Lotus Notes in 2026: Is It Still Alive?
Yes. Lotus Notes is alive and well in 2026. It is just called HCL Notes today. A new release comes every year. The newest is called Notes 2026, and Domino 2027 is on its way. Notes has also got AI, a new user interface and can be used on mobile and in the browser. Here you get the answer to what this means for you, and whether you should stay or move.
From Lotus to IBM to HCL
Notes came to market in 1989 from the company Lotus. IBM bought Lotus in 1995. In 2013 the product changed its name to IBM Notes. In 2019 IBM sold the whole product to HCL, a large IT company from India. Since then it has been called HCL Notes, and the server is called HCL Domino.
Many thought Notes would die when IBM let go. That did not happen. On the contrary, HCL has picked up the pace. New releases have come almost every year since 2019.
| Year | Release | The most important |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | Notes and Domino 11 | First release from HCL |
| 2021 | Notes and Domino 12 | Better security and operations |
| 2023 | Notes and Domino 14 | New look and more web |
| 2025 | Domino 14.5 | AI with Domino IQ |
| 2026 | Notes and Domino 2026 | New user interface, AI on your own data |
| 2027 | Domino 2027 | On its way. Better encryption |
What is new in Notes today?
- A new version every year. Notes 2026 came in March 2026. Read more about Notes 2026 and Domino 2027.
- AI in house. With Domino IQ the server can run a language model itself. Then your Notes systems can use AI without data leaving the company. From 2026 the AI can answer from your own data with RAG.
- Notes on mobile and web. With HCL Nomad your Notes systems run on iPhone, iPad, Android and in the browser. Users do not have to install anything.
- Shared login. Users can log in to Notes with the same login as the rest of the company through OIDC.
- Better security. Domino 2027 gets TLS 1.3, and the groundwork has been laid for quantum safe encryption.
Who still uses Notes?
Notes is still used by many companies, banks, authorities and manufacturers all over the world. Above all by companies that have built their own systems in Notes. It may be cases, contracts, quality, HR or sales.
They stay because the systems work. They are built exactly for their way of working. Data and access live together in one NSF file, and the ACL controls who may see what. It can take years and cost a lot of money to build the same thing somewhere else. See for example how the crane company BMS has built a whole HR platform in Notes in our references.
Are old versions of Notes a problem?
Yes, if you run Notes 9 or 10. HCL only offers paid support for those versions until 30 June 2030. No new features come. Security holes are only closed to a limited extent. And new things like AI, shared login and new encryption only come in the new releases.
If you run Notes 11 or 12, you are better off. But here too it is wise to plan the move up to 2026.
Should you stay on Notes or move?
That is the big question. There is no single right answer. It depends on what you use Notes for.
Stay and modernise if
- your own Notes systems are important for the business and work well,
- you want AI on your data without sending it out of the company,
- you want to avoid an expensive and risky project to rebuild everything.
Then the next step is to upgrade and give the systems a lift. Read our guide to modernising Notes applications.
Move if
- you mostly use Notes for mail and calendar,
- the company has already chosen Microsoft 365,
- your Notes systems are few and simple.
You do not have to move everything at once. Many move mail to Microsoft 365 and let their Notes systems keep running on Domino. The two can easily work together for a period. This is called coexistence. Read more about Lotus Notes migration to Microsoft 365.
What should you do now?
- Find out what you have. Which versions do you run? Which systems are still used, and by whom?
- Choose a direction. Stay and modernise, move, or do both step by step.
- Move to a new release. Whatever you choose, you must be on a supported release as long as Notes runs.
- Get help from someone who knows both paths. Read how to choose an HCL Notes partner.
We are HCL Notes consultants and help companies across Europe both to modernise and to move, on site or remote. We can also look after your servers with operations, monitoring and support. Contact us, and we will find the right path for you.