Mastering the HubSpot API with Python: Your Ultimate Guide

If you’re looking to automate your HubSpot tasks or connect it with other systems using Python, you’ve landed in the right spot. Getting started with the HubSpot API in Python can feel a bit like learning a new language, but trust me, it’s incredibly powerful once you get the hang of it. This guide will walk you through everything, from understanding what the HubSpot API is and why Python is a fantastic choice for working with it, to setting up your authentication using the recommended Private Apps, and even into some real-world code examples for managing contacts, companies, and deals. We’ll also chat about important stuff like API rate limits and how to handle errors gracefully, so your integrations run smoothly. Forget those outdated API keys – we’re going straight to the modern, secure way of doing things. By the end of this, you’ll be well on your way to building robust and efficient HubSpot integrations with Python.

What Exactly is the HubSpot API?

Think of the HubSpot API Application Programming Interface as a set of digital tools and rules that lets different software applications talk to each other. In simple terms, it’s how you can tell HubSpot to do things – like “create a new contact,” “update a company’s details,” or “fetch all deals for a specific quarter” – without actually logging into your HubSpot account and clicking around.

HubSpot’s API is primarily RESTful, which means it uses standard HTTP requests like GET, POST, PUT, DELETE to interact with its various resources. These “resources” are the different types of data you store in HubSpot, such as:

• Contacts: Your individual leads, customers, or prospects.
• Companies: The organizations your contacts belong to.
• Deals: Sales opportunities you’re tracking.
• Tickets: Customer service inquiries.
• Forms: Ways to capture information.
• And many more, including custom objects you might have set up.

By using the API, you can seamlessly integrate HubSpot with other business tools, automate repetitive tasks, create custom reports, or even build entirely new applications that leverage your HubSpot data. It’s really about extending HubSpot’s capabilities to fit your unique business needs.

Why Python is Your Best Friend for HubSpot Integration

When it comes to working with APIs, Python is a star player, and it really shines with the HubSpot API for a few key reasons: Master HubSpot API Search: Your Ultimate Guide to Finding CRM Data

1. Readability and Simplicity: Python’s syntax is super clean and easy to read, almost like plain English. This means you can write code faster, and it’s easier for others or your future self! to understand what’s going on.
2. Rich Ecosystem: Python has a massive collection of libraries and tools for just about anything. For API interactions, the built-in requests library is fantastic, and even better, HubSpot provides an official Python client library, hubspot-api-python. This library takes a lot of the heavy lifting out of making API calls, letting you focus on what you want to do rather than how to construct every HTTP request.
3. Versatility: Whether you’re building a quick script to import some data, a complex web application, or a backend service that constantly syncs information, Python can handle it.
4. Community Support: Python has one of the largest and most active developer communities. If you ever get stuck, chances are someone else has faced a similar problem, and you can find solutions or help online pretty quickly.

Using the hubspot-api-python library, you’re not just making raw HTTP calls. you’re interacting with HubSpot’s CRM objects using Pythonic methods, which feels a lot more natural and makes your code more robust.

Setting Up Your Python Environment for HubSpot

Before we start writing code, let’s make sure your Python environment is ready to roll.

Prerequisites

You’ll need a few things set up on your machine:

• Python 3.7+: I’m usually running a recent version of Python, like 3.9 or 3.10. If you don’t have Python installed, head over to the official Python website and download the latest version for your operating system.
• pip: This is Python’s package installer, and it usually comes bundled with Python installations. You’ll use it to grab the HubSpot library.

Installing the HubSpot Python Library

Once Python and pip are ready, opening your terminal or command prompt and running this simple command will get you the official HubSpot API client library: Why Blend HubSpot Data with Power BI?

pip install --upgrade hubspot-api-python

This command installs the library and makes sure you have the latest version. If you’re using a virtual environment which is a good practice for keeping your project dependencies organized, make sure you activate it before running the pip install command.

Authentication: The Modern Way with Private Apps

Authentication is like showing your ID to HubSpot so it knows who you are and what you’re allowed to do. For a while, the simple API key was common, but things have changed for the better.

