# Send email notifications
URL: https://docs.awellhealth.com/docs/design-care-flows/send-email-notifications

> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://docs.awellhealth.com/llms.txt).





A **Send email** action delivers a plain templated email to someone's inbox. Use it for notifications
that should reach people outside Awell.

For anything containing protected health information or clinical detail, use an
[in-app message](/docs/design-care-flows/add-and-configure-an-in-app-message) instead, because an inbox
isn't a place the care team controls.

## Email is sent by an email extension [#email-is-sent-by-an-email-extension]

Awell doesn't send email itself. The Send email action comes from an **email extension**, and several
extensions offer one, including SendGrid, Mailgun, Mailchimp, Braze, HubSpot, Iterable and Infobip.
Browse [the Marketplace](/docs/marketplace) for the current list and the exact actions each one offers.

The extension authenticates with the organization's own account at that provider. The sending domain and
its reputation therefore stay with the organization rather than being shared across Awell customers.

## Configure the extension [#configure-the-extension]

1. Go to **Settings** on the care flow page.
2. Open the **Extensions** tab.
3. **Configure** the email extension for the chosen provider.
4. Save.

<img alt="The Extensions tab in a care flow's settings, listing the extensions enabled for it" src="__img0" />

Extensions can be reached from inside a care flow, but they live under the tenant settings, so enabling
one makes it available to every care flow in the organization.

Settings differ by provider, so check that extension's Marketplace page for the exact fields. Most need
an API key at minimum, and offer a default sender address and name that every action inherits.

For [SendGrid](/docs/marketplace/sendgrid), the settings are an **API key** (required, stored as a
secret), plus an optional **from email** and **from name**.

## Add a Send email action [#add-a-send-email-action]

Once the extension is configured, add its Send email action to a step the same way as any other action.

The inputs depend on the provider. SendGrid's Send email action takes **to**, **subject** and **body**,
and optionally a **from name** and **from email** that override the extension defaults for that one
message. Some providers also offer a template-based variant that takes a template ID and a block of
dynamic content instead of a body.

Embedded videos are not supported in email. See
[Add files, images and videos](/docs/design-care-flows/add-files-images-and-videos).

## Next steps [#next-steps]

**Next:** [Use variables in your actions](/docs/design-care-flows/use-variables-in-your-actions) to
personalize what gets sent.