Owl VIP Email Alerts- Control Gmail notifications from one simple screen
I launched Owl VIP Email Alerts, a Gmail-focused app for iPhone and Android.
App Store: https://apps.apple.com/app/6757348256
Google Play: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.sundaelectronics.owlapp
I built it because I wanted a simple, fast way to control Gmail notifications without constantly digging through settings. I didn't want every email interrupting me, but I also didn't want to miss the important one I was waiting for.
The app lets you choose which senders can notify you, instantly switch between VIP-only / All Emails /No Notifications, schedule quiet hours, and assign unique notification sounds to different senders.
I’d love feedback on two things:
Does the core problem/solution make sense right away?
Which type of user do you think this resonates with most?
Based on your description, the core value seems to be in quickly switching between modes.
Do you have a hypothesis on how often users would need to switch modes for the product to really “live,” rather than just become a one-time setup?
Thanks for your comment! I think if people are using the app mostly for the sound features (setting notification sound and unique sounds for different senders), then it would feel like more of a one-time setup. Users who want to quickly switch modes, like turning off notifications or enabling only VIP senders before sleeping or focused work, would be interacting with the app more often.
This makes sense, especially the “not missing important emails without getting spammed” part.
I think it would resonate most with people who get a mix of high-signal + low-signal emails (freelancers, founders, maybe even job seekers).
One thing I’m curious about — how easy is it to set up initially? Feels like if filtering takes too long to configure, people might not stick with it.
The idea itself is solid though, especially the VIP-only mode.
Thank you for commenting! Setting up VIP senders is very easy, and that is the main feature of the app- removing the need to dig into settings and configure filtering. You just open the app and enter the email addresses or domains of the senders you want to be notified by. You can also toggle on/off VIP senders without removing them.
"Byte5, the 'VIP-only' toggle is a life-saver for deep work. Most people don't realize how much of a focus-killer the 'Gmail settings' menu is until they see a solution like Owl.
Regarding your questions:
The 'one simple screen' hook makes total sense—it’s a speed play.
This resonates most with founders and agency owners who are slaves to their inbox but need 'monk mode' to ship.
On a side note, I’m building a Tokyo-connected ideas competition that is perfect for utility apps like this. I have a specific question about an 'Owl VIP' sponsorship angle."
Thanks, I really appreciate that. I’m glad the speed/focus side of it is landing, because that’s exactly what I wanted the app to help with.
The Tokyo-connected ideas competition sounds interesting- what were you thinking in terms of an Owl VIP sponsorship angle?
Thanks Byte5! Really glad the speed/focus benefits are landing well.
Quick overview of Tokyo Lore: It’s a paid ideas competition where people submit Tokyo-connected business or creative ideas. For $19 you get a custom AI-generated artifact of your idea + a full SPEAR business analysis, plus entry into the round where the winner gets a real trip to Tokyo (flights + hotel booked by us).
Prize pool has started building with the first entries — so your odds are excellent right now as it’s still very early.
On the Owl VIP sponsorship angle — interesting idea! One angle could be submitting a Tokyo-specific concept around how Owl can help high-focus founders or digital nomads manage inbox noise while living in / working from Tokyo.
Would you be interested in submitting an idea? Happy to send you the direct $19 link and walk you through the whole process (it’s very quick).
What do you think?
The problem makes sense — inbox noise is real.
Curious — are people actually switching to this long-term, or mostly trying it to reduce overload temporarily?
Thanks- I built it to be useful long-term, not just as a temporary overload fix. It’s not only about VIP-only notifications- it’s also about being able to quickly switch between VIP-only, all emails, or no notifications depending on what’s going on in your day. That’s why I see it as more of an everyday control tool than a short-term cleanup tool.
got it — positioning it as a daily control layer makes more sense
are you seeing people actually switch modes frequently, or do they mostly settle into one setup after a while?
Good question- I don’t have direct visibility into individual usage patterns, so I can’t say for sure.
makes sense — early stage, hard to get that visibility
are you tracking anything around retention yet, or still too early?
Still too early :) Focused on getting the word out about the app.
got it — makes sense, distribution first at this stage
btw are you active on LinkedIn? easier to stay in touch there
Sure, name is Shari Eskenas
Makes sense — distribution is probably the right focus at this stage.
One thing I’ve seen with products like this though:
sometimes adoption depends a lot on how clearly the “control vs noise” idea is communicated upfront.
Right now it’s clear once you explain it, but for a first-time user, that positioning layer often does a lot of the heavy lifting.
Curious — have you experimented with different ways of framing it, or still testing what resonates?