The most-used recipe
Gmail
Communication
DeskFerry agent
Send message when new message received
Runs on its own
Slack
Communication
Popular workflows
What you can automate between Gmail and Slack
These are the most popular automations teams set up between Gmail and Slack. Each one runs automatically once activated — no manual steps.
Send message when new message received
Post a message to a channel automatically when a new message arrives in a channel.
Send message when new message received
Post a message to a channel automatically when a new message arrives in a channel.
Sync Gmail changes to Slack
Keep Slack updated when someone mentions you or your team.
Get Gmail alerts for Slack
Never miss important Slack updates with instant Gmail notifications.
How data flows
What syncs between Gmail and Slack
Messages from Gmail are forwarded to Slack in real-time, preserving the sender name, content, and any attachments. Keep both platforms in sync without switching between them.
Data from Gmail
- Messages
- Channel posts
- Mentions
- Thread replies
- File attachments
Data from Slack
- Messages
- Channel posts
- Mentions
- Thread replies
- File attachments
Step-by-step guide
How to connect Gmail to Slack
Follow these steps to set up your integration. The entire process takes under 5 minutes.
What you'll need
- An active Gmail account with permission to install apps
- An active Slack account with permission to install apps
- A free DeskFerry account (sign up takes 30 seconds)
- Step 01
Create your DeskFerry account
Sign up at deskferry.app — it takes 30 seconds and starts a 7-day free trial. You'll land on the dashboard where you can create your first workflow.
- Step 02
Authenticate Gmail
Click "Add Connection" and select Gmail from the app directory. You'll be redirected to Gmail's authorization page. Grant DeskFerry permission to read and post messages in your selected channels. You control which channels the integration can access.
- Step 03
Authenticate Slack
Same process for Slack. Click "Add Connection," select Slack, and authorize access. Grant DeskFerry permission to read and post messages in your selected channels. You control which channels the integration can access.
- Step 04
Choose your trigger
Select what event starts the workflow. For this integration, popular triggers include: new message received in gmail or new message received in slack. The trigger fires automatically whenever that event happens — no manual intervention.
- Step 05
Configure the action
Define what happens when the trigger fires. For example: send message in slack. Map the data fields between Gmail and Slack so the right information lands in the right place.
- Step 06
Test and activate
Run a test to confirm data flows correctly between Gmail and Slack. Check that the fields map as expected, then toggle the workflow on. It runs 24/7 from here — DeskFerry handles retries, error logging, and monitoring automatically.
Benefits
Why connect Gmail and Slack?
Manually moving data between Gmail and Slack is error-prone and eats into your team's productive hours. Connecting them through DeskFerry eliminates that overhead — events in one app trigger actions in the other automatically.
Tips
Tips for your Gmail + Slack integration
Get more out of this integration with these best practices.
Use cases
Who uses the Gmail + Slack integration?
Teams across industries connect Gmail and Slack to streamline their workflows.
Team leads managing multiple channels who need Gmail and Slack in sync
Cross-functional squads consolidating their communication stack
IT admins consolidating tools eliminating duplicate work across platforms
FAQ
Frequently asked questions
How do I connect Gmail to Slack?
Sign up for a free DeskFerry account, then click "Add Connection" to authenticate both Gmail and Slack via OAuth. Choose a workflow template — like syncing communication events to communication actions — customize the field mapping, and activate. The entire setup takes under 5 minutes.
What can I automate between Gmail and Slack?
You can automate a wide range of workflows: sync new Gmail events to Slack actions, trigger Slack updates when Gmail data changes, create Slack records from Gmail events, and build conditional workflows with filters and field mapping. Each workflow runs 24/7 with automatic retries.
Is the Gmail and Slack integration free?
DeskFerry's 7-day free trial is enough to prove the workflow out. If your Gmail-to-Slack workflows need more volume, paid plans start at $49/month with unlimited workflows and priority execution.
Is my Gmail data secure when connected to Slack?
Yes. DeskFerry uses OAuth 2.0 for authentication — we never store your Gmail or Slack passwords. All data is encrypted in transit (TLS 1.3) and at rest (AES-256). Your communication data is only accessed when a workflow runs, and you can revoke access at any time from your DeskFerry dashboard.
Can I sync data both ways between Gmail and Slack?
Yes. You can set up workflows that trigger from either Gmail or Slack. For example, create a workflow where Gmail events update Slack, and a separate one where Slack changes sync back to Gmail. Each direction is configured independently so you have full control.
Do I need technical skills to connect Gmail and Slack?
No coding is required. DeskFerry's builder is prompt-based: you describe the trigger and what should happen in plain English, and the agent handles the field mapping. If you can use Gmail and Slack, you can set up the integration. Most users are running their first workflow within 10 minutes.
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Similar integrations
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Automate Gmail + Slack
7-day free trial. Works with the tools you already use.