TL;DR
A startup is pitching Notion Portals, a layer that adds row-level permissions, column hiding and branded client portals on top of Notion with real-time sync. The product targets internal access control and external client sharing as alternatives to paying for many Notion seats or emailing PDFs.
What happened
A service called Notion Portals offers a permissions layer that connects to existing Notion databases and creates filtered views for different audiences. It promises row-level access control, the ability to hide specific columns, branded client portals accessible without a Notion account, and real-time synchronization with the source Notion data. The vendor positions the product to solve two core problems: limiting what internal users or contractors can see inside a shared Notion workspace, and replacing status-update email workflows with per-client portals. Setup is presented as fast — a sequence of steps that the site says can take roughly three minutes from connecting Notion to sending a magic link. The company lists tiered pricing (Starter, Pro, Enterprise), a 14-day free trial, customer testimonials claiming cost savings and productivity improvements, and a claim that 247 companies use the product.
Why it matters
- Adds finer-grained access control to Notion data without duplicating databases or creating separate workspaces.
- Aims to reduce costs tied to Notion per-seat pricing by letting many users view data without Notion seats.
- Provides a way to share live project views with clients without requiring them to create Notion accounts.
- Targets common operational pain points like contractor access, privacy of sensitive fields, and versioned email workflows.
Key facts
- Product connects to existing Notion databases and applies filters and rules to control who sees which rows and columns.
- Features highlighted include row-level permissions, column hiding, branded client portals, magic-link access, and real-time sync.
- Setup is presented as a four-step process for both internal permissions and client portals; the site claims this can be done in about three minutes.
- Pricing tiers listed: Starter ($59/mo billed annually), Pro ($169/mo billed annually), Enterprise ($424/mo billed annually).
- Plans differ by user/portal limits, with Enterprise offering unlimited users, white-labeling, and SSO/SAML.
- Vendor claims you can cut Notion seat costs significantly by keeping a smaller number of editors in Notion and moving viewers to portals.
- Site lists use cases spanning sales/CRM, agencies, HR/operations, contractors and law firms, backed by testimonials claiming cost and workflow benefits.
- A 14-day free trial is offered with no credit card required, and the site states 247 companies have adopted the product.
- The company compares itself to Softr and Retool, positioning the product as Notion-native and faster to set up.
What to watch next
- Whether enterprise security certifications (actual HIPAA, SOC2 attestations or GDPR processing agreements) are documented and auditable — not confirmed in the source.
- How editing rights are managed in portals versus Notion editors; the source describes viewers and editors in pricing but does not fully detail edit permissions for portal users.
- Performance and sync latency at scale for large databases and many portals — not confirmed in the source.
Quick glossary
- Row-level permissions: Access controls that determine which individual rows (records) a user can view or interact with in a database.
- Client portal: A branded web view that surfaces selected project information to external clients without exposing the full internal workspace.
- Magic link: A single-use or time-limited URL sent by email that grants access to a specific view or session without requiring a password.
- SSO / SAML: Single sign-on technologies and standards used by enterprises to centralize authentication and enable secure access across services.
- White-label: Custom branding options that let a vendor’s product appear under a customer's own brand or domain.
Reader FAQ
Do clients need a Notion account to view portals?
No — the site states clients can view portals without a Notion account.
How quickly can I set up a portal?
The vendor presents a 3-minute setup flow: connect Notion, select a database, set filters, and send a magic link.
Is data kept in sync with my Notion workspace?
The product is described as offering real-time sync with Notion.
Are HIPAA, SOC2 or GDPR certifications included?
The site claims the product is 'HIPAA, SOC2, GDPR-ready' but specific certifications or audit reports are not documented in the source.
Share Notion Databases with Clients Securely Create filtered portals in minutes. Row-level permissions, column hiding, real-time sync. Clients don't need a Notion account—and you don't pay $15/seat. For Internal Teams…
Sources
- Show HN: We built a permissions layer for Notion
- Introducing row-level database permissions on NotionApps
- Notion Granular Database Permissions: The Complete Guide
- How to Set Up Row-Level Permissions in Notion Databases
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