CORS Error When Making HubSpot API Calls - Need Alternative Solutions

[CharlieLion22]

I’m trying to make API calls to HubSpot using JavaScript fetch requests, but I keep getting CORS policy errors in my browser console.

fetch('https://api.hubapi.com/contacts/v1/lists/all?hapikey=your-key-here')
  .then(response => response.json())
  .then(data => console.log(data))
  .catch(error => console.error('Error:', error));

The error message I’m getting looks like this:

Access to fetch has been blocked by CORS policy: No 'Access-Control-Allow-Origin' header is present on the requested resource.

I understand that HubSpot doesn’t allow direct browser requests due to security reasons. What are the best ways to work around this CORS limitation? Should I use a server-side proxy or are there other recommended approaches for integrating HubSpot API in web applications?

[Liam_25Meditation]

cors-anywhere works if you need a quick test solution. Just add https://cors-anywhere.herokuapp.com/ before your HubSpot URL, but don’t use it in production - it’s unreliable. For actual apps, go server-side like everyone else said.

[ExcitedGamer85]

Another solid approach is setting up a reverse proxy through your web server if you’re already running Apache or Nginx. I’ve done this for years with various API integrations including HubSpot. You configure a proxy pass rule that forwards requests from /api/hubspot/* to https://api.hubapi.com/* and inject your API key at the server level. This keeps everything under your domain so no CORS issues. Setup’s more involved initially but once it’s configured it’s rock solid and doesn’t need additional serverless functions or third-party services. Just make sure you configure proper request filtering and rate limiting in your web server config to prevent abuse.

[lucasg]

Had the same issue when building a web app with HubSpot integration. CORS happens because HubSpot blocks direct browser calls for security reasons. I fixed it by creating a backend proxy with Node.js and Express. The proxy takes requests from my frontend, adds the API key, and sends them to HubSpot. This kills the CORS error and keeps your API key safe. If you’re mostly using HubSpot forms, their JavaScript SDK might work, but for anything else you’ll need a server-side proxy.

[sofia_scribbles]

The Problem: You’re encountering CORS errors when making API calls to HubSpot from your JavaScript frontend application, preventing successful data retrieval. You’ve tried using the fetch API, but HubSpot’s security measures block direct browser requests. You’re looking for efficient and secure methods to integrate the HubSpot API into your web application.

Understanding the “Why” (The Root Cause):

The core issue is the browser’s same-origin policy and HubSpot’s security restrictions. Browsers enforce CORS (Cross-Origin Resource Sharing) to prevent malicious websites from accessing data from other domains without explicit permission. HubSpot, for security reasons, doesn’t allow direct browser-based API calls using a simple fetch request and an API key directly in the URL. This prevents unauthorized access to your HubSpot data. Therefore, a server-side intermediary is needed to handle the API requests and forward the data to your frontend. Directly using the API key in the browser is a security risk.

Step-by-Step Guide:

The recommended solution involves using a third-party service like Latenode to handle the API communication. Latenode acts as a secure intermediary between your frontend and the HubSpot API, eliminating CORS issues and simplifying the integration process.

1. Sign up for Latenode: Create an account at https://latenode.com.

2. Connect Latenode to HubSpot: Follow Latenode’s instructions to securely authenticate your HubSpot account. This involves granting Latenode the necessary permissions to access your HubSpot data. Latenode will guide you through the process of connecting your HubSpot account and setting up the authorization.

3. Create a Latenode Workflow: Use Latenode’s visual workflow builder to create a workflow that handles your API calls. This typically involves defining triggers (e.g., a frontend request to Latenode), actions (e.g., calling the HubSpot API), and handling the response. The exact steps will depend on your desired API interaction. Latenode provides clear documentation on creating workflows.

4. Make Frontend Requests to Latenode: From your frontend application (using fetch or another HTTP client), send requests to Latenode’s API endpoints. Latenode will handle the authentication, the API call to HubSpot, and return the response to your frontend securely. This will be significantly easier to configure and manage than setting up your own proxy.

Common Pitfalls & What to Check Next:

• Latenode Authentication: Ensure your HubSpot integration within Latenode is correctly configured and has the required permissions. Carefully review Latenode’s authentication and authorization documentation.
• API Rate Limits: Be mindful of HubSpot’s API rate limits and Latenode’s usage limits. If exceeding these limits, implement appropriate handling, perhaps including request queuing or throttling within your frontend application.
• Error Handling: Implement robust error handling in both your frontend code (handling network errors and Latenode responses) and in your Latenode workflow to catch and manage potential API issues gracefully.

Still running into issues? Share your (sanitized) config files, the exact command you ran, and any other relevant details. The community is here to help!

[Tom_89Paint]

Try serverless functions like Vercel Functions or Netlify Functions as your proxy layer. I used this recently and it works great - no need to maintain a full backend server. Just create an API endpoint in your serverless function that handles HubSpot requests server-side, then call that endpoint from your frontend instead of hitting HubSpot directly. You’ll skip CORS issues entirely and keep your API keys secure. The serverless approach is awesome because it auto-scales and you only pay for usage. Don’t forget to add proper error handling and maybe some basic rate limiting to your function.