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n8n canvas: needs-reply Gmail trigger, OpenAI draft, Gmail reply draft and a Slack notice
Price
Free
Difficulty
Intermediate
Updated
November 6, 2026

Overview

This workflow watches Gmail for messages with your needs-reply label. OpenAI reads the sender, subject and opening text and writes a short reply in the tone you set in the prompt.

The reply is saved as a Gmail draft inside the original thread, so a person checks and sends it. A Slack message tells the owner the draft is ready. The workflow never sends an email on its own.

Useful for

  • Clear a backlog of routine enquiries faster with a first draft
  • Keep a consistent house tone across the support inbox
  • Let a team lead review drafts in Gmail before anything goes out

What's included

  • An n8n workflow with 4 nodes, ready to import
  • Trigger: Needs-reply email
  • Connects Gmail, OpenAI, Slack
  • Sticky notes on the canvas that explain what to set up
  • No credentials inside: you connect your own accounts

How to use it

  1. 1

    Download the workflow JSON.

  2. 2

    In n8n, create a workflow, open the … menu, choose Import from File and select the JSON.

  3. 3

    Connect Gmail and pick your needs-reply label, then connect OpenAI and edit the tone in the Draft reply prompt.

  4. 4

    Connect Gmail on Create reply draft and Slack on Notify owner.

  5. 5

    Label a test email needs-reply, check the draft in Gmail, then activate.

What you need

Requirements

  • An n8n instance (cloud or self-hosted, version 1.x) with an OpenAI API key added in n8n
  • A Gmail account with a needs-reply label and a Slack workspace

Works with

  • n8n 1.x (cloud or self-hosted)

Questions

Is this n8n workflow free?

The workflow is free. OpenAI usage is billed by OpenAI to your own account.

Does it include any credentials?

No. The file has no keys or tokens. You connect your own Gmail, OpenAI and Slack accounts after importing.

Will it send the reply for me?

No. It only creates a draft. You review and send it yourself from Gmail.

  • #ai-automation
  • #ai-reply-drafter
  • #n8n
  • #automation
  • #workflow-template
  • #free-template

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