Helpwise<\/a> is customer service software designed specifically for business communication. In Helpwise, you can manage customer emails, maintain omnichannel inboxes, get advanced insights into your customer service performance, and more. <\/p>\n\n\n\nContrary to the aforementioned platforms, Helpwise doesn\u2019t offer its own email hosting but connects to your chosen email service provider (that is Gmail or Outlook) <\/em>to provide extended customer service functionalities that you won\u2019t find in a classic email provider.<\/p>\n\n\n\nImportant:<\/strong> With Helpwise, you can access critical customer service functionality, including automation rules and auto-assignment in a forever-free plan. And if you don\u2019t use business email accounts of Gmail or Outlook, you can run your business communication with Helpwise completely free of charge. <\/p>\n\n\n\nHelpwise functionality<\/h3>\n\n\n\n Helpwise is more than a typical email service. Its features include:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\nOmnichannel inboxes<\/strong> for managing customer communications across multiple platforms such as Gmail, Outlook, Instagram, WhatsApp, and others <\/li>\n\n\n\nSelf-serve help center <\/strong>for sharing knowledge with customers<\/li>\n\n\n\nForms and CSAT surveys <\/strong>for gathering sales leads, collecting customer feedback, and other forms of customer data<\/li>\n\n\n\nAutomation workflows<\/strong> for handling repetitive processes automatically<\/li>\n\n\n\nData analytics and reporting<\/strong> for monitoring customer service performance across channels<\/li>\n\n\n\nLive chat and rule-based conversations<\/strong> for supporting your customers in real-time, day and night<\/li>\n\n\n\nVoIP call system<\/strong> for seamless call recording, call forwarding, waiting, and conferencing<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\nHelpwise focuses on enabling teamwork with each of its features. A <\/strong>shared inbox<\/strong> is one example of collaboration made easier in Helpwise. The feature allows multiple team members to access and work on the same email inbox simultaneously, without worrying about duplicate responses or conflicting actions. You can also assign emails to specific team members, add notes, and see who is working on which email.<\/p>\n\n\n\nHelpwise pricing<\/h3>\n\n\n\n Helpwise is a paid tool with a 7-day free trial. Its pricing plans start at $15\/user\/month. You can save 20% off the package cost by selecting an annual subscription:<\/p>\n\n\n\nHelpwise pricing plans, if billed annually<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\nUsers get access to automation rules, a shared email inbox, live chat capabilities, task management, and other collaboration features in all plans. Advanced features like VoIP phone integration, advanced security measures, and forms are accessible in the Premium plan and higher.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
6 Advantages of using Helpwise for business communication<\/h3>\n\n\n\n\nA comprehensive toolkit for sales and customer service teams<\/li>\n\n\n\n Easy team collaboration through collaborative inboxes<\/li>\n\n\n\n Workflow automation<\/li>\n\n\n\n Team email performance insights through analytics and reporting<\/li>\n\n\n\n Multichannel customer communication<\/li>\n\n\n\n Live chat and chatbot functionality for real-time customer service and support<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n6 Drawbacks of using Helpwise for business communication<\/h3>\n\n\n\n\nTo have a custom email address, businesses still need to pay for a basic subscription in Gmail or Outlook<\/li>\n\n\n\n No forever-free plan<\/li>\n\n\n\n Advanced security measures applied only in the Enterprise plan<\/li>\n\n\n\n No desktop app for email management<\/li>\n\n\n\n Limited email design customization opportunities<\/li>\n\n\n\n Chatbot is only available as an add-on and comes at an extra cost<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\nSide-by-Side Comparison: Gmail vs Outlook vs Helpwise<\/h2>\n\n\n\n Each of these platforms is a reliable email service provider. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Gmail and Outlook offer stable email delivery and hassle-free team management with affordable pricing tags. Gmail\u2019s modern interface makes it a beginner-friendly business communication tool while Outlook\u2019s advanced features and automation capabilities definitely outperform Gmail\u2019s.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
On the other hand, Helpwise provides advanced collaboration and shared inbox capabilities designed specifically for customer service teams. Additionally, Helpwise stands out with its advanced automation and customer service functions, as well as its ability to handle multichannel communication. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<\/td> Outlook<\/strong><\/td>Gmail <\/strong><\/td>Helpwise<\/strong><\/td><\/tr>Free plan<\/strong><\/td>Yes, for non-business use<\/td> Yes, for non-business use<\/td> No<\/td><\/tr> Ease of use<\/strong><\/td>Medium<\/td> Easy<\/td> Easy<\/td><\/tr> Email management<\/strong><\/td>Yes<\/td> Yes<\/td> Yes<\/td><\/tr> Email hosting<\/strong><\/td>Yes<\/td> Yes<\/td> No<\/td><\/tr> Omnichannel communications<\/strong><\/td>No<\/td> No<\/td> Yes<\/td><\/tr> Collaboration<\/strong><\/td>Yes<\/td> Yes<\/td> Yes<\/td><\/tr> Shared mailbox<\/strong><\/td>Yes<\/td> No<\/td> Yes, with advanced collaboration features<\/td><\/tr> Ticketing & routing<\/strong><\/td>No<\/td> No<\/td> Yes<\/td><\/tr> Analytics & reporting<\/strong><\/td>Limited<\/td> No<\/td> Yes<\/td><\/tr> Automation<\/strong><\/td>Limited<\/td> Limited<\/td> Advanced<\/td><\/tr> Integrations<\/strong><\/td>Yes<\/td> Yes<\/td> Yes<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\nIt\u2019s time to choose the right platform for business communication. Before you make a decision, consider the following factors: <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\nFunctionality requirements.