How to Build Your Own AI-Powered Automation to Get Tailored Daily News Digests (and More) with n8n
Have you wished to wake up and read an email full of news that fits your interests—even when those topics are small? Picture an AI helper that grabs news updates from the web and sends them to you. You can build this with n8n. It is an open-source tool that runs daily tasks for you. This guide shows you how to set up a daily news email with n8n. It is also only one use of these tools.
Why n8n?
n8n stands out as open-source software. It does not hide features behind limits or closed systems. You can run it on your machine or in the cloud. n8n also links many apps and services. Some users send email alerts. Some users run home routines, like turning on their lights. Others set up AI workflows that mix different data. n8n lets you form custom agents for tasks like curating news or controlling a business process.
Setting Up n8n the Right Way
There are several ways to start with n8n:
• Use the official n8n cloud service. The free plan has limits. Paid plans start near $24 per month.
• Install it on your computer. You can download it with command-line tools. This option parts is free. But your computer must run as long as you want the workflow to work. It can be hard if you do not know technical setups.
• Host it on a cloud Linux server. A VPS from a provider like Hostinger, DigitalOcean, or AWS lets n8n run all the time. This keeps your workflows working online.
You might choose a low-cost VPS plan, some as low as $7 per month. Some VPS providers offer one-click installation for n8n. This plan makes the setup go fast.
Building Your Daily AI News Digest Workflow
Here is how you can build an automation that sends you an email with news every morning:
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Start with a Trigger Node:
• Set a schedule to run every day at 7 AM. This node makes sure your news void arrives early. -
Define Your News Sources:
• Use an "Edit Fields" node to list RSS feed URLs. Each URL sends new articles.
• For example, add an RSS feed URL from TechCrunch. You can list blogs or other sites that interest you. -
Fetch Articles from Each RSS Feed:
• Connect an HTTP Request node or an RSS Read node to get posts from each URL.
• Use a filter to select news items that are of interest. -
Compile the News Digest:
• Use a Function node to change the data into a neat format. Keep titles, summaries, and links close. -
Send the Email:
• Connect an email node that uses your SMTP service.
• Set up the subject line and body with your news items. -
Test and Refine:
• Run the workflow to see that it works.
• Change the RSS feeds, adjust the filter, or change the schedule if needed.
Taking Your Automations Further
This news digest shows a simple task. n8n can work with many apps and APIs. Some ideas follow:
• Link up smart home devices to run home tasks.
• Set up social media commands to send quick replies.
• Get alerts for new inventory levels or customer actions.
• Run AI to write blog posts or social media notes.
• Track trading data or economic news in a daily summary.
Why Hosting Matters
If you run n8n on your own computer, the tasks stop when it turns off. When you host n8n on a cloud server, the workflows run night and day. This choice lets you work from any place through a web browser. Many VPS hosts cost little money and have easy tools to set up apps.
Resources to Get Started
• Explore Templates: Find nearly 6,000 ready-made n8n workflows online. They help you build fast.
• Read the Official Documentation and join the Community: The docs guide you for each node and feature.
• Check the GitHub Repo: You can download the source, change nodes, or add improvements.
• Follow Provider Tutorials: VPS guides often show you how to run n8n on your server.
Next Steps
Choose a VPS with an easy n8n setup. Start small with your news email. Swap or add feeds when you find more sites to read. As you get used to n8n, you can add conditions, AI tasks, and other app links. This step-by-step growth shows how these workflows can change daily chores into smooth routines.
Set up your custom n8n workflow today. Save time, get news that matters to you, and open paths for new tasks at home and work.
