Gmail is becoming more than just an email service. Google has started rolling out a new Purchases tab on web and mobile, giving users a single place to track their online shopping. The feature automatically gathers order confirmations, shipping updates, and delivery estimates, so instead of scrolling through an inbox full of clutter, you can quickly check the status of your latest purchases.
This builds on Gmail’s package tracking tools already in use. Currently, delivery cards appear at the top of your inbox when a package is expected within 24 hours, and individual purchase emails often show summary cards with shipment details. The Purchases tab now goes a step further by organizing all of these updates into one hub accessible from the Gmail sidebar. For frequent shoppers, particularly those who rely on Amazon or eBay, this change will significantly simplify inbox management.
At the same time, Google is improving the Promotions tab. Users will soon be able to sort promotional emails by “most relevant,” which highlights deals from brands they interact with the most. Gmail will also surface timely offers through nudges, such as reminders of flash sales or coupons that are about to expire. For those who prefer a traditional setup, there will still be an option to view promotions in chronological order.
Recently, Google also released the Manage Subscriptions feature in Gmail, giving users a quick way to see which senders are filling their inbox with newsletters and promotions and unsubscribe with a single tap. When combined with the new Purchases tab and the smarter Promotions view, Gmail is evolving into something more than an inbox. It is turning into a central hub where communication, shopping, and subscriptions are all managed together in a cleaner, more organized way.
Google says these updates are rolling out gradually to personal Gmail accounts worldwide, with mobile and web users expected to see the new tabs over the coming weeks. With more than 2.5 billion active accounts, the Purchases tab could quickly become one of Gmail’s most widely used features, transforming the inbox into something closer to a personal shopping assistant.