<\/strong> What features does your business require? Do you need a platform that allows for seamless collaboration among team members? Are you looking for a platform that can handle high volumes of emails and customer inquiries? Do you manage omnichannel communications? Think about what features are most important to your business and check for the necessary functionality in each of these three platforms.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n\nCompatibility with your business toolkit. <\/strong>If you already have business tools in your tech stack (e.g. a CRM system, team communication platform, etc.), make sure your email software is compatible with it. For instance, Gmail and Outlook have a wide range of native apps, but Helpwise may be a better alternative to Outlook and Gmail in terms of third-party integrations.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n\nCost and value for money.<\/strong> The pricing for Gmail, Outlook, and Helpwise doesn\u2019t differ much at first sight. However, each platform sets different limits in similar pricing tiers and gives access to a different range of tools. <\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n\nScalability.<\/strong> As your business grows, your requirements for the communication platform may change. Where do you see your customer service team by the end of the year? Choose a platform that supports your ambitions and allows you to scale without breaking the bank.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\nSumming up, each platform is good for a specific use case. Here\u2019s our recommendation if you need one<\/em>:<\/p>\n\n\n\n\nGmail for Business <\/strong>is a solid solution for small or very young businesses that haven\u2019t built a large customer base yet. Since it\u2019s easy to transfer customer data to a more sophisticated solution as your business grows, Gmail is a good place to start.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n\nBoth Helpwise<\/strong> and Outlook<\/strong> are great for businesses of all sizes with more complex business communication needs. Outlook offers robust email and calendar automation capabilities, while Helpwise automation workflows and shared inboxes help teams reduce manual tasks and streamline their communication.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n\nHelpwise<\/strong> is the best choice if you\u2019re looking to handle a high volume of customer inquiries across multiple channels through an intuitive interface. <\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\nConclusion<\/h2>\n\n\n\n Choosing the right platform is critical to the success of customer service. It can make or break your customer communications and team collaboration. So, take your time, do your research, and test out different options to make an informed decision.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
After a thorough review of all three platforms, we can conclude that Gmail for Business may be the best email platform for small businesses with simple communication needs for its affordable pricing and easy-to-use interface. Businesses facing larger volumes of customer inquiries will benefit more from the advanced features of Outlook or Helpwise.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This is a rough summary of our detailed review, but the final decision is yours. Request a free demo<\/a> of Helpwise today to learn more about the platform and discover how it will boost your customer service performance.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"In today\u2019s highly competitive market, a business communication platform needs to cover more than basic email-sending functionality. It should combine a messaging app, team management capabilities, and automation software in…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":6,"featured_media":881,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[1],"tags":[46,52,51],"powerkit_post_featured":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/helpwise.io\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/Gmail-vs-Outlook-vs-Helpwise_-Side-by-Side-Comparison.jpg","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/helpwise.io\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/644"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/helpwise.io\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/helpwise.io\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/helpwise.io\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/6"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/helpwise.io\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=644"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/helpwise.io\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/644\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":892,"href":"https:\/\/helpwise.io\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/644\/revisions\/892"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/helpwise.io\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/881"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/helpwise.io\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=644"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/helpwise.io\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=644"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/helpwise.io\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=644"},{"taxonomy":"powerkit_post_featured","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/helpwise.io\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/powerkit_post_featured?post=644"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}
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