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 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 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 install Google Tag Manager?

Q: 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.

Last checked 31 Aug 2026

Short answer

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.

Setup steps

Create a container in Google Tag Manager and copy the two snippets it gives you (one for <head>, one right after <body>).
Ask Lovable:

"Add my Google Tag Manager container GTM-XXXXXXX to the site, with the head snippet in the document head and the noscript snippet right after the opening body tag, on every page."

Why GTM instead of individual scripts

If you expect to add or swap tracking tools over time (analytics, ad pixels, conversion tracking), GTM lets you manage them from the Tag Manager interface without asking Lovable to edit code each time. For a single, permanent tracking script, adding it directly (see /questions/how-do-i-connect-google-analytics) is simpler.

Single-page app note

Same caveat as GA4: Lovable apps navigate client-side, so GTM's default "Page View" trigger only fires on the first load. Set up a custom trigger listening for route changes, or ask Lovable to push a dataLayer event on each route change:

"Push an event to the dataLayer named 'route_change' whenever the route changes, so I can use it as a trigger in Tag Manager."

Verifying it works

Use GTM's built-in Preview mode against your published or preview URL — it shows exactly which tags fired and what data layer values they saw.

What usually goes wrong

Only adding the head snippet and skipping the body/noscript snippet — fine for most tags, but technically incomplete per Google's instructions.
Tags configured in GTM but never published (GTM has its own separate "Publish" step distinct from Lovable's Publish).
Duplicate tracking because both a direct GA snippet and a GTM-managed GA tag are live at once — pick one path.
Ad blockers and browser tracking protection affecting a portion of visitors regardless of setup.

Sources

Google Tag Manager quick start

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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.