managing each of them manually.
What are the best Gmail cleanup tools for Mac?
There are many great Gmail cleanup tools for Mac users. If flexibility, automation, and customization are what you desire the most, then we recommend Clean Email. With a few clicks, you will automatically set up rules to manage and organize your emails once they hit your inbox.
