diff --git a/alembic/versions/029_add_email_digest.py b/alembic/versions/029_add_email_digest.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..66d0bc9
--- /dev/null
+++ b/alembic/versions/029_add_email_digest.py
@@ -0,0 +1,48 @@
+"""Add notification_preferences to users and email_digest_log table.
+
+Revision ID: 029_add_email_digest
+Revises: 028_add_shorts_template
+"""
+
+import sqlalchemy as sa
+from sqlalchemy.dialects.postgresql import JSONB, UUID
+
+from alembic import op
+
+revision = "029_add_email_digest"
+down_revision = "028_add_shorts_template"
+branch_labels = None
+depends_on = None
+
+
+def upgrade() -> None:
+    # notification_preferences JSONB on users
+    op.add_column(
+        "users",
+        sa.Column(
+            "notification_preferences",
+            JSONB,
+            nullable=False,
+            server_default='{"email_digests": true, "digest_frequency": "daily"}',
+        ),
+    )
+
+    # email_digest_log table
+    op.create_table(
+        "email_digest_log",
+        sa.Column("id", UUID(as_uuid=True), primary_key=True, server_default=sa.func.gen_random_uuid()),
+        sa.Column("user_id", UUID(as_uuid=True), sa.ForeignKey("users.id", ondelete="CASCADE"), nullable=False),
+        sa.Column("digest_sent_at", sa.DateTime, server_default=sa.func.now(), nullable=False),
+        sa.Column("content_summary", JSONB, nullable=True),
+    )
+    op.create_index(
+        "ix_email_digest_log_user_sent",
+        "email_digest_log",
+        ["user_id", "digest_sent_at"],
+    )
+
+
+def downgrade() -> None:
+    op.drop_index("ix_email_digest_log_user_sent", table_name="email_digest_log")
+    op.drop_table("email_digest_log")
+    op.drop_column("users", "notification_preferences")
diff --git a/backend/config.py b/backend/config.py
index 5336275..aad490c 100644
--- a/backend/config.py
+++ b/backend/config.py
@@ -83,6 +83,14 @@ class Settings(BaseSettings):
     video_metadata_path: str = "/data/video_meta"
     video_source_path: str = "/videos"
 
+    # SMTP (email digests)
+    smtp_host: str = ""
+    smtp_port: int = 587
+    smtp_user: str = ""
+    smtp_password: str = ""
+    smtp_from_address: str = ""
+    smtp_tls: bool = True
+
     # Git commit SHA (set at Docker build time or via env var)
     git_commit_sha: str = "unknown"
 
diff --git a/backend/models.py b/backend/models.py
index 6c8191b..4c6ffc1 100644
--- a/backend/models.py
+++ b/backend/models.py
@@ -17,6 +17,7 @@ from sqlalchemy import (
     Enum,
     Float,
     ForeignKey,
+    Index,
     Integer,
     String,
     Text,
@@ -168,6 +169,10 @@ class User(Base):
     is_active: Mapped[bool] = mapped_column(
         Boolean, default=True, server_default="true"
     )
+    notification_preferences: Mapped[dict] = mapped_column(
+        JSONB, nullable=False,
+        server_default='{"email_digests": true, "digest_frequency": "daily"}',
+    )
     created_at: Mapped[datetime] = mapped_column(
         default=_now, server_default=func.now()
     )
@@ -179,6 +184,26 @@ class User(Base):
     creator: Mapped[Creator | None] = sa_relationship()
 