Why API Keys Are Out and Why That’s Good

You might have heard about or even used HubSpot API keys in the past. They were straightforward: one key, and you could access pretty much everything in your HubSpot portal through the API. The problem? This gave root access to all endpoints. If that single API key ever fell into the wrong hands, it was a massive security risk, giving unauthorized access to all your CRM data. App hubspot com login legacy

Because of these security concerns, HubSpot officially phased out API keys as an authentication method for new integrations after November 30, 2022. If you’re still using them, your integrations likely stopped working on that date. The future and present! of secure HubSpot API integration lies with Private Apps and OAuth 2.0.

Private Apps are much safer because they allow for granular control over permissions. Instead of full access, you grant an app only the specific permissions or “scopes” it needs to do its job. If a Private App’s token is ever compromised, the damage is limited to only what that app was allowed to do, rather than your entire portal. Plus, Private App access tokens generally don’t require refreshing, unlike some OAuth tokens, simplifying things for internal tools.

Creating a Private App in HubSpot

Creating a Private App is surprisingly easy and essential for secure integration. Here’s how you do it:

1. Log In to Your HubSpot Account: You’ll need to be a Super Admin to create a Private App.
2. Navigate to Private Apps:
   • Click on the Settings icon usually a gear in the top right corner.
   • In the left sidebar, go to Integrations > Private Apps.
3. Create a New Private App:
   • Click the “Create a private app” button.
   • Give your app a descriptive Name e.g., “My Python Contact Sync”. You can also add a logo and description if you want.
4. Configure Scopes Permissions: This is the critical security step.
   • Go to the “Scopes” tab.
   • You’ll see a long list of permissions like crm.objects.contacts.read, crm.objects.contacts.write, crm.objects.companies.read, crm.objects.deals.write, etc.. Only select the permissions your Python script absolutely needs. For example, if you just want to read contacts, enable crm.objects.contacts.read. If you also want to create and update them, you’ll need crm.objects.contacts.write too. Be mindful and keep the principle of least privilege in mind.
5. Create the App: Once you’ve selected your scopes, click “Create app” in the top right.
6. Retrieve Your Access Token: After creating the app, HubSpot will generate an Access Token for it. This token is unique to your app and the permissions you’ve granted. You’ll find it on the “Basic info” or “Auth” tab of your newly created Private App. Click “Show token” and copy it somewhere safe. Treat this token like a password!

Using Your Access Token Securely

Never hardcode your access token directly into your Python script. Seriously, don’t do it. If you share your code, that token goes with it, and that’s a security nightmare.

A much better approach is to store it in an environment variable. This way, your code can read the token from your system’s environment without it being baked into the script itself. Supercharge Your HubSpot: A Real Look at App Cards

To set an environment variable example for Linux/macOS, Windows uses slightly different commands:

export HUBSPOT_ACCESS_TOKEN=”YOUR_ACTUAL_HUBSPOT_ACCESS_TOKEN_HERE”

Then, in your Python code, you’d access it like this:

import os

HUBSPOT_ACCESS_TOKEN = os.environ.get"HUBSPOT_ACCESS_TOKEN"

if not HUBSPOT_ACCESS_TOKEN:
    raise ValueError"HubSpot access token not found in environment variables."

For development, you might use a `.env` file and a library like `python-dotenv`, but for production, environment variables are generally preferred.

 HubSpot CRM Objects: Your Data Building Blocks

Before we write code, let's quickly touch on the main types of data you'll be dealing with in HubSpot, often called "objects." Understanding these helps you know what endpoints to target and what data to expect.

*   Contacts: These are the individuals you interact with – leads, customers, partners, etc. Each contact has properties like email, first name, last name, phone number, company, and any custom properties you've created.
*   Companies: These are the organizations or businesses associated with your contacts. Companies also have properties like name, domain, industry, and annual revenue.
*   Deals: These represent sales opportunities. Deals are often associated with contacts and companies, and they have properties like deal name, amount, pipeline stage, and close date.
*   Tickets: If you're using HubSpot Service Hub, tickets are customer support inquiries.
*   Associations: This is super important. HubSpot is a CRM, and a big part of that is connecting related pieces of information. For example, a contact can be associated with a company, and a deal can be associated with both a contact and a company. You'll often need to manage these associations programmatically.

