You need to share a specific page or database in your Notion workspace with someone outside your team, but you do not want to give them full workspace access. Notion uses a guest role for this purpose. Guests can view or edit only the pages you explicitly share with them. This article explains how to add a guest to a Notion workspace and manage their permissions.
Key Takeaways: Adding a Guest to a Notion Workspace
- Share button in the top-right corner of a page: Opens the invite menu where you enter the guest’s email address.
- Invite as Guest option in the dropdown: Ensures the person gets guest-level access instead of full member access.
- Settings & Members > People > Guests: Central location to review, edit permissions, or remove all current guests.
What Is a Notion Guest and When Should You Use This Role
A guest in Notion is a user who has access only to specific pages that you or other workspace members share with them. Guests do not appear in the workspace sidebar. They cannot see the full workspace page tree. This role is designed for external collaborators such as clients, freelancers, contractors, or vendors who need to interact with a limited set of content.
Guests are billed differently than full members. On the Free plan, you can add up to 10 guests. On the Plus plan, you get 100 guest slots. Business and Enterprise plans have unlimited guest slots. Adding a guest does not consume a member seat. This makes the guest role cost-effective for short-term or limited collaborations.
A guest can be given Can View or Can Edit access to any page or database. You can also set permissions for subpages. The guest receives an email invitation with a link to the shared page. They must have a Notion account to accept the invite. If they do not have one, they are prompted to create a free account during the sign-in process.
Steps to Add a Guest to a Notion Workspace
You can add a guest directly from any page or from the workspace settings. Both methods produce the same result. Use the page method when you want to share a specific page immediately. Use the settings method to manage multiple guest invitations at once.
Method 1: Add a Guest from a Page
- Open the page you want to share
Navigate to the page or database that the guest needs to access. This can be a top-level page or a subpage. - Click the Share button
In the top-right corner of the page, click the Share button. A pop-up panel appears. - Enter the guest’s email address
In the text field labeled Invite people, groups, or emails, type the full email address of the person you want to add. - Select Invite as Guest from the dropdown
Below the email field, a dropdown menu shows Can Edit by default. Click the dropdown and choose Invite as Guest. This changes the role from member to guest. - Set the permission level
After selecting Invite as Guest, a second dropdown appears. Choose Can Edit if the guest needs to modify content, or Can View if they only need to read the page. - Click Invite
Press the Invite button. Notion sends an email invitation to the guest.
Method 2: Add a Guest from Workspace Settings
- Open Settings & Members
In the left sidebar, click Settings & Members. This opens the workspace settings panel. - Go to the People tab
In the settings panel, click People. Then click the Guests sub-tab. - Click Add Guests
Click the Add Guests button. A new panel appears. - Enter email addresses and select a page
Type one or more email addresses separated by commas. Below the email field, click Select a page and choose the page the guest should access. You can also set the permission level to Can Edit or Can View. - Click Add Guests
Press the Add Guests button. Invitations are sent to each email address.
What to Avoid When Adding Guests
Several mistakes can cause confusion or security issues when using the guest feature. Understanding these pitfalls helps you manage access correctly.
Inviting a Guest Without a Notion Account
If the guest does not have a Notion account, they receive an invitation link that asks them to create one. This is automatic. However, if the guest uses a work email that is already registered with a different workspace, they may need to switch accounts. Always tell the guest to use the same email address you invited.
Giving a Guest Access to the Wrong Page
When you invite a guest from a page, they get access only to that page and its subpages. If you later share additional pages with the same guest, those pages appear in the guest’s sidebar. To avoid confusion, share only the pages the guest absolutely needs.
Confusing Guest Access with Workspace Member Access
A guest cannot see pages that are not explicitly shared with them. A workspace member can see all pages unless page-level permissions restrict them. If you accidentally add someone as a member instead of a guest, they gain access to the entire workspace. Always double-check the dropdown selection before clicking Invite.
Removing a Guest
To remove a guest, go to Settings & Members > People > Guests. Find the guest in the list, click the three-dot menu, and select Remove from workspace. The guest loses access to all shared pages immediately.
Notion Guest vs Member: Key Differences
| Item | Guest | Member |
|---|---|---|
| Workspace visibility | Only shared pages | All pages unless restricted |
| Billing | Free on Free plan (up to 10); included in Plus (100) and unlimited on Business/Enterprise | Counts as a paid seat on Plus and above |
| Sidebar access | Cannot see workspace sidebar | Sees full workspace sidebar |
| Permission levels | Can View or Can Edit per page | Can be Admin, Member, or Guest with workspace-wide permissions |
| Invitation method | From page Share button or Settings > People > Guests | From Settings > People > Members |
After adding a guest, you can change their permission level at any time from the Share button on the page. You can also revoke access by removing the guest from the workspace. The guest role is ideal for temporary, limited collaboration without exposing your full workspace content.