Notion Mail Adds AI Perks, But Skips Crucial Notion Features
Today, Notion announced the general availability of its free Notion Mail add-on to its wildly popular eponymous productivity dashboard. For those who have been hiding under a rock for the past five years or so, Notion is a digital environment that allows users to customize how they integrate notes, tasks, and databases into a very personalized workspace.
What is Notion Mail?
Notion Mail provides all the usual mail features, which means you can read messages, send messages, reply to messages, and so on. It uses the Gmail API interface, so whatever you do in Notion Mail is reflected in your main Gmail interface.
Key Features
There are four big features that Notion is promoting that set Notion Mail apart from other email tools: smart labeling, custom views, a meeting scheduler, and the Notion writing environment with slash commands.
Smart Labeling
Smart labels use AI to help you create labels based on emails that are coming into your inbox. You can click the Auto Label button, and Notion Mail will present you with a number of sorting and cataloging choices from which you can choose an action.
Custom Views
One of Notion’s greatest strengths is its ability to create custom views into database tables. These allow you to format, isolate, and focus on important information for each view. It appears that Notion Mail has implemented Notion-style views in mail. This, depending on how flexible and powerful it is, might allow for some very interesting email processing and management workflows.
Meeting Scheduler
If you want to set up a meeting, you can use the meeting scheduler to embed a calendar in an email invite. This allows users to choose times that they can meet, taking into account open times on your calendar.
Notion Writing Environment
Email messages can be written using the same editing environment found in Notion. In fact, I’m writing this article in Notion right now.
Initial Experience
Notion Mail is essentially a front end to Gmail. When you start using it, you’re asked to connect with Google. From there, you’ll be presented with the usual sign-in with Google prompt, which links your Gmail to your Notion Mail. Then, you’ll be asked to give Notion a wide range of permissions.
Conclusion
I’m not sure if Notion Mail is the mail client you’ve been waiting for. If it can go beyond the limits of email filters and rules and manage mail based on context rather than string matching, it could prove to be a boon for overwhelmed email users. The ability to rearrange your mail environment with custom views might also prove helpful, but Notion itself is often limited in how custom it’s willing to get.
FAQs
Q: Is Notion Mail free?
A: Yes, Notion Mail starts off free, just like Notion Calendar and the main Notion product itself.
Q: Are there limitations to the free version?
A: Yes, there are some limitations to the free version. You’ll need to upgrade to more expensive licensed services if you want more storage or additional features.
Q: Can I use Notion AI features with the free version?
A: No, you’ll need to pay $8 per month per user to use Notion AI features, even if you’re using the free version.
Q: Can I connect my Notion account login to Notion Mail?
A: No, Notion Mail won’t work if your Notion account login is an email address other than your Gmail address.
Q: Can I integrate Notion Mail with Notion databases?
A: No, Notion Mail does not integrate with Notion databases.
