Automated RSS Feed Aggregation and Three-Day Data Management in Google Sheets - n8n Workflow

Content curators and researchers needing automated news aggregation.
Users looking for advanced examples of flow control within an n8n workflow.
Developers seeking reliable n8n templates for handling API rate limits via the n8n Wait node.
Anyone needing to implement automated data retention policies using n8n and Google Sheets.

This expert n8n workflow provides a robust, scheduled solution for continuous RSS feed monitoring and structured data management. It starts with an n8n trigger that reads a predefined list of RSS URLs from a Google Sheet. It then processes the content, utilizing custom JavaScript within an n8n node to ensure only articles published within the last three days are saved, maintaining a lean and relevant dataset. Crucially, this n8n workflow incorporates multiple Wait n8n nodes throughout both the saving and deletion phases. This meticulous rate-limiting mechanism is essential for preventing Google Sheets API blocks, making this one of the most reliable n8n templates for continuous, high-volume operations.

This automation operates in two main phases: fetching and saving new data, followed by reading and deleting old data.

Phase 1: Fetch and Save Recent Data

1. Initiation: The Schedule Trigger acts as the primary n8n trigger, initiating the process every 24 hours.


2. Reading Sources: The workflow uses the Read Links Google Sheets n8n node to retrieve a list of all target RSS feed URLs.


3. Data Fetching: The feeds are processed individually using the RSS n8n node, and data is standardized using the Edit Fields n8n node.


4. Date Filtering: A custom Code n8n node filters the results, ensuring only items with a pubDate within the last 72 hours (3 days) proceed.


5. Saving: The filtered items are cleaned using the Markdown n8n node and then saved using the Save News Google Sheets n8n node (appending new entries or updating existing ones based on the article ID).


6. Rate Control (Saving): A 2.5-second Wait n8n node executes after each individual entry is saved to comply with Google Sheets API quotas.

Phase 2: Cleanup Old Data

1. Pre-Cleanup Wait: The n8n workflow waits for 1 minute (Wait2) after saving is complete, ensuring the database is stable.


2. Identifying Deletions: The Read News Google Sheets n8n node reads all current entries. A second Code1 n8n node then identifies rows that are explicitly older than three days and prepares them for deletion, extracting their row numbers.


3. Deletion: The Delete News Google Sheets n8n node removes the identified old rows.


4. Rate Control (Deletion): A strict 25-second Wait1 n8n node is placed between each deletion operation to prevent API rate limit issues during bulk deletion, showcasing optimal use of flow control within the n8n template.

To utilize this highly efficient n8n workflow, follow these setup steps:

1. Import: Copy the provided JSON and import it directly into your n8n instance.


2. Google Sheets Credentials: Configure the required Google Sheets credentials (OAuth2 API) for all Google Sheets n8n nodes (Read Links, Read News, Save News, Delete News).


3. Source Sheet Setup: Create the first Google Sheet document (referenced as RSS-Links in the workflow) which must contain the list of RSS feed URLs you wish to track.


4. Target Sheet Setup: Create the second Google Sheet document (referenced as RSS-Feeds in the workflow) where the news will be saved. Ensure the sheet has columns matching the expected output fields: id, title, output, pubDate, and Category.


5. Activation: Activate the n8n workflow. The Schedule Trigger will begin checking for updates according to its defined interval.

Schedule Trigger (n8n trigger): Starts the entire n8n workflow on a predefined schedule, typically daily, to ensure continuous updates.
Read Links (Google Sheets n8n node): Retrieves the list of RSS feed URLs from a dedicated Google Sheet, providing the source material for the automation.
RSS (n8n node): Fetches and parses the content from each individual RSS link provided by the previous step.
Code (n8n node): Essential custom logic. Filters incoming RSS items based on their pubDate. Only items published within the last 3 days are allowed to pass to the saving phase.
Loop Over Items (n8n node): Used extensively (SplitInBatches) to process each RSS item or deletion request individually, which is crucial for integrating the necessary Wait n8n node steps.
Save News (Google Sheets n8n node): Appends new articles or updates existing ones in the primary data sheet (RSS-Feeds), using the unique link (id) for matching.
Wait (n8n node): Implements a 2.5-second delay after each article save, critical for managing Google Sheets API rate limits during data ingestion.
Read News (Google Sheets n8n node): Reads existing data from the RSS-Feeds sheet to determine which rows need cleanup.
Code1 (n8n node): Filters the existing saved data, identifying the specific row numbers that are older than 3 days and need deletion.
Delete News (Google Sheets n8n node): Executes the row deletion based on the row numbers identified by the custom Code1 n8n node.

• Wait1 (n8n node): Implements a long 25-second delay between row deletions to ensure the n8n workflow avoids API quota errors during mass cleanup.