Inbox by Gmail - a new email app that works for you for iOS

Inbox by Gmail organizes your email chronologically or by topic for efficient handling. Inbox also lets you set reminders and snooze your messages for later viewing. To use Inbox for Gmail, for now you must request an invitation from Google.

Pros

Helpful introductory video: After you install Inbox for Gmail, the app emails you a link to a YouTube video demonstrating how to make the most of Inbox's many features.

Search email chronologically: In Inbox, your messages are grouped under chronological headings: Today, Yesterday, and This Month. Messages from previous months are sectioned off by the month and year you received them, and anything over a year old is placed under Earlier.

Searh email by topic: Click the main menu tab to see messages bundled by topic under Promos, Social, Purchases, Finance, and Travel. You can add your own labels, too. During testing, the app accurately divided all messages into correct categories.

Email management: When looking at your email, you can mark each as done by clicking and dragging to the right. To snooze a message for later handling, click and drag to the left. You can also click the check mark in the top right of the email to mark all the messages in that time period as done, which sends them to the Done folder for access via the side menu. You can also trash or mark messages as spam by clicking the three vertical dots button. After opening an email, you can pin it for later viewing -- just swipe the pin from left to right up top to see your pinned messages.

Snoozing: You can snooze email until Later Today at 6pm, Tomorrow at 8am, Next Week at 8am, Someday, or at an assigned date and time. You can also make the message pop up when you reach a particular location by clicking Pick Place and enabling Location Services.

Reminders: Create a reminder by pressing the finger with the string around it, and then select the Call, Email, Meet, Check In, Make Reservation, Return, or Cancel Reservation tabs. Autofill suggestions will appear from contacts or for types of check-in and reservation. You can also pin reminders to the top of your inbox for easy viewing or snooze them for a later time or a later location.

+ button: Press the + button on the bottom right of the Inbox page to compose email, set reminders, or email your most recent recipients.

Cons

Invite only: Inbox by Gmail requires an invitation.

Learning curve: You may initially feel confused upon launching feature-rich Inbox for Gmail. Fortunately, there's the YouTube video introduction, as well as an extensive Help section at the bottom of the main menu.

Bottom Line

If you feel overwhelmed each time you check your cluttered inbox, then Inbox by Gmail will streamline your email for easy viewing and handling. You can also set reminders for tackling less immediate things later.