Email tracking is one of the most effective ways to improve sales operations, but only if you use the right tools.
To stand out in today's flooded inboxes, you need more than a good copy. You need real-time insights that tell you when to follow up and what’s working.
In this blog, we’ll cover:Try Cirrus Insight and see what happens after you hit send.
Email tracking is the practice of monitoring what happens after you hit Send. A modern email tracking tool can tell you:
Sales reps use this insight to follow up at the right time, refine messaging, and keep pipelines moving. Marketers use it to gauge interest and improve campaign performance.
Quick example: You email a proposal at 10:15 AM. Ten minutes later, you get a desktop alert that your prospect opened the file twice. You call while the deal is top-of-mind and book the meeting. No more guessing.
Below you’ll find eight well-known tools, grouped by the type of user who gets the most value from them.
For every product we list pricing, its headline feature, Gmail or Outlook support, CRM connectivity, and one key limitation so you can compare at a glance.
How have we evaluated these tools?
We favored products that:
Best for Salesforce-Based Sales Teams
Cirrus Insight combines real-time email tracking with deep Salesforce integration, making it a strong choice for sales teams that need more than simple open notifications.
Rather than operating as a standalone tracker, Cirrus Insight embeds email engagement directly into Gmail and Outlook while automatically syncing activity to Salesforce—so reps always know what’s happening and managers always have clean data.
Standout features
Gmail compatibility: Yes
CRM integration: Native Salesforce sync
Limitations: Best suited for Salesforce-based teams rather than individual users or freelancers.
Pricing: 14-day free trial; paid plans typically start around $14–$21 per user/month.
A popular pick for solo sellers who want writing tips and basic engagement data.
Here’s what stands out:
Right Inbox adds send-later, reminders, and tracking directly inside Gmail’s compose window
Key details include:
Streak turns Gmail itself into a pipeline, pairing CRM stages with real-time email tracking.
Highlights:
Yesware layers tracking, templates, and multi-step sequences into Gmail and Outlook for fast outbound.
Key points:
Mixmax adds interactive elements, like polls and calendar picks, alongside robust tracking and automation.
Here’s what you get:
Outreach is a sales engagement platform where email tracking is built into structured outbound sequences and cadences, making it a strong option for teams running high-volume prospecting motions.
Key details include:
This keeps Outreach positioned clearly as a sequence-first, enterprise outbound platform, making the contrast with inbox-based tools like Mailbutler and Cirrus Insight easy for readers to understand.
Mailbutler brings the same tracking experience to Gmail, Outlook, and Apple Mail, ideal for mixed-stack teams.
Key details include:
Boomerang focuses on timing, letting users schedule, pause, and lightly track emails in both major clients.
Here’s what stands out:
Mailsuite keeps things simple with double-check marks that light up every time someone opens your Gmail message.
Quick rundown:
|
Tool |
Best for |
Gmail support |
CRM integration |
Pricing |
|
Cirrus Insight |
Salesforce-based sales teams |
Yes (Gmail & Outlook) |
Native Salesforce sync |
Free trial; ~$14–$21/user/month |
|
Lavender |
Solo sellers & email coaching |
Yes |
CSV export only |
Free (5 emails); from $29/month |
|
Right Inbox |
Individuals needing reminders |
Gmail only |
None |
Free; from $5.95/month |
|
Streak |
Gmail-based pipelines |
Yes |
Built-in CRM only |
Free; Pro from $15/user/month |
|
Yesware |
Sales teams running outbound |
Yes |
Native Salesforce connector |
Free (limited); from $19/user/month |
|
Mixmax |
Agencies & advanced automation |
Yes |
Salesforce & HubSpot |
Free tier; from $12/user/month |
|
Outreach |
High-volume outbound teams |
Via platform |
Salesforce & CRMs |
Custom enterprise pricing |
|
Mailbutler |
Mixed email clients |
Yes (+ Outlook, Apple Mail) |
Zapier/manual |
Free trial; from $4.95/user/month |
|
Boomerang |
Timing-focused users |
Yes |
None |
Free (10 emails); from ~$4.99/month |
|
Mailsuite (Mailtrack) |
Basic open tracking |
Gmail only |
None |
Free; Pro from $4.99/month |
Most email tracking platforms insert a tiny, invisible image pixel into each outgoing message. When the recipient’s email client loads the pixel:
If the email contains trackable links or attachments, the software tags those as well. Each click sends a similar ping that records engagement details.
