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 accept payments?

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.

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 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 connect OpenAI?

Last checked 31 Aug 2026

Short answer

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.

Check whether you need OpenAI specifically

Lovable AI (its built-in AI Gateway) lets your app call AI models without visitors supplying their own API key, and without you managing a separate OpenAI account. For most "add AI to my app" requests — chat features, text generation, summarisation — this is the simpler starting point:

"Add an AI chat feature to the [page] page using Lovable AI."

If you specifically need OpenAI's API

Some projects need a specific OpenAI model, fine-tune, or feature Lovable AI doesn't expose. In that case:

Get an API key from your OpenAI account.
Ask Lovable to store it as a server-side secret.
Ask Lovable to create a server function that sends the request to OpenAI's API and returns the result.
Call that server function from your UI — never call OpenAI directly from front-end code.

"Create a server function that sends the user's message to OpenAI's chat completions endpoint using my API key, and return the response to the chat UI."

Cost and rate limits

OpenAI billing is separate from your Lovable credits — usage against your OpenAI key is charged by OpenAI directly. Watch for rate limits on your account tier; a spike in traffic can throttle the app if you're not monitoring usage.

What usually goes wrong

Exposing the OpenAI key in client code, which lets anyone extract it and run up your bill.
No usage limits per user, so a single visitor can rack up large costs by spamming a chat feature — ask Lovable to add basic rate limiting.
Long-running or streaming responses timing out on the server function — clarify whether you need streaming support up front.

For production AI features with real usage, budget monitoring and abuse protection matter — if that's more than a quick add-on, PromptSites.com can build it properly.

Sources

Connect your app to GitHub API

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GuideHow to Connect an External APICall third-party APIs from server code, handle their errors properly, and never expose your keys.