Hiver
Hiver is a multi-channel customer service platform that transforms your Gmail interface into a collaborative help desk for managing shared inboxes, live chat, and voice support without leaving your email.
Mailbird
Mailbird is a desktop email client for Windows that consolidates multiple email accounts, calendars, and task management apps into a single, customizable interface to streamline your daily digital communication.
Quick Comparison
| Feature | Hiver | Mailbird |
|---|---|---|
| Website | hiverhq.com | mailbird.com |
| Pricing Model | Subscription | Subscription |
| Starting Price | $15/month | $3.25/month |
| FREE Trial | ✓ 7 days free trial | ✓ 3 days free trial |
| Free Plan | ✘ No free plan | ✘ No free plan |
| Product Demo | ✓ Request demo here | ✘ No product demo |
| Deployment | ||
| Integrations | ||
| Target Users | ||
| Target Industries | ||
| Customer Count | 0 | 0 |
| Founded Year | 2011 | 2012 |
| Headquarters | San Jose, USA | Aalborg, Denmark |
Overview
Hiver
Hiver transforms your existing Gmail interface into a powerful customer service hub. Instead of jumping between different tools, you can manage shared inboxes like support@ or info@ directly from the email environment you already know. You can assign emails to team members with one click, track status in real-time, and write internal notes on email threads to collaborate behind the scenes without forwarding messages to colleagues.
Beyond just email, you can handle live chat, WhatsApp messages, and even voice calls from the same sidebar. It eliminates the need for complex help desk training because it lives right inside Gmail. You can also automate repetitive tasks, build custom reports to track team performance, and ensure no customer query ever falls through the cracks. It is ideal for teams that want professional support capabilities without the steep learning curve of traditional software.
Mailbird
Mailbird is a desktop-based email client designed to help you regain control over your inbox. Instead of jumping between browser tabs, you can manage all your accounts—including Gmail, Outlook, and Yahoo—from one unified interface. You can customize the layout to match your workflow, choosing from various themes and organizational views that make processing high volumes of mail feel effortless.
Beyond just email, you can integrate your favorite productivity apps like WhatsApp, Slack, and Google Calendar directly into the sidebars. This allows you to chat with teammates or check your schedule without ever leaving your inbox. It is built specifically for Windows users who need a centralized hub for professional communication and personal task management, offering both personal and business-focused licenses.
Overview
Hiver Features
- Shared Inboxes Manage group aliases like support and sales directly from Gmail while keeping track of who is working on what.
- Email Notes Collaborate with your teammates through private notes on email threads instead of using messy forwards or external chat apps.
- Collision Detection See in real-time when another team member is replying to an email so you never send duplicate responses.
- Automated Workflows Set up rules to automatically assign emails based on keywords or sender, saving you hours of manual sorting every week.
- Multi-Channel Support Handle live chat, WhatsApp, and voice calls from a single sidebar without ever leaving your Gmail browser tab.
- Visual Analytics Track key metrics like first response time and resolution rate with built-in dashboards to improve your team performance.
- Email Templates Create and share canned responses with your team to answer common customer questions instantly and maintain a consistent voice.
- Customer Surveys Insert feedback surveys directly into your email signatures to measure customer satisfaction immediately after you resolve an issue.
Mailbird Features
- Unified Inbox. Manage all your email accounts in one place with a single view that combines every incoming message for faster processing.
- App Integrations. Connect tools like WhatsApp, Slack, and Dropbox directly to your sidebar to handle all your communications in one window.
- Customizable Layouts. Adjust the interface to your liking with various color themes and layout options that fit your specific visual preferences.
- Speed Reader. Power through your emails in record time by viewing text one word at a time at your preferred reading speed.
- Attachment Search. Find any document or image instantly with a dedicated attachment search tool that scans across all your connected accounts.
- Snooze Emails. Hide non-urgent messages and set them to reappear in your inbox exactly when you are ready to deal with them.
Pricing Comparison
Hiver Pricing
- Up to 10 users
- 2 Shared Inboxes
- Shared Labels
- Email Notes
- Collision Detection
- Slack Integration
- Everything in Lite, plus:
- Unlimited users
- Unlimited Shared Inboxes
- WhatsApp & Chat channels
- Automations
- Detailed Analytics
- CSAT Surveys
Mailbird Pricing
- Unlimited email accounts
- Unified inbox
- Basic app integrations
- Email snoozing
- Customizable themes
- Standard support
- Everything in Standard, plus:
- Priority support
- Advanced app integrations
- Speed reader tool
- Attachment search
- Commercial use license
Pros & Cons
Hiver
Pros
- Zero learning curve since it works entirely inside Gmail
- Eliminates duplicate replies with effective collision detection
- Internal notes keep team communication organized and private
- Setup is extremely fast compared to traditional help desks
Cons
- Requires a Google Workspace account to function
- Mobile app experience is more limited than desktop
- Can feel cluttered if managing many shared inboxes
- No forever-free tier for very small startups
Mailbird
Pros
- Clean and modern interface is easy to navigate
- Unified inbox simplifies managing multiple accounts
- Sidebar integrations reduce the need for browser tabs
- Setup process is quick and mostly automated
Cons
- Only available for Windows users currently
- Free trial period is very short
- Search functionality can be slow with large inboxes