An honest comparison
A Hiver alternative that isn't tied to Gmail
Hiver turns Gmail itself into a shared inbox — clever if your whole team lives in Gmail and always will. Bosun is a separate inbox that works with any mail host.
Where Hiver wins
- Lives inside Gmail — zero new UI for Gmail teams
- SLAs, CSAT surveys and analytics on higher tiers
- Automations and round-robin assignment
- Phone and chat channels on top plans
Where Bosun wins
- Works with Microsoft 365, cPanel, any host — not just Google
- One flat £39 vs per-user pricing that doubles at each tier
- No assignment ceremony — presence replaces it
- Your team’s personal Gmail stays personal
| Feature | Bosun | Hiver |
|---|---|---|
| Price for 5 people | £39/month flat | From ~£95/month, rising per tier |
| Mail host | Any — forwarding-based | Google Workspace only |
| Where you work | Bosun’s own inbox | Inside Gmail |
| Assignment | None — deliberate | Owner per conversation, round-robin |
| SLAs / CSAT | None | On Pro and Elite tiers |
Hiver pricing as published August 2026.
The honest bottom line.
All-Gmail team that wants assignment and SLAs? Hiver fits. On Microsoft or mixed
hosts, or allergic to per-seat maths — that's Bosun.