# Gmail CLI for AI Agents

```json
{
  "title": "Gmail CLI for AI Agents",
  "toolkit": "Gmail",
  "toolkit_slug": "gmail",
  "framework": "CLI",
  "framework_slug": "cli",
  "url": "https://composio.dev/toolkits/gmail/framework/cli",
  "markdown_url": "https://composio.dev/toolkits/gmail/framework/cli.md",
  "updated_at": "2026-05-06T08:13:39.350Z"
}
```

## Introduction

CLIs are eating MCPs. The industry is converging on the very same idea. MCPs for all their merit can be token hungry, slow, and unreliable for complex tool chaining. However, coding agents have become incredibly good at working with CLIs, and in fact they are far more comfortable working with CLI tools than MCP.
With Composio's Universal CLI, your coding agents can talk to over 1000+ SaaS applications. With Gmail, agents can read emails, search your inbox, draft messages, manage labels, and organize threads, and more — all without worrying about authentication.
This guide walks you through Composio Universal CLI and explains how you can connect it with coding agents like Claude Code, Codex, OpenCode, etc, for end-to-end Gmail automation.

## Also integrate Gmail with

- [ChatGPT](https://composio.dev/toolkits/gmail/framework/chatgpt)
- [OpenAI Agents SDK](https://composio.dev/toolkits/gmail/framework/open-ai-agents-sdk)
- [Claude Agent SDK](https://composio.dev/toolkits/gmail/framework/claude-agents-sdk)
- [Claude Code](https://composio.dev/toolkits/gmail/framework/claude-code)
- [Claude Cowork](https://composio.dev/toolkits/gmail/framework/claude-cowork)
- [Codex](https://composio.dev/toolkits/gmail/framework/codex)
- [Cursor](https://composio.dev/toolkits/gmail/framework/cursor)
- [VS Code](https://composio.dev/toolkits/gmail/framework/vscode)
- [OpenCode](https://composio.dev/toolkits/gmail/framework/opencode)
- [OpenClaw](https://composio.dev/toolkits/gmail/framework/openclaw)
- [Hermes](https://composio.dev/toolkits/gmail/framework/hermes-agent)
- [Google ADK](https://composio.dev/toolkits/gmail/framework/google-adk)
- [LangChain](https://composio.dev/toolkits/gmail/framework/langchain)
- [Vercel AI SDK](https://composio.dev/toolkits/gmail/framework/ai-sdk)
- [Mastra AI](https://composio.dev/toolkits/gmail/framework/mastra-ai)
- [LlamaIndex](https://composio.dev/toolkits/gmail/framework/llama-index)
- [CrewAI](https://composio.dev/toolkits/gmail/framework/crew-ai)

## TL;DR

The idea behind building the universal CLI is to give agents a single command interface to interact with all your external applications. Here's what you'll get with it:
- Agent-friendly: Coding agents like Claude Code, Codex, and OpenCode can use CLI tools natively — no MCP setup required.
- Authentication handled: Connect once via OAuth or API Key, and all CLI commands work with your credentials automatically.
- Tool discovery: Search, inspect, and execute 20,000+ tools across 1000+ apps from one interface.
- Trigger support: Use triggers to listen for events across your apps, powered by real-time webhooks or polling under the hood.
- Type generation: Generate typed schemas for autocomplete and type safety in your projects.

## Connect Gmail to CLI

### Prerequisites
Install the Composio CLI, authenticate, and initialize your project:

```bash
# Install the Composio CLI
curl -fsSL https://composio.dev/install | bash

# Authenticate with Composio
composio login
```

## What is the Gmail MCP server, and what's possible with it?

The Gmail MCP server is an implementation of the Model Context Protocol that connects your AI agent and assistants like Claude, Cursor, etc directly to your Gmail account. It provides structured and secure access to your email, so your agent can search, read, draft, organize, and even manage contacts in your mailbox—all on your behalf.
- Advanced email search and retrieval: Effortlessly instruct your agent to fetch emails by sender, subject, label, date, or keywords, and even retrieve full message content or threads.
- Automated drafting and sending: Have your agent create new email drafts, craft replies, add CC/BCC, include attachments, and handle threading to streamline communication.
- Smart label and inbox organization: Let the agent create new labels, apply or remove labels from emails, and keep your inbox clutter-free by archiving or moving messages.
- Contact and thread management: Fetch your Gmail contacts, pull entire conversation threads, or download specific attachments to make follow-ups a breeze.
- Email and draft cleanup: Direct your agent to permanently delete emails or drafts, helping you maintain a tidy mailbox with minimal effort.