 Putting Python to Work: Practical API Examples

Alright, let's get to the fun part – writing some Python code! We'll use the `hubspot-api-python` client library to interact with HubSpot.

# Configuring the `hubspot-api-python` Client

First, import the library and initialize the client with your access token.

import hubspot
from hubspot.crm.contacts import SimplePublicObjectInput
from hubspot.crm.companies import SimplePublicObjectInput as CompanyInput
from hubspot.crm.deals import SimplePublicObjectInput as DealInput
from hubspot.crm.associations import BatchInputPublicObjectId as AssociationInput

# Load the access token from an environment variable best practice!


# Initialize the HubSpot client
# Use a context manager for proper resource handling
try:
    api_client = hubspot.Client.createaccess_token=HUBSPOT_ACCESS_TOKEN
    print"HubSpot API client initialized successfully!"
except Exception as e:
    printf"Error initializing HubSpot client: {e}"
   # Handle the error appropriately, maybe exit the script
    exit1

Now, with `api_client` set up, you can start making calls. The client organizes its methods logically, so `api_client.crm.contacts` is for contacts, `api_client.crm.companies` for companies, and so on.

# Working with Contacts

Let's look at some common operations for contacts.

 Fetching All Contacts

When you fetch contacts, HubSpot returns them in pages. The `get_all` method in the Python client handles this pagination for you under the hood, so you just get a list of all contact objects.

    print"\n--- Fetching All Contacts ---"
    all_contacts = api_client.crm.contacts.basic_api.get_all
    if all_contacts:
        for contact in all_contacts:
            printf"Contact ID: {contact.id}, Email: {contact.properties.get'email'}, Name: {contact.properties.get'firstname'} {contact.properties.get'lastname'}"
    else:
        print"No contacts found."
except hubspot.ApiException as e:
    printf"Error fetching contacts: {e}"

 Creating a New Contact

To create a contact, you'll need to provide a dictionary of properties. An email address is usually mandatory.

    print"\n--- Creating a New Contact ---"
    new_contact_properties = {
        "email": "[email protected]",
        "firstname": "Jane",
        "lastname": "Doe",
        "phone": "555-123-4567",
        "lifecyclestage": "lead"
    }
    simple_public_object_input = SimplePublicObjectInputproperties=new_contact_properties
    created_contact = api_client.crm.contacts.basic_api.create
        simple_public_object_input=simple_public_object_input
    
    printf"Contact created! ID: {created_contact.id}, Email: {created_contact.properties.get'email'}"
    printf"Error creating contact: {e}"

 Retrieving a Specific Contact

You can fetch a contact by their ID or by their email address.

# Assuming you have a contact ID or email
contact_id_to_fetch = "YOUR_CONTACT_ID" # Replace with an actual ID from your portal
contact_email_to_fetch = "[email protected]" # Replace with an actual email

# Fetch by ID
    printf"\n--- Fetching Contact by ID: {contact_id_to_fetch} ---"
    contact_by_id = api_client.crm.contacts.basic_api.get_by_idcontact_id=contact_id_to_fetch
    printf"Found contact: {contact_by_id.properties.get'firstname'} {contact_by_id.properties.get'lastname'}"
    printf"Error fetching contact by ID: {e}"

# Fetch by email using the search API for properties
    printf"\n--- Fetching Contact by Email: {contact_email_to_fetch} ---"
   # For searching by properties like email, you typically use the search API
    search_filter = hubspot.crm.contacts.Filter
        property_name="email",
        operator="EQ",
        value=contact_email_to_fetch
    search_filters = hubspot.crm.contacts.FilterGroupfilters=
    search_request = hubspot.crm.contacts.PublicObjectSearchRequest
        filter_groups=,
        properties=
    results = api_client.crm.contacts.search_api.do_searchpublic_object_search_request=search_request
    if results.results:
        found_contact = results.results
        printf"Found contact: {found_contact.properties.get'firstname'} {found_contact.properties.get'lastname'}"
        printf"No contact found with email: {contact_email_to_fetch}"
    printf"Error searching for contact by email: {e}"

 Updating an Existing Contact

To update, you'll need the contact's ID and the properties you want to change.

