Article · ~10 min read

Webhook vs. API: Differences and when to use each

Zapier Free Beginner

Founders confuse webhooks and APIs constantly, and picking the wrong one wastes days. This piece draws the line cleanly: a webhook pushes data when something happens, an API is asked to pull or change data on demand. Knowing which side of that line your two tools sit on tells you exactly how to wire them together.

  • APIs are pull (you ask), webhooks are push (you get told)
  • A webhook is a limited subset of an API that only sends data
  • Use webhooks for real time triggers, APIs for fetching or updating
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The question it answers

  1. How do I connect two tools that don't have a native integration without paying for expensive automation plans?

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  4. Video What is a Webhook? Webhooks for Beginners YouTube
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  6. Course · ~2 hours APIs for Beginners: How to use an API (full course) Craig Dennis
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