Skiff: Gmail & Workspace Alternative with Encrypted and Decentralized IPFS Storage

Published in the category: Tools

If you're looking for a Gmail or Google Workspace alternative, then Skiff products might catch your interest. They offer email, cloud storage, notes and calendar. Everything stored is private and encrypted by default. Users can even opt-in for decentralized data storage with IPFS.

Team collaboration features, custom domain support and a fair pricing model with up to 1 TB of storage makes Skiff, in my opinion, a suitable alternative to the basic Google Workspace products. Definitely, it will replace your Gmail inbox with an encrypted and user-friendly alternative. You don't have to commit or pay instantly, Skiff lets you try everything for free until you need a storage upgrade, aliases or the custom domain feature.

Four Skiff products are listed on PrivacyTools.io already

What is IPFS, and what are the benefits?

IPFS, short for InterPlanetary File System, is a decentralized protocol designed to facilitate the storage and sharing of files on the internet. Rather than relying on traditional centralized servers, IPFS uses a peer-to-peer network where files are distributed across multiple nodes. Each file is given a unique cryptographic hash, and content is addressed by these hashes instead of traditional URLs. This enables efficient and decentralized file storage, retrieval, and sharing, making IPFS resistant to censorship and promoting faster content delivery.

How to enable decentralized IPFS storage for Skiff data?

It's easy and will take only a few seconds:

Sign in to your Skiff account.
Open the settings menu.
Select the "Storage" menu item.
Try this direct link, optionally.
Change the selection from "Skiff server" to "Decentralized (IPFS)".
You're done!

This option is currently only available for the Drive and Pages Skiff products.

Skiff: A centralized service with a decentralized storage feature

Decentralization aims to promote autonomy, transparency, and resilience by dispersing control and empowering participants within a network or system. It offers potential benefits such as increased security, reduced reliance on intermediaries, and greater inclusivity.