If you’re running a small business, email is still one of your most important tools. It’s where leads come in, clients get updates, and deals close. But if your inbox is chaotic, you’re losing time and money. That’s where email tools like Mailbutler and Missive come in. Both platforms promise to streamline your workflow, improve communication, and save you hours every week. But which one actually fits your business?
This post breaks it all down so you can choose the one that makes the most sense for where you are and where you’re going.
What Small Businesses Need in Email Tools
Before jumping into features, let’s be clear on what you should be looking for as a small business owner:
- Easy setup. You don’t have time to learn complex systems.
- Smart automation. You want to work less, not more.
- Collaboration (if you have a team).
- Affordability. Every dollar counts when you’re growing.
Now, let’s look at how Mailbutler and Missive stack up against those needs.
Mailbutler: Lightweight but Smart
Mailbutler is a plugin that enhances your existing email client. That means if you’re already using Gmail, Outlook, or Apple Mail, Mailbutler adds features on top without making you change platforms.
Best For:
Solo founders, freelancers, or very small teams that rely on email for day-to-day communication.
Key Features:
- Email Tracking: See when your emails are opened and how often they are opened.
- Send Later: Schedule emails to hit inboxes at the perfect time.
- Follow-up Reminders: Never forget to follow up again.
- Email Templates and Signatures: Create branded, repeatable messaging.
- Smart Assistant: Uses AI to summarize long email threads, fix grammar, or write replies.
- Notes and Tasks: Add quick notes or to-dos to any email.
What It’s Missing:
It’s not built for full-on team collaboration. There’s no shared inbox, real-time chat, or project management tools inside the platform. If you’re flying solo or managing a light inbox, you’ll be fine. But if you want your team to collaborate in one space, you may outgrow it.
Pricing:
Starts at $3.95/month. The “Smart” plan is the most popular and hits the sweet spot for most small businesses. There’s also a free trial to test it out.
^You can try it for free and get 15% off with the code charliechangmediaMB.
Missive: Built for Teams and Power Users
Missive is more than an email tool, it’s a full communication hub. It brings email, live chat, WhatsApp, and even social messages into one shared workspace, making it ideal for teams.
Best For:
Businesses with multiple team members handling support, sales, or high email volume.
Key Features:
- Shared Inbox: Everyone sees what’s happening in real time. No confusion or overlap.
- Internal Chat: You can comment within email threads without creating more clutter.
- Collaborative Drafts: Work on email responses together in real-time.
- Task Assignment: Turn emails into to-dos and assign them to team members.
- Integrations: Works with tools like Trello, Asana, Salesforce, and Shopify.
- Multi-Channel: Handle SMS, Facebook, and Instagram DMs in the same place.
What It’s Missing:
Because it’s so powerful, it takes time to learn. It’s not something you master in five minutes. The interface is clean, but the number of features can be a bit much for solopreneurs or non-tech-savvy users.
Pricing:
You only pay for what you use. It starts affordably and scales up with your team’s needs. The flexibility makes it a great long-term option as your business grows.
Head-to-Head Comparison
Which One Should You Choose?
Here’s the bottom line:
Choose Mailbutler if…
- You run a lean business that mostly handles email alone.
- You want to work inside Gmail, Outlook, or Apple Mail without changing your setup.
- You value speed and simplicity and want a plugin you can master quickly.
Choose Missive if…
- You have a growing team and need everyone on the same page.
- You handle communication across multiple channels (email, chat, social).
- You want advanced collaboration, automation, and a central communication hub.
Final Thoughts
If you’re overwhelmed by your inbox, the solution isn’t working harder, it’s using smarter tools. Whether you need a simple email enhancer or a full collaboration platform depends on how your business runs day to day.
Mailbutler is perfect for staying efficient and polished without overcomplicating things. The missive is ideal for fast-paced teams that need to centralize all communication under one roof. Pick the tool that matches your business today, but make sure it can grow with you tomorrow.
