Gmail
Gmail integrates with n8n to send, read, and process emails automatically — ideal for notifications and email-driven workflows.
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Best use case with n8n
Automating email — sending notifications, parsing inbound messages with AI, and triggering workflows the moment an email arrives.
Gmail is one of the most-used nodes in n8n. Trigger workflows when new emails arrive, parse their contents, and send automated replies or notifications — it's the backbone of countless practical automations.
High-value Gmail automations
- AI email triage — classify incoming mail (sales / support / spam) with OpenAI and route or label it automatically.
- Lead capture — parse inquiry emails into Airtable or a CRM.
- Auto-draft replies — generate a draft response for you to review and send.
- Notifications — email yourself or a team when a workflow event fires.
- Attachment processing — save invoices/receipts to Drive and log them.
Trigger smartly
The Gmail Trigger supports search queries (e.g. from:billing@ has:attachment).
Filter at the trigger so your workflow only runs on the emails that matter.
A note on authentication
Gmail uses OAuth2. On n8n Cloud it's a quick "connect" flow. Self-hosted requires a Google Cloud OAuth client — see n8n Credentials Explained for the setup.
Sending limits
Gmail caps daily sends (~500 for free accounts, ~2,000 for Workspace). For bulk or marketing email, use a dedicated email service instead.
Key features
- Send, reply to, and draft emails
- Trigger on new messages (with label/query filters)
- Read message bodies & download attachments
- Apply labels, mark read, archive
- OAuth2 authentication (secure, no password)
- Native n8n Gmail trigger + action nodes
Pros & cons
Pros
- Everyone already uses it — zero friction
- Reliable triggers and actions
- Great for notifications and AI triage
- Free for personal use
Cons
- Daily sending limits (≈500 free / 2,000 Workspace)
- Not built for bulk marketing email
- OAuth setup requires a Google Cloud project for self-hosted
Related articles
Alternatives
Slack connects with n8n to send alerts, post updates, and build internal bots that keep your team in the loop automatically.
Pricing: Free plan (90-day message history); Pro ~$8.75/user/mo; Business+ ~$15/user/mo