Connecting your email to HubSpot is one of the first and most critical steps to turning your CRM into a true productivity hub. Whether you're in sales, marketing, or customer success, syncing your inbox with HubSpot ensures that every conversation is tracked, every follow-up is automated, and no opportunity falls through the cracks.
This article breaks down how to connect your email to HubSpot and why it matters for your business, in a friendly, easy-to-follow format.
Let’s start with the why.
When your email isn’t connected, your CRM is flying blind. Your reps might be having amazing conversations with leads—but none of that data lives in HubSpot. You’re missing out on:
Automatic logging of emails to contacts, companies, and deals
The ability to send tracked and templated emails directly from the CRM
Real-time open and click tracking
Shared visibility across teams for better collaboration
Triggering workflows and sequences based on replies
In short, connecting your inbox to HubSpot turns your CRM into a source of truth for all customer communication.
📌 According to HubSpot's own guide, connected emails can increase sales productivity by up to 25%.
You can connect your email in two main ways:
Personal email (Gmail, Outlook, etc.) via OAuth
Team email (shared inboxes like support@ or sales@)
If you’re using Google Workspace or Microsoft 365, HubSpot offers native integrations that take less than 2 minutes.
🔗 See full compatibility list here
Log in to your HubSpot account.
Click on the gear icon (⚙️) in the top-right corner.
Go to General > Email > Connect Personal Email.
Choose your provider (Gmail, Outlook, IMAP).
Authenticate via the login window that pops up.
HubSpot does not store your email password—it uses a secure OAuth token system. Your data remains private and encrypted.
Once connected, adjust your preferences:
Enable open & click tracking
Choose whether to log emails automatically to contacts
Set default behavior for attachments and calendar sync
These controls live under Settings > Email > Tracking & Logging.
🧠 Pro Tip: You can also set custom BCC or forwarding rules if you're not ready to integrate directly.
Send a test email from HubSpot using the "Compose" button in the CRM. Verify that:
It shows in your Sent folder of your email provider
It appears on the Contact Timeline in HubSpot
Email tracking works (open/click notifications)
Team inboxes allow your entire team to reply from one shared email (e.g., support@company.com) with full visibility. To connect:
Go to Settings > Inbox > Inboxes.
Click Connect Inbox.
Follow the same OAuth or IMAP steps.
This is especially useful for support and account management teams.
Let’s take an example from our own practice at CRM Magnetics: one B2B SaaS client had 7 reps emailing leads manually from Gmail. When we connected their inboxes to HubSpot, they instantly:
Increased tracked conversations by 74%
Improved response time using automated sequences
Reduced lead leakage thanks to logged interactions
The result? A 23% lift in pipeline conversion in 60 days.
Connecting your email to HubSpot isn’t just a checkbox—it’s a strategic move. It lays the groundwork for automation, personalization, and cross-team collaboration. Without it, you’re operating blind in an increasingly competitive, data-driven landscape.
Take 5 minutes to connect your inbox. Your future self—and your CRM—will thank you.
At CRM Magnetics, we help companies design and implement custom objects that align with their workflows, reporting needs, and long-term growth.
Get in touch if you're ready to turn HubSpot into a CRM that mirrors your business — not the other way around.