Notion Mail is shutting down, here are the best alternatives

Notion is closing their email product, Notion Mail, on September 22, 2026. This is a summary of what is happening and why — plus what you need to do with your data before the deadline, and an honest assessment of the alternative tools you might want to consider.

Full disclosure: we make an email app, so we have a horse (cat?) in this race. That being said, we’ll keep this factual and useful. We know that many users were surprised to suddenly find that their email app was being closed down, and are urgently trying to figure out what to do next.

What’s happening

Notion Mail will close permanently on September 22, 2026.

Instead of a traditional email app, you’ll be able to use Notion’s AI agents to handle email for you (for example, as part of the sidebar chat).

What happens to your email

Notion Mail worked with users who had Gmail and Google Workspace email addresses. This means that your email account will continue to work in Gmail. Notion Mail was a layer on top of Google’s services, so your messages stay safe in Gmail after the shutdown. You won’t lose any messages.

What you will lose access to is any Notion-Mail-specific features and data, such as drafts written in Notion Mail, scheduled sends, snippets (their template email feature), and reminders. Custom inbox sorting and synced database views will stop updating. The deadline to export your data is September 21, 2026.

What keeps working: the Gmail AI Connector and mail blocks inside Notion pages are unaffected — only the standalone Mail app is going away.

If you relied on Notion Mail’s auto-labeling (one of the features we know many users particularly liked), that’s the one thing you may specifically want to replace.

Note: some businesses in regulated industries like healthcare will lose access earlier, at the end of June (we’re not really sure why this is!).

Before September 21, 2026 you should:

• Check you can sign into Gmail directly.
• Send or copy out any unsent drafts and scheduled emails.
• Save your snippets and any auto-label rules and views.
• Set up a new email inbox tool (see below).

Your options

You have a number of options available as you think about what email tool to use if you’re moving off of Notion Mail.

Gmail’s native web app

This will be your default option. It’s free and will already work, so there’s nothing to migrate. Google’s own AI (Gemini) can draft and summarize, although the integration isn’t the most intuitive. No desktop app.

Superhuman

Superhuman is a modern email client designed for people who live in their inbox. They have a modern UI and lots of keyboard shortcuts for taking quick actions. Superhuman works with both Gmail and Outlook. The company was acquired by Grammarly in 2025. Starts at $30 a month.

Shortwave

Shortwave is a modern email app built by some of the Google Inbox team. The product is Gmail-only, but features strong auto-organization and triage, and it can link to Notion. Starts at $30 a month.

Spark

Spark is the cross-platform pick, with support for Gmail, Outlook, and other accounts. Keeps a handy “send to Notion” button. Good if you need the same inbox on every device. Free tier plus paid plans.

HEY

HEY is the deliberately un-automated option. Opinionated screening and workflow, no AI doing things behind your back. Good if Notion’s “let an agent run it” direction is exactly what you don’t want. $99 a year.

Avec

Avec is a newer, mobile-first option, with strong AI features. For now they’re iOS app and Gmail only. Users can swipe to triage, and use dictation to quickly draft replies. Good if you already do most of your emails on your phone.

Housecat

Housecat is built for users who live in their email. Housecat helps users with more than just replying, giving you integrations that automate common tasks like updating the CRM, asking questions in Slack, or kicking off agent research tasks. The product is Gmail only for now, and customers access it via a web app. Signup is free — you can sign up for free access in the beta, but paid subscriptions start at $20 a month.

Full disclosure: this is us.

How to choose

• Want email to mostly run itself → Notion’s new agent direction, or Housecat for an inbox that also helps with the follow-up work.
• Want a modern interface and keyboard shortcuts → Superhuman.
• Looking for AI drafting → Shortwave.
• Need it on every device → Spark.
• Want to manage email on your phone → Avec.
• Need help keeping CRM and email in sync → Housecat.
• Don’t want to switch at all → stay in Gmail.

FAQ

Will I lose my email?

No. It’s in Gmail. Notion Mail sat on top of Gmail.

Do I have to do anything?

Export your Notion-Mail-only drafts, scheduled sends, snippets, and auto-label rules by September 21, 2026. Your inbox itself is safe.

Is Notion killing email entirely?

No. Only the standalone Notion Mail app. The Gmail AI Connector and mail blocks inside Notion pages keep working.

When exactly does it shut down?

September 22, 2026 (export by September 21, 2026). HIPAA business customers must move off by June 30, 2026.

Are there free options?

Gmail is free. Avec and Housecat are both currently free, but have plans to charge in the future. You can also access free trials of other tools like Superhuman.

What is the best alternative to Notion Mail?

It depends on what you want. Your email already lives in Gmail, so the simplest option is to keep using Gmail for free with nothing to migrate. If you want a faster, more powerful inbox, Superhuman and Shortwave are the popular paid clients; Spark is the best pick if you need the same inbox on every device; and Housecat is built for people who want their email to also help with the follow-up work, like updating a CRM or sending tasks to Slack.

How easy is it to switch from Notion Mail to Housecat?

Very easy. Because your email stays in Gmail, there’s nothing to migrate. Getting started with Housecat takes about 5 minutes and it’s free to begin. Our team can also help you move over any custom workflows and automations.