## Supported Tools

| Tool slug | Name | Description |
|---|---|---|
| `GMAIL_ADD_LABEL_TO_EMAIL` | Modify email labels | Adds and/or removes specified gmail labels for a message; ensure `message id` and all `label ids` are valid (use 'listlabels' for custom label ids). |
| `GMAIL_CREATE_EMAIL_DRAFT` | Create email draft | Creates a gmail email draft, supporting to/cc/bcc, subject, plain/html body (ensure `is html=true` for html), attachments, and threading. |
| `GMAIL_CREATE_LABEL` | Create label | Creates a new label with a unique name in the specified user's gmail account. |
| `GMAIL_DELETE_DRAFT` | Delete Draft | Permanently deletes a specific gmail draft using its id; ensure the draft exists and the user has necessary permissions for the given `user id`. |
| `GMAIL_DELETE_MESSAGE` | Delete message | Permanently deletes a specific email message by its id from a gmail mailbox; for `user id`, use 'me' for the authenticated user or an email address to which the authenticated user has delegated access. |
| `GMAIL_FETCH_EMAILS` | Fetch emails | Fetches a list of email messages from a gmail account, supporting filtering, pagination, and optional full content retrieval. |
| `GMAIL_FETCH_MESSAGE_BY_MESSAGE_ID` | Fetch message by message ID | Fetches a specific email message by its id, provided the `message id` exists and is accessible to the authenticated `user id`. |
| `GMAIL_FETCH_MESSAGE_BY_THREAD_ID` | Fetch Message by Thread ID | Retrieves messages from a gmail thread using its `thread id`, where the thread must be accessible by the specified `user id`. |
| `GMAIL_GET_ATTACHMENT` | Get Gmail attachment | Retrieves a specific attachment by id from a message in a user's gmail mailbox, requiring valid message and attachment ids. |
| `GMAIL_GET_CONTACTS` | Get contacts | Fetches contacts (connections) for the authenticated google account, allowing selection of specific data fields and pagination. |
| `GMAIL_GET_PEOPLE` | Get People | Retrieves either a specific person's details (using `resource name`) or lists 'other contacts' (if `other contacts` is true), with `person fields` specifying the data to return. |
| `GMAIL_GET_PROFILE` | Get Profile | Retrieves key gmail profile information (email address, message/thread totals, history id) for a user. |
| `GMAIL_LIST_DRAFTS` | List drafts | Retrieves a paginated list of email drafts from a user's gmail account. use verbose=true to get full draft details including subject, body, sender, and timestamp. |
| `GMAIL_LIST_LABELS` | List Gmail labels | Retrieves a list of all system and user-created labels for the specified gmail account. |
| `GMAIL_LIST_THREADS` | List threads | Retrieves a list of email threads from a gmail account, identified by `user id` (email address or 'me'), supporting filtering and pagination. |
| `GMAIL_MODIFY_THREAD_LABELS` | Modify thread labels | Adds or removes specified existing label ids from a gmail thread, affecting all its messages; ensure the thread id is valid. |
| `GMAIL_MOVE_TO_TRASH` | Move to Trash | Moves an existing, non-deleted email message to the trash for the specified user. |
| `GMAIL_PATCH_LABEL` | Patch Label | Patches the specified label. |
| `GMAIL_REMOVE_LABEL` | Remove label | Permanently deletes a specific, existing user-created gmail label by its id for a user; cannot delete system labels. |
| `GMAIL_REPLY_TO_THREAD` | Reply to email thread | Sends a reply within a specific gmail thread using the original thread's subject, requiring a valid `thread id` and correctly formatted email addresses. supports attachments via the `attachment` parameter with valid `s3key`, `mimetype`, and `name`. |
| `GMAIL_SEARCH_PEOPLE` | Search People | Searches contacts by matching the query against names, nicknames, emails, phone numbers, and organizations, optionally including 'other contacts'. |
| `GMAIL_SEND_DRAFT` | Send Draft | Sends the specified, existing draft to the recipients in the to, cc, and bcc headers. |
| `GMAIL_SEND_EMAIL` | Send Email | Sends an email via gmail api using the authenticated user's google profile display name, requiring `is html=true` if the body contains html and valid `s3key`, `mimetype`, `name` for any attachment. |

