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Introduction

Front has become an undisputed leader in the shared inbox management market. With its advanced features and elegant interface, Front has won over many large enterprises. However, for small teams, Front can represent too significant an investment: starting at 59€ per user per month, the cost quickly becomes prohibitive for a 10-person team.

Additionally, Front is designed for complex organizations with many needs: multiple integrations, sophisticated workflows, advanced automation. If your team simply needs to manage a shared inbox efficiently, Front can be too complex.

Fortunately, there are now excellent alternatives that perfectly meet the needs of small teams: simple, affordable, and effective. In this article, we present 5 solutions worth your attention.

Why Look for a Front Alternative?

1. Prohibitive Cost

Front starts at 59€ per user per month with a minimum of 2 users. For a 10-person team, this represents 590€ per month, or over 7,000€ per year. For a small business, this budget is often difficult to justify, especially if you only use a fraction of the features.

2. Complexity

Front is a powerful platform with many features: automation, complex rules, multiple integrations. If your team simply needs to manage a shared inbox, this complexity can become a hindrance rather than an advantage. Your team members risk wasting time understanding the system rather than responding to customers.

3. Steep Learning Curve

While Front offers comprehensive training resources, the platform requires time to master. For small teams that need to get started quickly, this can be a significant barrier.

The 5 Best Front Alternatives for Small Teams

1. Clearbox: Simple and Affordable Solution

Price: Starting at 19€ per user/month

Strengths:

✅ Ultra-simple interface, no training needed
✅ English support, developed by an international team
✅ 3x cheaper than Front
✅ 5-minute setup
✅ Perfect for teams of 5 to 50 people

Weaknesses:

❌ Fewer integrations than Front (but covers 90% of needs)
❌ No advanced automation (in development)

For whom: Small teams looking for a simple, affordable, and effective solution to manage their shared emails without unnecessary complexity.

2. Help Scout: Great for Customer Support

Price: Starting at 25€ per user/month

Strengths:

✅ Excellent for customer support
✅ Good integration with support tools
✅ Strong reporting and analytics

Weaknesses:

❌ Less suited for internal team emails
❌ Less intuitive interface than Clearbox
❌ More expensive than Clearbox

For whom: Customer support teams that need advanced ticketing features.

3. Missive: Complete Solution but More Complex

Price: Starting at 14€ per user/month

Strengths:

✅ Good value for money
✅ Email, chat, and calendar management
✅ Many integrations

Weaknesses:

❌ More cluttered interface, steeper learning curve
❌ Can be too complex for simple needs

For whom: Teams that need to manage emails, chat, and calendar in a single platform.

4. Hiver: Simple but Limited

Price: Starting at 15€ per user/month

Strengths:

✅ Simple interface
✅ Affordable price
✅ Good Gmail integration

Weaknesses:

❌ Limited features
❌ Fewer collaborative features

For whom: Small teams that primarily use Gmail and have simple needs.

5. Zendesk: Powerful but Too Complex for Small Teams

Price: Starting at 55€ per user/month

Strengths:

✅ Very comprehensive platform
✅ Many features
✅ Good reputation

Weaknesses:

❌ Almost as expensive as Front
❌ Very complex, requires training
❌ Overkill for most small teams

For whom: Large enterprises with complex customer support needs.

Comparison Table

Why Clearbox is the Best Alternative for Small Teams

1. Absolute Simplicity

Clearbox was designed with a simple principle: no training needed. The interface is intuitive to the point where your team members can start using it immediately. No complex menus, no workflows to learn, just efficient shared email management.

2. Affordable Pricing

At 19€ per user per month, Clearbox costs 3 times less than Front. For a 10-person team, this represents savings of over 4,800€ per year. A budget you can reinvest in other priorities for your business.

3. Quick Setup

Unlike Front, which often requires several hours of setup, Clearbox can be configured in less than 5 minutes. Connect your inbox, invite your team members, and you're ready to go!

4. Perfectly Suited for Small Teams

Clearbox is designed specifically for the needs of small teams. No superfluous features that complicate use, just what you need to efficiently manage your team emails.

How to Migrate from Front to Clearbox?

If you're currently using Front and want to migrate to Clearbox, here are the steps:

Export your emails: Most emails remain in your original inbox, so no complex export needed.
Create your Clearbox account: Sign up for a 14-day free trial.
Connect your inbox: Add your shared email address (support@, contact@, etc.).
Invite your team: Add your team members in a few clicks.
Start using: Your emails are already there, ready to be managed by your team.

The migration is simple and quick. No service interruption, no data loss. You can even test Clearbox in parallel with Front for a few days before making the definitive switch.

FAQ

What is the main difference between Front and Clearbox?

Front is designed for large enterprises with complex needs (advanced automation, numerous integrations, sophisticated workflows). Clearbox is designed for small teams that simply need to efficiently manage a shared inbox, without unnecessary complexity.

Can I import my data from Front to Clearbox?

Your emails remain in your original inbox (Gmail, Outlook, etc.), so no complex import needed. Clearbox connects directly to your existing inbox.

Does Clearbox work with Gmail and Outlook?

Yes, Clearbox works with Gmail, Outlook, and most email providers. Setup takes just a few clicks.

How much does Clearbox really cost compared to Front?

For a 10-person team:

Front: 590€/month (7,080€/year)
Clearbox: 190€/month (2,280€/year)
Savings: 4,800€ per year

Is there a free trial?

Yes, Clearbox offers a 14-day free trial, no credit card required. You can test all features before committing.

Conclusion

Front is an excellent solution, but it's not suited for all businesses. For small teams looking for a simple, affordable, and effective solution to manage their team emails, Clearbox represents an ideal alternative.

At 3 times cheaper than Front, with an ultra-simple interface, Clearbox allows you to efficiently manage your shared emails without breaking the bank or wasting time on training.

Ready to try Clearbox? Start your 14-day free trial today. No credit card required, 5-minute setup.

Start free trial