Best free email tracking
for Gmail (2026)
Four tools people actually use — EmailSavy, Mailtrack, Streak and Yesware — compared on what matters: accurate opens after Apple MPP, clicks, replies, and price.
Last updated: June 2026 · by the EmailSavy team
How we picked
Read receipts are easy. What's hard in 2026 is trustworthy tracking — numbers that survive blocked images and don't get inflated by Apple's Mail Privacy Protection pre-loading your pixels. We weighed each tool on accuracy, what it tracks (opens, clicks, replies), how usable the free tier is, and price. We build EmailSavy, so we've put our reasoning on the table and been fair to the alternatives.
At a glance
| Feature | EmailSavy | Mailtrack | Streak | Yesware |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Open tracking in Gmail | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Works when images blocked | 4 signals | Pixel | Pixel | Pixel |
| Honest post-MPP open scoring | Yes | No | No | No |
| Click tracking | Yes (Pro) | Paid tiers | Yes | Yes |
| Reply detection | Yes | Limited | Yes | Yes |
| Works without extension | Paste-a-pixel | No | No | No |
| Built-in CRM | No (focused tracker) | No | Yes | Sales tools |
| Free tier | 50/mo, no branding tax | Yes, adds branding | Limited free CRM | Trial only |
| Entry paid price | ₹99/mo (~$1.20) | ~$5–10/mo | ~$15+/mo | ~$15+/mo |
Competitor pricing and features change frequently — figures are approximate and for orientation only. Confirm current details on each vendor's own site (mailtrack.io, streak.com, yesware.com) before deciding.
The shortlist
1. EmailSavy BEST OVERALL & BEST FREE
EmailSavy is built for people who act on the data, not just glance at a read receipt. Its 4-signal tracking (pixel + CSS + stealth + font) keeps working when a recipient blocks images, and it's the only tool here that de-weights Apple proxy opens so your engagement score reflects real human attention. It tracks clicks and replies too, and even works without the extension via paste-a-pixel mode.
- 4 signals survive image blockers
- Honest scoring after Apple MPP
- Opens + clicks + replies + engagement score
- Free forever (50/mo), Pro just ₹99/mo
- Works without the extension
- Not a full CRM (by design)
- Newer than the incumbents
Best for: founders, salespeople and freelancers who want accurate, full-funnel tracking cheaply. Start free →
2. Mailtrack
The simplest, most popular read-receipt tool for Gmail — double check-marks that tell you an email was opened. It's clean, reliable and easy for anyone to understand. The free tier adds Mailtrack branding to your emails, and it focuses on opens rather than the full open/click/reply/accuracy picture.
- Dead-simple, very popular
- Reliable read receipts
- Has a free tier
- Free tier brands your emails
- Counts Apple proxy opens as opens
- Pixel-only; image blocks hide opens
Best for: people who only want a plain read receipt in Gmail.
3. Streak
Streak is a full CRM that lives inside Gmail, with email tracking as one feature among pipelines, contacts and deal management. If you want to run sales right from your inbox, it's excellent. It's heavier and pricier than a focused tracker, and like the others it counts proxy opens at face value.
- Real CRM inside Gmail
- Pipelines, contacts, deals
- Click and reply tracking
- Overkill if you only want tracking
- Pricier entry tier
- No post-MPP accuracy handling
Best for: teams who want a Gmail-native CRM, not just a tracker.
4. Yesware
Yesware is a sales-engagement toolkit — tracking, templates, sequences and reporting aimed at sales teams. Capable and mature, but priced for teams and more than most individuals need. Like the others, it doesn't single out Apple proxy opens.
- Strong sales-team features
- Templates and sequences
- Good reporting
- Team pricing, not for solo users
- Heavier than a simple tracker
- No post-MPP accuracy handling
Best for: established sales teams that want an all-in-one engagement suite.
Our verdict
If you want a plain read receipt, Mailtrack is fine. If you want a CRM in your inbox, Streak; for a sales team, Yesware. But for the most accurate, most honest tracking — opens that survive image blocks, an engagement score that isn't inflated by Apple proxy opens, plus clicks and replies — at the lowest price, EmailSavy is our pick, and it's free to start.
Frequently asked questions
For accuracy and value, EmailSavy: free for 50 emails/mo, 4-signal tracking that survives image blocks, and honest open scoring after Apple MPP. Mailtrack is the simplest, Streak is best for a CRM, Yesware for sales teams.
Apple pre-loads pixels through a proxy, so tools see an "open" even when no human opened the email. Tools that count those as real opens report inflated numbers. EmailSavy detects and de-weights likely proxy opens.
Yes. EmailSavy is free forever for 50 tracked emails/mo with reply detection and multi-signal tracking. Mailtrack also has a free tier, but it adds its branding to your emails.
Streak is mainly a CRM inside Gmail, with tracking as one feature. Great if you want pipelines in your inbox; for focused, accurate tracking a tool like EmailSavy is lighter and cheaper.
Single-pixel trackers stop when images are blocked. EmailSavy uses four signals (pixel, CSS, stealth element, web font), so if one is blocked the others can still report a real open.
Start tracking honestly — free
50 tracked emails a month, forever. No credit card. Pro is ₹99/mo whenever you want unlimited tracking and clicks.