## Supported Triggers

| Trigger slug | Name | Description |
|---|---|---|
| `GMAIL_EMAIL_SENT_TRIGGER` | Email Sent | Triggers when a Gmail message is sent by the authenticated user. It polls the 'SENT' label and emits metadata including sender, recipients, subject, timestamp, and thread ID. |
| `GMAIL_NEW_GMAIL_MESSAGE` | New Gmail Message Received Trigger | Triggers when a new message is received in Gmail. |

## Complete Code

None listed.

## Conclusion

- Try asking your coding agent to perform various Gmail operations
- Explore cross-app workflows by connecting more toolkits
- Set up triggers for real-time automation
- Use composio generate for typed schemas in your projects

## How to build Gmail MCP Agent with another framework

- [ChatGPT](https://composio.dev/toolkits/gmail/framework/chatgpt)
- [OpenAI Agents SDK](https://composio.dev/toolkits/gmail/framework/open-ai-agents-sdk)
- [Claude Agent SDK](https://composio.dev/toolkits/gmail/framework/claude-agents-sdk)
- [Claude Code](https://composio.dev/toolkits/gmail/framework/claude-code)
- [Claude Cowork](https://composio.dev/toolkits/gmail/framework/claude-cowork)
- [Codex](https://composio.dev/toolkits/gmail/framework/codex)
- [Cursor](https://composio.dev/toolkits/gmail/framework/cursor)
- [VS Code](https://composio.dev/toolkits/gmail/framework/vscode)
- [OpenCode](https://composio.dev/toolkits/gmail/framework/opencode)
- [OpenClaw](https://composio.dev/toolkits/gmail/framework/openclaw)
- [Hermes](https://composio.dev/toolkits/gmail/framework/hermes-agent)
- [Google ADK](https://composio.dev/toolkits/gmail/framework/google-adk)
- [LangChain](https://composio.dev/toolkits/gmail/framework/langchain)
- [Vercel AI SDK](https://composio.dev/toolkits/gmail/framework/ai-sdk)
- [Mastra AI](https://composio.dev/toolkits/gmail/framework/mastra-ai)
- [LlamaIndex](https://composio.dev/toolkits/gmail/framework/llama-index)
- [CrewAI](https://composio.dev/toolkits/gmail/framework/crew-ai)

