Notion Shuts Down Skiff-Based Email Client: What Users Need to Know

Notion is officially sunsetting its email client, originally developed by the team at Skiff, as the company pivots its product strategy. Users have until September 21, 2024, to export their data, including drafts and scheduled emails, as these items will not automatically migrate to other platforms. The move follows Notion’s February 2024 acquisition of Skiff, a privacy-focused email provider that offered end-to-end encryption, a feature notably absent from Notion’s later integration of the technology.

Why is Notion closing its email service?

The decision to shutter the email client marks a shift in Notion’s focus toward its core productivity and AI-agent offerings. While Notion integrated Skiff’s infrastructure to launch its own email product, the company has opted to discontinue the standalone email client. According to official Notion support documentation, the company is prioritizing the development of its “Notion Agents,” which allow users to manage workflows and automate tasks. Notion stated that existing email connections and auto-label instructions created within the platform will remain functional, allowing users to transition these rules to custom agents.

How to export your data before the deadline

Users must manually export their email data before the September 21 deadline to avoid losing access to their information. Notion has provided specific instructions for users to save their email setups, including snippets and auto-label configurations. Because the email client is being decommissioned, the company warns that any drafts or scheduled messages left on the platform after the cutoff date will not be accessible. Users are encouraged to use the export tools found within their account settings to move their content to alternative email providers.

What about HIPAA compliance and enterprise users?

Organizations operating in regulated environments face a longer timeline for their transition. According to Notion’s transition guidance, users who rely on the platform for HIPAA-covered communications must migrate away from Notion Mail by June 30, 2026. This extended deadline allows enterprise clients sufficient time to move to platforms that maintain the necessary compliance standards for protected health information.

The legacy of the Skiff acquisition

The closure of the email client serves as a final chapter for the Skiff brand, which previously gained traction by offering a privacy-centric alternative to Gmail. At the time of its acquisition, Skiff reportedly served approximately 2 million users. While Notion is retiring the email interface, it continues to retain the human talent and underlying productivity frameworks acquired in the deal. This strategy suggests that while Notion has moved away from direct competition with traditional email providers like Google Workspace or Proton Mail, it intends to fold Skiff’s collaborative technology into its broader suite of workspace tools.

Key Takeaways for Users

• Migration Deadline: All personal data, including drafts, must be exported by September 21, 2024.
• Automation Continuity: Existing email rules and auto-labels can be migrated to Notion’s “Custom Agents.”
• Regulatory Timeline: Organizations requiring HIPAA compliance have until June 30, 2026, to finalize their transition.
• Product Shift: Notion is moving away from standalone email client features to focus on AI-driven workspace automation.