# Assuming you have a contact ID and want to update their job title
contact_id_to_update = "YOUR_CONTACT_ID" # Replace with an actual ID
updated_properties = {
    "jobtitle": "Senior Python Developer"
}
simple_public_object_input = SimplePublicObjectInputproperties=updated_properties

    printf"\n--- Updating Contact ID: {contact_id_to_update} ---"
    updated_contact = api_client.crm.contacts.basic_api.update
        contact_id=contact_id_to_update,
    printf"Contact updated! New Job Title: {updated_contact.properties.get'jobtitle'}"
    printf"Error updating contact: {e}"

 Deleting a Contact

Be careful with this one! Deletion is permanent.

# contact_id_to_delete = "YOUR_CONTACT_ID" # Replace with an actual ID

# try:
#     printf"\n--- Deleting Contact ID: {contact_id_to_delete} ---"
#     api_client.crm.contacts.basic_api.archivecontact_id=contact_id_to_delete
#     printf"Contact ID: {contact_id_to_delete} deleted successfully."
# except hubspot.ApiException as e:
#     printf"Error deleting contact: {e}"

# Managing Companies

Similar to contacts, you can fetch and create companies.

# Fetching companies
    print"\n--- Fetching All Companies ---"
    all_companies = api_client.crm.companies.basic_api.get_all
    if all_companies:
        for company in all_companies:
            printf"Company ID: {company.id}, Name: {company.properties.get'name'}, Domain: {company.properties.get'domain'}"
        print"No companies found."
    printf"Error fetching companies: {e}"

# Creating a new company
    print"\n--- Creating a New Company ---"
    new_company_properties = {
        "name": "Acme Corp",
        "domain": "acmecorp.com",
        "industry": "Software"
    company_input = CompanyInputproperties=new_company_properties
    created_company = api_client.crm.companies.basic_api.create
        simple_public_object_input=company_input
    printf"Company created! ID: {created_company.id}, Name: {created_company.properties.get'name'}"
    printf"Error creating company: {e}"

# Handling Deals

Creating and associating deals is a common task.

# Creating a new deal
    print"\n--- Creating a New Deal ---"
    new_deal_properties = {
        "dealname": "Big Widget Sale",
        "amount": "15000",
       "pipeline": "sales_pipeline", # Ensure this pipeline exists in your HubSpot portal
       "dealstage": "appointmentscheduled", # Ensure this stage exists in the specified pipeline
        "closedate": "2025-12-31T00:00:00.000Z"
    deal_input = DealInputproperties=new_deal_properties
    created_deal = api_client.crm.deals.basic_api.create
        simple_public_object_input=deal_input
    printf"Deal created! ID: {created_deal.id}, Name: {created_deal.properties.get'dealname'}"
    printf"Error creating deal: {e}"

# Associating a deal with a contact and company
# You'll need actual IDs for an existing contact, company, and deal
contact_id_for_association = "YOUR_EXISTING_CONTACT_ID"
company_id_for_association = "YOUR_EXISTING_COMPANY_ID"
deal_id_for_association = "YOUR_EXISTING_DEAL_ID"

if contact_id_for_association and company_id_for_association and deal_id_for_association:
    try:
        printf"\n--- Associating Deal {deal_id_for_association} with Contact {contact_id_for_association} and Company {company_id_for_association} ---"

       # Associate deal with contact
        association_input_contact = AssociationInput
            inputs=
                {"from": {"id": deal_id_for_association}, "to": {"id": contact_id_for_association}},
            
        
        api_client.crm.deals.associations_api.create
            deal_id=deal_id_for_association,
            to_object_type="contacts",
            batch_input_public_object_id=association_input_contact
        printf"Deal {deal_id_for_association} associated with Contact {contact_id_for_association}"

       # Associate deal with company
        association_input_company = AssociationInput
                {"from": {"id": deal_id_for_association}, "to": {"id": company_id_for_association}},
            to_object_type="companies",
            batch_input_public_object_id=association_input_company
        printf"Deal {deal_id_for_association} associated with Company {company_id_for_association}"

    except hubspot.ApiException as e:
        printf"Error associating deal: {e}"
else:
    print"\nSkipping deal association examples, as some IDs are missing."

