Draft Gmail replies with OpenAI and OpenRouter for an inbox-zero workflow

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1. Workflow Overview

Automatically draft email replies using AI. This workflow monitors your Gmail inbox, filters out automated emails (newsletters, receipts, notifications), and uses AI to create draft responses only ...

Best for

Ticket Management automation workflows
AI RAG automation workflows
advanced n8n builders looking for reusable templates

Tools used

n8n-nodes-base.gmailtrigger, n8n-nodes-base.set, @n8n/n8n-nodes-langchain.lmchatopenai, @n8n/n8n-nodes-langchain.toolvectorstore, @n8n/n8n-nodes-langchain.embeddingsopenai, n8n-nodes-base.gmailtool, n8n-nodes-base.telegram, n8n-nodes-base.switch

Source and attribution

This workflow is cataloged by N8N Workflows and links back to its original n8n.io source page by Zac Nielsen.

Original n8n.io source

1.1 Workflow description

Title: Draft Gmail replies with OpenAI and OpenRouter for an inbox-zero workflow
Workflow name: Draft Gmail replies with OpenAI and OpenRouter for an inbox-zero workflow

Who is this for? Freelancers, consultants, and business owners who want to reduce email response time while maintaining quality responses.

How it works

Gmail Trigger polls your inbox for new emails
AI Classification (OpenRouter) determines if the email needs a human response - automatically filters out newsletters, receipts, system notifications, and marketing emails
Email Draft Agent (OpenAI) generates a contextual draft reply matching your writing style
Gmail saves the draft to your drafts folder
Telegram sends you a notification when drafts are created

Prerequisites

Gmail account with OAuth2 access
OpenAI API key
OpenRouter API key
Telegram bot token and chat ID
(Optional) Supabase account for vector store

Setup steps

Import the workflow and connect your Gmail OAuth2 credentials
Add your OpenAI and OpenRouter API keys
Create a Telegram bot via BotFather and add your chat ID to the notification nodes
Customise the Email Draft Agent system prompt with your business context and example emails
Test with a few emails before activating

1.2 Logical Blocks

This catalog entry is organized from the workflow JSON. The node-level section below shows the executable blocks available for review before importing the template.

2. Block-by-Block Analysis

Block 1 - Gmail Trigger

Type / Role: n8n-nodes-base.gmailTrigger - gmailTrigger
Config choices: Version 1.2

Block 2 - Set Content

Type / Role: n8n-nodes-base.set - set
Config choices: Version 3.4

Block 3 - OpenAI Chat Model

Type / Role: @n8n/n8n-nodes-langchain.lmChatOpenAi - lmChatOpenAi
Config choices: Version 1

Block 4 - Vector Store Tool

Type / Role: @n8n/n8n-nodes-langchain.toolVectorStore - toolVectorStore
Config choices: Version 1

Block 5 - OpenAI Chat Model1

Type / Role: @n8n/n8n-nodes-langchain.lmChatOpenAi - lmChatOpenAi
Config choices: Version 1

Block 6 - Embeddings OpenAI

Type / Role: @n8n/n8n-nodes-langchain.embeddingsOpenAi - embeddingsOpenAi
Config choices: Version 1.1

Block 7 - createDraft

Type / Role: n8n-nodes-base.gmailTool - gmailTool
Config choices: Version 2.1

Block 8 - Response

Type / Role: n8n-nodes-base.telegram - telegram
Config choices: Version 1.2

Block 9 - Response Not Customer Support

Type / Role: n8n-nodes-base.telegram - telegram
Config choices: Version 1.2

Block 10 - Customer Support?

Type / Role: n8n-nodes-base.switch - switch
Config choices: Version 3.2

Block 11 - OpenRouter Chat Model

Type / Role: @n8n/n8n-nodes-langchain.lmChatOpenRouter - lmChatOpenRouter
Config choices: Version 1

Block 12 - Structured Output Parser

Type / Role: @n8n/n8n-nodes-langchain.outputParserStructured - outputParserStructured
Config choices: Version 1.2

Block 13 - Client/Prospect Related?

