Gmail hides some features — the Settings tab and Labs tab. Others are created by third-party developers. Third-party apps will have full access to your email content.
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These are 12 ways you can customize Gmail or transform it completely.
Send or read messages you have scheduled to be sent later
1. You can schedule messages. You can send as many pre-scheduled messages as you like per month, starting at $5 per month.
You can also run scripts on your own in Google Sheets for the same purposes.
2. Snooze emails. You can schedule emails to appear in your inbox at a later time. Gmail Snoozy Chrome extension can remind you.
3. Send stock responses. You can save even more time by creating canned messages using Gmail’s Labs feature.
4. Check to see if your email has been read. How many times have the words “Sorry!” been used? Have you ever heard the “Sorry! Chrome extensions Bananatag email tracking, Sidekick, and Intelliverse email tracker can help you determine when your email was opened.
You can also send a backdate email in Gmail with some settings. Also check were when someone opened them.
Each of these services offers a limited number email tracking that is free for a few emails.
5. Your emails will explode. Delicious, a link-sharing site, just released Dmail, a Chrome extension that causes your emails to self-destruct. Google ( GOOGL), recently updated Gmail with an Undo Send button, which allows you to rescind an existing email.
6. Create a list of tasks. Remember the Milk will install a checklist right on your Gmail Chrome or Firefox browsers. Turn messages into tasks and link your to-do lists to Google Calendars or contacts.
Todoist organizes your tasks in chronological order. You can also add emails to your task list, assign tasks to others, and receive progress updates. The plug-in also has a mobile version so that you can access it from any device.
7. Make appointments. Gmail Labs offers a feature that pulls your Google Calendar right next to your inbox. This makes it easy to schedule appointments.
8. All your mail is available in one place. Labs offer a convenient way to view multiple email accounts simultaneously.
9. You can work offline. Gmail Offline, a Google app, allows you to read and respond to messages offline. This allows you to work uninterrupted and defer new updates until you are ready.
10. Checker Plus provides quick notifications. It shows how many email accounts you have, without you having to open a browser or switch windows. The pop-up notifications allow you to reply directly.
11. Gmail will text you. AwayFind, a paid service, promises to stop you from checking your inbox constantly. Instead, the app can be set to text or call you only if someone contacts you.
12. Your one-stop-shop. Inbox, Google’s latest solution to most of these email problems, is now available. You can add tasks, snooze, and have a simple layout with photos of contacts and message previews.