# Submitting Form Data

Submitting data to a HubSpot form programmatically is a common use case, especially if you have forms on external sites or want to migrate data. While the `hubspot-api-python` library is great for CRM objects, form submissions often use a slightly different endpoint and might require the `requests` library directly for the most granular control, as seen in some older examples.

The endpoint typically looks like `https://api.hsforms.com/submissions/v3/integration/submit/{portal_id}/{form_id}`. You'll need your HubSpot Portal ID also called Hub ID and the specific Form ID.

import requests
import json

# Replace with your actual HubSpot Portal ID and Form ID
HUB_ID = "YOUR_HUBSPOT_PORTAL_ID"
FORM_ID = "YOUR_HUBSPOT_FORM_ID"

# The endpoint for submitting form data
form_submission_url = f"https://api.hsforms.com/submissions/v3/integration/submit/{HUB_ID}/{FORM_ID}"

# Data to submit to the form
# 'fields' should match the internal names of your form fields in HubSpot
form_data = {
    "fields": 
        {"name": "firstname", "value": "Form"},
        {"name": "lastname", "value": "User"},
        {"name": "email", "value": "[email protected]"},
        {"name": "message", "value": "This message came from a Python script!"}
    ,
    "context": {
       "pageUri": "http://www.example.com/form-page", # The page where the form was submitted
        "pageName": "Python Form Submission Example"

headers = {
    "Content-Type": "application/json",
   # For form submissions using the /integration/submit endpoint,
   # you often authenticate using your Private App access token in the Authorization header.
    "Authorization": f"Bearer {HUBSPOT_ACCESS_TOKEN}"

    print"\n--- Submitting Form Data ---"
    response = requests.postform_submission_url, headers=headers, data=json.dumpsform_data

    if response.status_code == 200:
        print"Form submitted successfully!"
        printresponse.json
        printf"Failed to submit form. Status code: {response.status_code}"
except requests.exceptions.RequestException as e:
    printf"An error occurred during form submission: {e}"

Remember to replace `HUB_ID` and `FORM_ID` with your actual IDs. You can find your Hub ID in the top right corner of your HubSpot portal. For the Form ID, go to Marketing > Lead Capture > Forms, select your form, and the ID will be in the URL. Also, ensure the field names in `form_data` e.g., `firstname`, `lastname`, `email` match the internal property names in your HubSpot form.

 Navigating HubSpot API Limits and Error Handling

When you're interacting with any API, it's not just about making calls. it's about making *responsible* calls. HubSpot has rate limits to ensure fair usage and system stability. You also need to be ready for things to go wrong, because sometimes they will!

# Understanding Rate Limits

HubSpot uses a sliding window approach for API rate limiting. This means your requests are evaluated on a rolling basis, giving you more flexibility than a rigid second-by-second count.

Here's what you generally need to know:

*   Requests Per Second/10 Seconds: Most HubSpot CRM APIs have a burst limit, often around 100 requests per 10 seconds for standard accounts, sometimes increasing to 190 requests per 10 seconds for Professional and Enterprise subscriptions. Certain APIs, like the Search API, might have different burst limits e.g., 5 requests per second.
*   Daily Limits: There's also a daily request limit. For Professional subscriptions, this might be around 650,000 requests per day, and for Enterprise, it can be up to 1 million requests per day. You can even purchase "API Limit Increase capacity packs" to get more, adding 1 million requests per day and boosting burst limits further.
*   Response Headers: HubSpot is pretty good about telling you where you stand. API responses include headers like `X-HubSpot-RateLimit-Max` maximum allowed requests, `X-HubSpot-RateLimit-Remaining` how many you have left, and `X-HubSpot-RateLimit-Daily-Remaining` daily requests left. Keep an eye on these if you're making a lot of calls!

