How do I connect an API to Lovable?

Describe the API and what you want it to do in Chat; Lovable will typically wire the call through a server function (Edge Function) so any API key stays off the client.

How do I connect Stripe?

Use Lovable's built-in Payments feature where available; for anything it doesn't cover, ask Lovable to wire Stripe through a server function that keeps your secret key off the client.

How do I create subscriptions?

Set up recurring prices in Stripe, then ask Lovable to create checkout for those prices and store each user's subscription status in your database so you can gate features accordingly.

How do I connect OpenAI?

For most cases, use Lovable AI (the built-in AI Gateway) so users don't need their own key; if you specifically need OpenAI, ask Lovable to store your API key as a secret and call it from a server function.

How do I connect Google Maps?

Get a Google Maps API key restricted to your domain, store it as a secret, and ask Lovable to embed the map component using that key server-side where possible.

How do I connect Google Analytics?

Ask Lovable to add your Google Analytics measurement ID as a script/tag in the site's head, or install it via Google Tag Manager for more flexibility.

How do I install Google Tag Manager?

Ask Lovable to add your GTM container snippet to the site's shared head and body, then manage individual tags (analytics, ads, pixels) from within Tag Manager itself.

How do I connect Meta Pixel?

Ask Lovable to add your Meta Pixel ID as a script in the site's shared head, and fire a PageView (or custom) event on each route change since Lovable apps are single-page apps.

How do I add a booking system?

For simple scheduling, embed an existing tool like Calendly; for a fully custom booking flow, ask Lovable to build a bookings table with availability logic backed by Lovable Cloud.

How do I embed Calendly?

Ask Lovable to embed your Calendly link using Calendly's inline widget or popup script on the relevant page.

How do I connect Shopify?

Connect via Shopify's Storefront API (for product/catalogue data) or link out to an existing Shopify checkout; Lovable doesn't replace Shopify's backend, it calls into it.

How do I connect an external CRM?

Ask Lovable to build a server function that sends or fetches records via your CRM's REST API (HubSpot, Salesforce, Pipedrive, etc.), using an API key stored as a secret.

How do I connect an email marketing platform?

Ask Lovable to send new subscribers or events to your email platform's API (Mailchimp, ConvertKit, Klaviyo, etc.) via a server function using an API key stored as a secret.

How do I use webhooks?

Webhooks let external services notify your Lovable app when something happens; ask Lovable to create a server function URL as the webhook endpoint, and configure that URL in the third-party service.

How do I receive webhook data?

Ask Lovable for a server function that accepts incoming POST requests, verifies the sender where possible, then stores the payload in your database.

How do I securely call third-party APIs?

Keep every API key and secret server-side in a Lovable Cloud/Supabase server function, never in front-end code, and have your UI call that function instead of the third-party API directly.

Why is my API working in preview but not production?

This is usually a missing secret, environment mismatch, or a domain restriction that only applies once the app is published — check that every secret and allowed-domain setting has been applied to production, not just preview.

How do I accept payments?

Last checked 31 Aug 2026

Short answer

Ask Lovable to add its built-in Payments feature (backed by Stripe) for checkout; it handles one-time payments and subscriptions without you managing raw API keys in the UI.

The straightforward path

"Add a payment button that charges [amount] for [product/service] and add a success page after checkout."

Lovable's built-in Payments feature is the recommended starting point — it's designed to be added through Chat with Stripe underneath, without you writing integration code by hand. Check what it currently supports in the integrations panel before reaching for a manual Stripe setup.

What you'll need ready

A Stripe account (or Lovable will prompt you to create one during setup).
Clear pricing: one-time amount, or subscription tiers if recurring.
What should happen after payment — unlock content, send an email, update a database record.

One-time vs recurring

One-time payments: simplest case, a single Checkout Session per purchase.
Subscriptions: needs plan/price objects in Stripe and a way to track subscription status in your database — see /questions/how-do-i-create-subscriptions.

Data you'll want stored

Ask Lovable to record each successful payment (customer, amount, product, Stripe reference ID) in your Lovable Cloud database, protected by row-level security so users only see their own records.

What usually goes wrong

Testing exclusively with real cards instead of Stripe's test mode, which slows down debugging and risks real charges.
No webhook: the checkout redirect succeeding doesn't guarantee the payment cleared — always confirm via a webhook before granting access to paid content.
Access control gaps: after payment, ask Lovable to gate the feature/content with a proper role or entitlement check, not just a client-side flag.
Refund/cancellation flows being forgotten entirely — decide early how you'll handle them.

If you're taking real payments for a business, it's worth having a second pair of eyes check the flow; PromptSites.com can review or build it for you.

Sources

Set up app payments with Stripe

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