To securely call the Contacts API, you’ll use OAuth 2.0 with the scope contacts.readonly. Credentials are stored in the GHL developer settings and refreshed as needed.
Zapier App Connector uses OAuth 2.0 to connect to the GHL Contacts API. When you authorize, you’ll grant the app the contacts.readonly scope and a redirect/callback URL is used by Zapier.
GET /contacts/:contactId GET /contacts/:contactId/tasks GET /contacts/:contactId/tasks/:taskId GET /contacts/:contactId/notes GET /contacts/:contactId/notes/:id GET /contacts/:contactId/appointments GET /contacts/ GET /contacts/business/:businessId contacts.write POST /contacts/ PUT /contacts/:contactId DELETE /contacts/:contactId POST /contacts/:contactId/tasks PUT /contacts/:contactId/tasks/:taskId PUT /contacts/:contactId/tasks/:taskId/completed DELETE /contacts/:contactId/tasks/:taskId POST /contacts/:contactId/tags
Trigger: When a contact is requested by ID in a Zap, fetch the full contact profile.
Action: Return contact fields like name, email, phone, company, and notes, ready for mapping in Zapier.
GET /contacts/:contactId
contactId, name, email, phone, company, tags
Trigger: Retrieve the task list for a specific contact.
Action: Return tasks with status, dueDate, and title for mapping in Zapier.
GET /contacts/:contactId/tasks
contactId, taskId, dueDate, status, title
Trigger: Retrieve a single task by ID.
Action: Return task details and notes for downstream automation.
GET /contacts/:contactId/tasks/:taskId
contactId, taskId, title, status, dueDate
Rapid automation: Connect data without writing a line of code.
Centralized data mapping: Map fields from GHL to Zapier instantly.
Error handling and retries: Built-in resilience with API calls.
Key elements include endpoints, authentication, data mapping, and call flows that connect GHL with Zapier.
A specific URL path and HTTP method used to interact with an API.
The process of verifying identity to access API resources (OAuth 2.0, API keys, etc.).
Restrictions that limit how many requests you can make in a given time window.
Aligning fields between responses from the GHL API and Zapier payloads.
Create a Zap that watches for contact field changes via the API and triggers downstream automations.
Whenever a new contact is added, automatically create a starter task to onboard them.
Aggregate notes from the Contacts API and other apps into a single Zapier note field.
Create or select your GHL application, request authorization, and obtain the client credentials.
Define the scope as contacts.readonly and set base URL for API calls.
Use the endpoint paths to set triggers and actions, verify with test calls.
The Contacts API supports OAuth 2.0 and API keys depending on your setup. In the GHL developer portal you configure credentials for your app and authorize access. In the Zapier App Connector, select OAuth 2.0 and request the contacts.readonly scope during authorization. Keep your credentials secure and rotate them according to your security policy.
Key endpoints to read contact data include GET /contacts/:contactId to fetch a single contact and GET /contacts/ to list contacts. You can also pull related data like notes and tasks using the nested endpoints listed in the Endpoints section. Use Zapier’s test feature to verify responses and field mappings before enabling live automations.
Yes. You can create and update contacts via the API using POST /contacts/ to create and PUT /contacts/:contactId to update existing records. Deletion is available via DELETE /contacts/:contactId if your permissions allow it. Ensure your OAuth scope includes the appropriate access (read or write) for the actions you perform.
In Zapier, connect the GHL Contacts API app, create a test trigger or action, and run a test call to see the response structure. Use the sample payloads to map fields and validate data types. If you encounter errors, inspect status codes and error messages to adjust your request (endpoint, method, headers, and body).
The primary scope is contacts.readonly for read access. To create, update, or delete data you’ll need broader scopes or a different app entitlement as configured in your GHL app settings. Always request the minimum scope necessary for your workflow and grant users only what they need.
Common errors include 401 Unauthorized, 403 Forbidden, and 429 Too Many Requests. Verify credentials, confirm the correct scope, and ensure the base URL and endpoints are accurate. Implement exponential backoff and respect Retry-After headers when hitting rate limits.
Rate limits vary by plan and endpoint. Refer to the GHL API docs for current quotas. If you approach limits, stagger requests, cache responses when possible, and implement retry logic with backoff.
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Complete Operations Catalog - 126 Actions & Triggers