Exceeding these limits will result in `429 Too Many Requests` errors. If you hit this, your application might be temporarily blocked from making further requests.

# Implementing Robust Error Handling

Good error handling makes your application resilient. The `hubspot-api-python` library will raise `hubspot.ApiException` for API-related errors.

import time
import requests # Still good to have for general HTTP errors if not using the client for everything

# ... previous setup code for api_client ...

def make_hubspot_callapi_method, *args, kwargs:
    """
    A wrapper to handle common API errors and rate limiting with retries.
    retries = 3
   delay = 5 # seconds

    for i in rangeretries:
        try:
           return api_method*args, kwargs
        except hubspot.ApiException as e:
           if e.status == 429: # Too Many Requests
                printf"Rate limit hit. Retrying in {delay} seconds..."
                time.sleepdelay
               delay *= 2 # Exponential backoff
           elif e.status == 401: # Unauthorized
                print"Authentication error: Check your access token and scopes."
                raise
           elif e.status == 404: # Not Found
                printf"Resource not found: {e.reason}"
            else:
                printf"An API error occurred Status {e.status}: {e.reason} - {e.body}"
       except requests.exceptions.RequestException as e: # Catch network errors if using requests directly
            printf"Network error during API call: {e}"
            raise
        except Exception as e:
            printf"An unexpected error occurred: {e}"
    print"Max retries reached, call failed."
    raise Exception"HubSpot API call failed after multiple retries."

# Example usage:
    print"\n--- Fetching Contacts with Error Handling ---"
   contacts_page = make_hubspot_callapi_client.crm.contacts.basic_api.get_page, limit=10 # Fetching first 10
    if contacts_page.results:
        for contact in contacts_page.results:
            printf"Contact ID: {contact.id}, Email: {contact.properties.get'email'}"
        print"No contacts found on the first page."

    printf"Failed to fetch contacts after retries: {e}"

This `make_hubspot_call` function demonstrates a basic retry logic with exponential backoff. If you hit a `429` rate limit, it waits, then tries again, doubling the wait time for each retry. It also catches other common HTTP error codes and logs them.

# Best Practices

*   Secure Credentials: Always use environment variables for your access tokens.
*   Batch Requests: If you need to create or update many objects, see if there's a batch API endpoint available. Sending one request with 100 items is much more efficient and kinder to rate limits than 100 individual requests.
*   Caching: If your application frequently requests the same data, cache it locally for a short period. This reduces redundant API calls.
*   Organize Your Code: Use functions and classes to keep your API interaction code clean and reusable.
*   Comment Thoroughly: Explain what your code does, especially the complex parts. Your future self will thank you!
*   Test in a Sandbox: Always test your API integrations in a HubSpot sandbox account first. This prevents you from messing up your live data.

 Understanding HubSpot API Costs

Here's a common question: Does using the HubSpot API cost extra? The short answer is, the HubSpot API itself is generally available without direct additional fees, but *what* you can do with it and *how much* you can do often depends on your existing HubSpot subscription level.

Think of it this way:

*   Included with Your Subscription: Access to the core CRM APIs Contacts, Companies, Deals, etc. is typically included with your HubSpot Marketing Hub, Sales Hub, Service Hub, or Operations Hub subscription. The number of API calls you can make your daily and burst rate limits will vary based on whether you have a Starter, Professional, or Enterprise plan. Higher tiers usually come with higher limits.
*   API Limit Increase Packs: If your needs are particularly demanding, exceeding the standard limits for your plan, HubSpot offers "API Limit Increase capacity packs" as an add-on. These can significantly boost your daily and burst rate limits for an additional cost. For example, an add-on could increase your daily limit by 1 million requests.
*   Custom Integration Costs: While HubSpot doesn't charge for the API *access* itself beyond your subscription and potential add-ons, building custom integrations does incur development costs. If you hire a developer or an agency, they will charge for their time and expertise to write the Python code and set up the integration. These costs can vary widely, from a few hundred to several thousand dollars, depending on the complexity. Some integrators might offer subscription-based pricing for ongoing maintenance or fixed pricing per integration.
*   Specific API Features: Some very specific or advanced API features might be tied to certain HubSpot Hubs or tiers. For instance, the ability to use multiple CRM pipelines is available with Sales Professional or Enterprise.