Because the pixel is just a one-pixel image, it adds no weight to your email and is invisible to the reader. If images are blocked, the tool waits until they are enabled or tracks clicks instead, ensuring you still capture meaningful activity.
With these basics covered, let’s compare the top tools that make email tracking easy for freelancers, sales teams, and agencies.
Email tracking turns guesswork into clear, timely action. Here are the biggest advantages teams report once they start using open and click data every day:
Together, these benefits translate into higher reply rates, cleaner pipelines, and a smoother experience for everyone involved.
Below are five popular options you can use without spending a cent. Each list shows what you get, who benefits most, and one watch-out to keep in mind.
HubSpot Sales Tools
Mailsuite (formerly Mailtrack)
Lavender Free
Yesware Free
Cirrus Insight stands out because it helps sales teams:
Try Cirrus Insight free for two weeks and compare your results side-by-side with the tools above. Most users see faster replies within the first day.
If we haven’t answered all of your questions above, here are some of the most common questions you might still be asking yourself.
Install an email tracking add-on (for example, Cirrus Insight, Yesware, or Mailsuite). The tool inserts a one-pixel image into each message. When the recipient’s client loads that pixel, or clicks a tracked link, the server records the action and sends you a real-time alert.
For basic open alerts, Mailsuite’s free Chrome extension is a solid starter. If you need opens, clicks, templates, scheduling, and automatic Salesforce logging, users often graduate to Cirrus Insight because it stays inside Gmail and keeps CRM data clean.
Email tracking is legal in most regions, but you must follow privacy regulations. Add a clear disclosure to your emails or privacy policy, respect unsubscribe requests, and avoid collecting sensitive personal data without consent (GDPR, CCPA, and similar laws apply).
Native Salesforce email sends can show basic read receipts. Most teams add a mailbox plug-in such as Cirrus Insight or Yesware so every open, click, or attachment view is logged automatically to Leads, Contacts, or custom objects, with no manual entry required.
Reliability depends on your workflow. Mailsuite is dependable for simple opens, while Cirrus Insight and Yesware are trusted for enterprise-grade accuracy, deeper analytics, and CRM sync.
You can start at no cost with:
All of them let you test tracking without entering a credit card, so you can compare results before upgrading.
Email tracking software helps sales teams see when prospects open, click, or reply to emails so they can follow up based on real engagement instead of assumptions.
The best email tracking software combines engagement tracking with CRM data and actionable insights. For Salesforce-based teams, Cirrus Insight is often considered a top choice because it connects email activity directly to pipeline and follow-ups inside the inbox.
Email tracking software helps reps prioritize engaged prospects, time outreach correctly, and personalize follow-ups, which leads to higher response rates and faster deal cycles.
Sales email tracking software should include open and click tracking, CRM syncing, real-time notifications, and visibility into engagement across accounts and opportunities
Yes, email tracking software focuses on monitoring and acting on email engagement, while sales engagement platforms typically center around sequences and outbound automation that include tracking as one component.
Many tools offer Salesforce integrations, but the most effective solutions are built specifically for Salesforce workflows. Cirrus Insight automatically logs emails and meetings while surfacing Salesforce context directly in Gmail and Outlook
Yes, small teams benefit by knowing which prospects are engaged and where to focus limited time. Inbox-native tools are especially effective because they’re easy to adopt without complex setup.