## Related Toolkits

- [Outlook](https://composio.dev/toolkits/outlook) - Outlook is Microsoft's email and calendaring platform for unified communications and scheduling. It helps users stay organized with powerful email, contacts, and calendar management.
- [Slack](https://composio.dev/toolkits/slack) - Slack is a channel-based messaging platform for teams and organizations. It helps people collaborate in real time, share files, and connect all their tools in one place.
- [Gong](https://composio.dev/toolkits/gong) - Gong is a platform for video meetings, call recording, and team collaboration. It helps teams capture conversations, analyze calls, and turn insights into action.
- [Microsoft teams](https://composio.dev/toolkits/microsoft_teams) - Microsoft Teams is a collaboration platform that combines chat, meetings, and file sharing within Microsoft 365. It keeps distributed teams connected and productive through seamless virtual communication.
- [Slackbot](https://composio.dev/toolkits/slackbot) - Slackbot is a conversational automation tool for Slack that handles reminders, notifications, and automated responses. It boosts team productivity by streamlining onboarding, answering FAQs, and managing timely alerts—all right inside Slack.
- [2chat](https://composio.dev/toolkits/_2chat) - 2chat is an API platform for WhatsApp and multichannel text messaging. It streamlines chat automation, group management, and real-time messaging for developers.
- [Agent mail](https://composio.dev/toolkits/agent_mail) - Agent mail provides AI agents with dedicated email inboxes for sending, receiving, and managing emails. It empowers agents to communicate autonomously with people, services, and other agents—no human intervention needed.
- [Basecamp](https://composio.dev/toolkits/basecamp) - Basecamp is a project management and team collaboration tool by 37signals. It helps teams organize tasks, share files, and communicate efficiently in one place.
- [Chatwork](https://composio.dev/toolkits/chatwork) - Chatwork is a team communication platform with group chats, file sharing, and task management. It helps businesses boost collaboration and streamline productivity.
- [Clickmeeting](https://composio.dev/toolkits/clickmeeting) - ClickMeeting is a cloud-based platform for running online meetings and webinars. It helps businesses and individuals host, manage, and engage virtual audiences with ease.
- [Confluence](https://composio.dev/toolkits/confluence) - Confluence is Atlassian's team collaboration and knowledge management platform. It helps your team organize, share, and update documents and project content in one secure workspace.
- [Dailybot](https://composio.dev/toolkits/dailybot) - DailyBot streamlines team collaboration with chat-based standups, reminders, and polls. It keeps work flowing smoothly in your favorite messaging platforms.
- [Dialmycalls](https://composio.dev/toolkits/dialmycalls) - Dialmycalls is a mass notification service for sending voice and text messages to contacts. It helps teams and organizations quickly broadcast urgent alerts and updates.
- [Dialpad](https://composio.dev/toolkits/dialpad) - Dialpad is a cloud-based business phone and contact center system for teams. It unifies voice, video, messaging, and meetings across your devices.
- [Discord](https://composio.dev/toolkits/discord) - Discord is a real-time messaging and VoIP platform for communities and teams. It lets users chat, share media, and collaborate across public and private channels.
- [Discordbot](https://composio.dev/toolkits/discordbot) - Discordbot is an automation tool for Discord servers that handles moderation, messaging, and user engagement. It helps communities run smoothly by automating routine and complex tasks.
- [Echtpost](https://composio.dev/toolkits/echtpost) - Echtpost is a secure digital communication platform for encrypted document and message exchange. It ensures confidential data stays private and protected during transmission.
- [Egnyte](https://composio.dev/toolkits/egnyte) - Egnyte is a cloud-based platform for secure file sharing, storage, and governance. It helps teams collaborate efficiently while maintaining data compliance and security.
- [Google Meet](https://composio.dev/toolkits/googlemeet) - Google Meet is a secure video conferencing platform for virtual meetings, chat, and screen sharing. It helps teams connect, collaborate, and communicate seamlessly from anywhere.
- [Heartbeat](https://composio.dev/toolkits/heartbeat) - Heartbeat is a plug-and-play platform for building and managing online communities. It helps you organize users, channels, events, and discussions in one place.

## Frequently Asked Questions

### What is the Composio Universal CLI?

The Composio Universal CLI is a single command-line interface that lets coding agents and developers interact with 1000+ SaaS applications. It handles authentication, tool discovery, action execution, and trigger setup — all from the terminal, without needing to configure MCP servers.

### Which coding agents work with the Composio CLI?

Any coding agent that can run shell commands works with the Composio CLI — including Claude Code, Codex, OpenCode, OpenClaw, and others. Once the CLI is installed, agents automatically discover and use the composio commands to interact with Gmail and other connected apps.

### How is the CLI different from using an MCP server for Gmail?

MCP servers require configuration and can be token-heavy for complex workflows. The CLI gives agents a direct, lightweight interface — no server setup needed. Agents simply call composio commands like any other shell tool. It's faster to set up, more reliable for multi-step tool chaining, and works natively with how coding agents already operate.

### How safe is my Gmail data when using the Composio CLI?

All sensitive data such as tokens, keys, and configuration is fully encrypted at rest and in transit. Composio is SOC 2 Type 2 compliant and follows strict security practices so your Gmail data and credentials are handled as safely as possible. You can also bring your own OAuth credentials for full control.

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