In essence, if you have a HubSpot account, you likely already have access to the API. Your main "cost" will be the development effort to build your Python integration, and potentially purchasing higher-tier HubSpot subscriptions or API capacity packs if your usage is very high.

 Where to Find More: HubSpot Python API Documentation

This guide covers a lot, but the HubSpot API is extensive. For the most up-to-date and comprehensive information, always refer to the official sources:

*   HubSpot Developers Portal: This is your go-to for all things HubSpot API, including interactive documentation, API references for all endpoints, and guides for different object types. You'll find details on properties, associations, and specific API versions.
*   `hubspot-api-python` GitHub Repository: The official Python client library's GitHub page like is excellent for understanding how the library maps to the API, installation instructions, and often has good examples.
*   HubSpot Community Forums: If you hit a snag, the HubSpot Developer Community can be a great place to ask questions and learn from others' experiences.

Keep these resources handy. they'll be your best companions as you build out your Python integrations with HubSpot.

---

 Frequently Asked Questions

# What is the HubSpot API?

The HubSpot API Application Programming Interface is a set of rules and tools that lets your custom applications or other software communicate and exchange data with your HubSpot portal. It allows you to programmatically create, read, update, and delete HubSpot objects like contacts, companies, and deals, essentially extending HubSpot's functionality and automating tasks.

# Is the HubSpot API free to use?

Access to the HubSpot API is generally included with your HubSpot subscription Starter, Professional, Enterprise tiers. While there isn't a separate direct cost for API access, the volume of API calls you can make rate limits and the specific features you can access often depend on your HubSpot plan. For very high usage, HubSpot offers "API Limit Increase capacity packs" for an additional fee.

# How do I authenticate with the HubSpot API using Python?

The recommended and most secure way to authenticate with the HubSpot API for private integrations is using Private Apps. You create a Private App in your HubSpot account settings, define specific permissions scopes it needs, and then generate an access token. This access token is then used in your Python code ideally stored as an environment variable to authenticate your API requests. Legacy API keys are no longer supported for new integrations after November 30, 2022.

# What is the `hubspot-api-python` library?

The `hubspot-api-python` library is the official Python client library provided by HubSpot. It acts as a wrapper around the HubSpot REST API, making it much easier to interact with HubSpot using Python. Instead of manually crafting HTTP requests, you use Pythonic methods and objects provided by the library, which simplifies development and helps manage API calls to various CRM objects.

# How do I handle API rate limits in my Python code?

HubSpot enforces rate limits requests per second/10 seconds and daily limits to maintain system stability. To handle them in Python, you should implement retry logic with exponential backoff. If your code receives a `429 Too Many Requests` error, it should wait for a specified period e.g., 5 seconds, then retry the request, increasing the wait time with each subsequent failure. You can also monitor rate limit headers `X-HubSpot-RateLimit-Remaining` in the API responses to proactively adjust your request frequency.

# Can I submit data to HubSpot forms using Python?

Yes, you can programmatically submit data to HubSpot forms using Python. This is typically done by sending an HTTP POST request to the specific HubSpot Forms API endpoint `https://api.hsforms.com/submissions/v3/integration/submit/{portal_id}/{form_id}`. You'll need your HubSpot Portal ID and the Form ID, along with the data structured to match your form fields. This often involves using Python's `requests` library directly, with your Private App access token for authentication.

# What kind of data can I manage with the HubSpot API?

The HubSpot API allows you to manage a wide range of CRM data, including core objects like Contacts, Companies, Deals, and Tickets. You can also interact with custom objects, engagements like emails or calls, marketing assets, forms, and more. The API lets you create new records, retrieve existing ones individually or in bulk, update properties, and establish associations between different object types e.g., linking a contact to a company.

Is VPN Safe for Ayman? Unpacking Online Security