 
+class EmailDigestLog(Base):
+    """Record of a digest email sent to a user."""
+    __tablename__ = "email_digest_log"
+    __table_args__ = (
+        Index("ix_email_digest_log_user_sent", "user_id", "digest_sent_at"),
+    )
+
+    id: Mapped[uuid.UUID] = _uuid_pk()
+    user_id: Mapped[uuid.UUID] = mapped_column(
+        ForeignKey("users.id", ondelete="CASCADE"), nullable=False,
+    )
+    digest_sent_at: Mapped[datetime] = mapped_column(
+        default=_now, server_default=func.now()
+    )
+    content_summary: Mapped[dict | None] = mapped_column(JSONB, nullable=True)
+
+    # relationships
+    user: Mapped[User] = sa_relationship()
+
+
 class InviteCode(Base):
     """Single-use or limited-use invite codes for registration gating."""
     __tablename__ = "invite_codes"
diff --git a/backend/schemas.py b/backend/schemas.py
index 84b1282..b4a57e2 100644
--- a/backend/schemas.py
+++ b/backend/schemas.py
@@ -847,3 +847,17 @@ class ShortsTemplateUpdate(BaseModel):
     outro_duration_secs: float = Field(default=2.0, ge=1.0, le=5.0)
     show_intro: bool = False
     show_outro: bool = False
+
+
+# ── Notification Preferences ─────────────────────────────────────────────────
+
+class NotificationPreferences(BaseModel):
+    """Current notification preferences for a user."""
+    email_digests: bool = True
+    digest_frequency: str = "daily"
+
+
+class NotificationPreferencesUpdate(BaseModel):
+    """Partial update for notification preferences."""
+    email_digests: bool | None = None
+    digest_frequency: str | None = None
diff --git a/backend/services/email.py b/backend/services/email.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..941bc2d
--- /dev/null
+++ b/backend/services/email.py
@@ -0,0 +1,161 @@
+"""Email digest composition and SMTP delivery.
+
+Provides three public functions:
+  - is_smtp_configured(settings) — gate check before attempting sends
+  - compose_digest_html(user_display_name, creator_content_groups, unsubscribe_url)
+  - send_email(to_address, subject, html_body, settings) — delivers via smtplib
+"""
+
+from __future__ import annotations
+
+import logging
+import smtplib
+from email.mime.multipart import MIMEMultipart
+from email.mime.text import MIMEText
+from html import escape
+from typing import TYPE_CHECKING
+
+if TYPE_CHECKING:
+    from config import Settings
+
+logger = logging.getLogger(__name__)
+
+# ── Public API ───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
+
+
+def is_smtp_configured(settings: Settings) -> bool:
+    """Return True only if SMTP host and from-address are set."""
+    return bool(settings.smtp_host) and bool(settings.smtp_from_address)
+
+
+def compose_digest_html(
+    user_display_name: str,
+    creator_content_groups: list[dict],
+    unsubscribe_url: str,
+) -> str:
+    """Build an HTML email body for the digest.
+
+    Args:
+        user_display_name: Recipient's display name.
+        creator_content_groups: List of dicts, each with:
+            - creator_name (str)
+            - posts (list of {title, url})
+            - technique_pages (list of {title, url})
+        unsubscribe_url: Signed link to toggle off digests.
+
+    Returns:
+        HTML string ready for MIMEText.
+    """
+    if not creator_content_groups:
+        return _minimal_html(user_display_name, unsubscribe_url)
+
+    sections: list[str] = []
+    for group in creator_content_groups:
+        creator_name = escape(group.get("creator_name", "Unknown"))
+        items_html = ""
+
+        for post in group.get("posts", []):
+            title = escape(post.get("title", "Untitled"))
+            url = escape(post.get("url", "#"))
+            items_html += (
+                f'<li style="margin-bottom:6px;">'
+                f'<a href="{url}" style="color:#3b82f6;text-decoration:none;">{title}</a>'
+                f' <span style="color:#9ca3af;font-size:12px;">(post)</span></li>'
+            )
+
+        for page in group.get("technique_pages", []):
+            title = escape(page.get("title", "Untitled"))
+            url = escape(page.get("url", "#"))
+            items_html += (
+                f'<li style="margin-bottom:6px;">'
+                f'<a href="{url}" style="color:#3b82f6;text-decoration:none;">{title}</a>'
+                f' <span style="color:#9ca3af;font-size:12px;">(technique)</span></li>'
+            )
+
+        if items_html:
+            sections.append(
+                f'<h3 style="margin:16px 0 8px;font-size:16px;color:#f1f5f9;">{creator_name}</h3>'
+                f'<ul style="list-style:none;padding:0;margin:0;">{items_html}</ul>'
+            )
+
+    body_content = "\n".join(sections) if sections else "<p>No new content this period.</p>"
+
+    return _wrap_html(user_display_name, body_content, unsubscribe_url)
+
+
+def send_email(
+    to_address: str,
+    subject: str,
+    html_body: str,
+    settings: Settings,
+) -> bool:
+    """Send an HTML email via SMTP.
+
+    Returns True on success, False on any SMTP error (logged).
+    Uses a 10-second connection timeout.
+    """
+    if not is_smtp_configured(settings):
+        logger.warning("send_email called but SMTP is not configured")
+        return False
+
+    msg = MIMEMultipart("alternative")
+    msg["Subject"] = subject
+    msg["From"] = settings.smtp_from_address
+    msg["To"] = to_address
+    msg.attach(MIMEText(html_body, "html", "utf-8"))
+
+    try:
+        if settings.smtp_tls:
+            server = smtplib.SMTP(settings.smtp_host, settings.smtp_port, timeout=10)
+            server.starttls()
+        else:
+            server = smtplib.SMTP(settings.smtp_host, settings.smtp_port, timeout=10)
+
+        if settings.smtp_user:
+            server.login(settings.smtp_user, settings.smtp_password)
+
+        server.sendmail(settings.smtp_from_address, to_address, msg.as_string())
+        server.quit()
+        logger.info("Digest email sent to %s", to_address)
+        return True
+    except smtplib.SMTPException:
+        logger.exception("SMTP error sending digest to %s", to_address)
+        return False
+    except OSError:
+        logger.exception("Network error connecting to SMTP server for %s", to_address)
+        return False
+
+
+# ── Private helpers ──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
+
+
+def _minimal_html(user_display_name: str, unsubscribe_url: str) -> str:
+    """Fallback HTML when there's no new content."""
+    return _wrap_html(
+        user_display_name,
+        '<p style="color:#94a3b8;">No new content from your followed creators this period.</p>',
+        unsubscribe_url,
+    )
+
+
+def _wrap_html(user_display_name: str, body_content: str, unsubscribe_url: str) -> str:
+    """Wrap body content in the standard digest email shell."""
+    name = escape(user_display_name)
+    unsub = escape(unsubscribe_url)
+    return f"""\
+<!DOCTYPE html>
+<html>
+<head><meta charset="utf-8"></head>
+<body style="margin:0;padding:0;background:#0f172a;font-family:system-ui,-apple-system,sans-serif;">
+  <div style="max-width:600px;margin:0 auto;padding:24px;">
+    <h1 style="font-size:22px;color:#e2e8f0;margin-bottom:4px;">Chrysopedia Digest</h1>
+    <p style="color:#94a3b8;margin-top:0;">Hi {name}, here's what's new from creators you follow.</p>
+    <hr style="border:none;border-top:1px solid #1e293b;margin:16px 0;">
+    {body_content}
+    <hr style="border:none;border-top:1px solid #1e293b;margin:24px 0 12px;">
+    <p style="font-size:12px;color:#64748b;text-align:center;">
+      <a href="{unsub}" style="color:#64748b;text-decoration:underline;">Unsubscribe from digests</a>
+    </p>
+  </div>
+</body>
+</html>"""