Type / Role: @n8n/n8n-nodes-langchain.chainLlm - chainLlm
Config choices: Version 1.7

Block 14 - Vector Storage

Type / Role: @n8n/n8n-nodes-langchain.vectorStoreSupabase - vectorStoreSupabase
Config choices: Version 1.2

Block 15 - Email Draft Agent

Type / Role: @n8n/n8n-nodes-langchain.agent - agent
Config choices: Version 1.7

Block 16 - Unnamed node

Type / Role: n8n-nodes-base.stickyNote - stickyNote
Config choices: Version 1

Block 17 - Sticky Note

Type / Role: n8n-nodes-base.stickyNote - stickyNote
Config choices: Version 1

Block 18 - Sticky Note1

Type / Role: n8n-nodes-base.stickyNote - stickyNote
Config choices: Version 1

Block 19 - Sticky Note2

Type / Role: n8n-nodes-base.stickyNote - stickyNote
Config choices: Version 1

Block 20 - Sticky Note3

Type / Role: n8n-nodes-base.stickyNote - stickyNote
Config choices: Version 1

Block 21 - Sticky Note4

Type / Role: n8n-nodes-base.stickyNote - stickyNote
Config choices: Version 1

Block 22 - Unnamed node

Type / Role: n8n-nodes-base.stickyNote - stickyNote
Config choices: Version 1

Block 23 - Unnamed node

Type / Role: n8n-nodes-base.stickyNote - stickyNote
Config choices: Version 1

3. Summary Table

Workflow	Draft Gmail replies with OpenAI and OpenRouter for an inbox-zero workflow
Complexity	advanced
Nodes	23
Categories	Ticket Management, AI RAG
Author	Zac Nielsen
Published	04 Feb 2026

4. Reproducing the Workflow from Scratch

1. Download the workflow JSON

Use the JSON export at /data/workflows/13203/13203.json as the source template for this automation.
2. Import the template into n8n

Open n8n, import the downloaded JSON, and review each node before activating the workflow.
3. Configure credentials and variables

Replace placeholder credentials, API keys, webhook URLs, account IDs, and environment-specific values with your own settings.
4. Test with sample data

Run the workflow manually or in a staging workspace, inspect node output, and confirm downstream systems receive the expected data.
5. Activate and monitor

Enable the workflow only after testing, then monitor executions, errors, and rate limits during the first production runs.

5. General Notes & Resources

Review imported nodes carefully before activation. This catalog entry is intended to help you inspect the workflow structure, understand required services, and find related templates faster.

Node names, credentials, schedules, webhook paths, and external service limits may need adjustment for your workspace.

Download workflow JSON Original n8n.io source Ticket Management workflows AI RAG workflows

Frequently asked questions

What does Draft Gmail replies with OpenAI and OpenRouter for an inbox-zero workflow do?

What do I need before importing this workflow?

Review the workflow JSON, configure any required credentials in n8n, and test the automation in a safe workspace before using it in production.

Can I customize this workflow?

Yes. Use the block-by-block analysis and the downloadable JSON to inspect each node, then adjust credentials, prompts, schedules, filters, or destinations for your Ticket Management, AI RAG use case.

Zac Nielsen

2 workflows

Nodes

n8n-nodes-base.gmailtrigger n8n-nodes-base.set @n8n/n8n-nodes-langchain.lmchatopenai @n8n/n8n-nodes-langchain.toolvectorstore @n8n/n8n-nodes-langchain.embeddingsopenai n8n-nodes-base.gmailtool n8n-nodes-base.telegram n8n-nodes-base.switch

Complexity

advanced

Published 04 Feb 2026

Likes 0

View on n8n.io Download Workflow

Install path: /data/workflows/13203/13203.json

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Draft Gmail replies with OpenAI and OpenRouter for an inbox-zero workflow

Workflow preview

1. Workflow Overview

Best for

Tools used

Source and attribution

1.1 Workflow description

1.2 Logical Blocks

2. Block-by-Block Analysis

Block 1 - Gmail Trigger

Block 2 - Set Content

Block 3 - OpenAI Chat Model

Block 4 - Vector Store Tool

Block 5 - OpenAI Chat Model1

Block 6 - Embeddings OpenAI

Block 7 - createDraft

Block 8 - Response

Block 9 - Response Not Customer Support

Block 10 - Customer Support?

Block 11 - OpenRouter Chat Model

Block 12 - Structured Output Parser

Block 13 - Client/Prospect Related?

Block 14 - Vector Storage

Block 15 - Email Draft Agent

Block 16 - Unnamed node

Block 17 - Sticky Note

Block 18 - Sticky Note1

Block 19 - Sticky Note2

Block 20 - Sticky Note3

Block 21 - Sticky Note4

Block 22 - Unnamed node

Block 23 - Unnamed node

3. Summary Table

4. Reproducing the Workflow from Scratch

1. Download the workflow JSON

2. Import the template into n8n

3. Configure credentials and variables

4. Test with sample data

5. Activate and monitor

5. General Notes & Resources

Frequently asked questions