Access the GHL Contacts API by providing a Bearer token with the scope contacts.readonly. Generate and manage your token in the GHL developer settings, keep it secure, and rotate it periodically. Use this token to authorize all requests to the endpoints listed in this guide.
In Zapier, configure an OAuth 2.0 or API key connection to the GHL Contacts API. The connector should securely store tokens, handle refreshes automatically, and request the appropriate scopes to read (and write, if needed) contact data.
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 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 WRITE: contacts.write
Trigger on contact create or update in GHL and push changes to your app or downstream systems in real time.
Actions include creating or updating a contact in GHL, adding notes, or creating related tasks from your app.
Common methods: POST /contacts/ to create, PUT /contacts/:contactId to update, GET /contacts/:contactId to read.
Key fields: contactId, firstName, lastName, email, phone, tags
Schedule batch reads or writes to move large datasets between GHL and your app.
Use read endpoints to fetch multiple contacts, then write endpoints to update or tag groups in bulk.
Examples: GET /contacts/ for listing; POST /contacts/ for bulk creation; PUT /contacts/:contactId for updates.
Fields include contactId, businessId, tags, notes, tasks
Trigger when a task is created, updated, or completed to drive downstream actions.
Create or modify tasks, update contact context, and trigger reminders or escalations from your app.
Common methods: POST /contacts/:contactId/tasks, PUT /contacts/:contactId/tasks/:taskId, PUT /contacts/:contactId/tasks/:taskId/completed.
Fields include contactId, taskId, status, dueDate
Automate data flow between GHL and your tools without writing code.
Create triggers, actions, and dashboards quickly with drag-and-drop workflows.
Keep data clean with field mappings, deduping, and validation rules—no custom scripts required.
This glossary defines core concepts you’ll encounter when working with the GHL Contacts API and the Zapier App Connector, including contacts, endpoints, scopes, and security tokens.
A contact is a person or organization in your GHL account with fields such as name, email, phone, and related notes, tasks, and appointments.
A specific URL path and HTTP method used to interact with GHL data (for example, GET /contacts/:contactId).
Permissions granted for API access (for example, contacts.readonly or contacts.write).
A security token used to authorize API requests to GHL; used in the Authorization header as ‘Bearer
When a new contact is created in GHL, automatically add them to your CRM and trigger onboarding in your app.
Sync lifecycle stages to emails, tasks, and support tickets to streamline customer journeys.
Aggregate contact fields and tasks to build real-time dashboards for your team.
Obtain a token with scope ‘contacts.readonly’, test authentication, and verify access to endpoints.
Choose relevant fields (contactId, email, phone, status) and configure triggers.
Create zap templates for creating contacts, updating tasks, and syncing notes.
No heavy coding is required. Zapier App Connector lets you create triggers and actions by wiring steps together through a visual editor. For advanced logic, you can add filters or short code steps if your plan supports it. The core data flow—fetching contact data, updating fields, and triggering actions—can be built without writing server-side code. If you do need custom logic, you can extend your workflows with conditional paths and additional apps within Zapier, keeping everything no-code friendly.
Start with the read endpoints to understand the data shape: GET /contacts/:contactId and GET /contacts/ to pull records. For syncing related items, add GET /contacts/:contactId/tasks and GET /contacts/:contactId/notes. When you’re ready to modify data, use POST /contacts/ and PUT /contacts/:contactId to create or update records, respectively. Gradually expand to tasks, notes, and tags as your automation needs grow, ensuring you handle error responses gracefully.
Use OAuth 2.0 or API keys to authenticate. Zapier can manage token refresh if you choose OAuth, or you can store and rotate API keys securely. Always request the least-privilege scope needed (e.g., reads only for basic data fetch, adds write scope only when necessary). Monitor token expiry and implement automatic refresh where supported.
Yes. You can create and update contacts with endpoints like POST /contacts/ and PUT /contacts/:contactId, and you can modify tasks with POST /contacts/:contactId/tasks and related endpoints. Ensure your connection has the necessary write permissions (scope) to perform these operations.
Rate limits vary by account and plan. Expect a ceiling on requests per minute per token or per app. If you anticipate high volume, design your Zapier flows to batch operations where possible and implement retry/backoff logic. For higher limits, contact GHL support or your account manager.
Use a sandbox or test workspace if available, and start with read-only operations to validate responses. Leverage Zapier’s test mode to simulate triggers and actions. Verify all field mappings and error handling before going live with real data.
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