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Kartra API Essential Guide

Aug 13, 20246 minute read

What type of API does Kartra provide?

Based on the search results provided, it appears that Kartra offers an API, but the specific type of API (REST, GraphQL, SOAP, etc.) is not explicitly mentioned. However, we can infer some information about Kartra's API:

Key Points:

  1. Kartra offers both outbound and inbound API functionalities.

  2. The API allows users to bridge their Kartra account with custom back-end code.

  3. Kartra provides an IPN (Instant Payment Notification) system, which can send notifications to external applications when customers place orders through Kartra Checkouts.

  4. Kartra supports custom integrations through their API, IPN, and Custom App system.

Considerations:

  1. While the specific API type is not mentioned, modern APIs often use REST or GraphQL architectures. Given that Kartra is a relatively modern platform, it's more likely to use one of these approaches rather than older technologies like SOAP.

  2. The mention of outbound and inbound API functionalities suggests a flexible API structure, which is more characteristic of REST or GraphQL APIs than SOAP.

  3. The ability to integrate with custom back-end code indicates a versatile API that can be used in various programming environments.

Best Practices:

  1. To determine the exact type of API Kartra uses, it would be best to consult Kartra's official API documentation or contact their support team directly.

  2. When working with Kartra's API, ensure you follow their guidelines and best practices for authentication, data handling, and rate limiting.

  3. Consider using Kartra's IPN system for real-time notifications about transactions, which can be useful for maintaining data consistency between Kartra and external systems.

Does the Kartra API have webhooks?

Official Kartra API and Webhooks

  1. Kartra offers both inbound and outbound API functionality.

  2. Kartra provides webhooks (outbound API) that can send data to external systems.

  3. Webhooks are managed in Kartra under My Integrations >> API >> API.

Webhook Events

Kartra webhooks can be triggered by various events, including:

  • When tags are applied or removed from a lead
  • When leads are added or updated
  • When a lead buys a product
  • When a lead completes a sequence
  • When a lead fills in a form
  • When a lead is granted or revoked access to a membership
  • When a lead subscribes or unsubscribes from a list or sequence
  • When a lead visits a Kartra page

Key Considerations

  • Kartra's API is intended for advanced users with programming skills.
  • Users must ensure they have permission to handle personal data and comply with GDPR when using the API to register leads.
  • Kartra does not allow submitting API requests on behalf of third parties.

Best Practices

  • When using webhooks, ensure you're using HTTPS for security.
  • Consider using Zapier for easier integrations between Kartra and other applications.
  • Make sure to review and comply with Kartra's API limits and guidelines.

In summary, Kartra does offer webhooks as part of its official API, with a wide range of events that can trigger webhook notifications. This allows for flexible integrations with external systems and applications.

Rate Limits and other limitations

Here are the key points about the API Rate Limits for the Kartra API:

API Call Limit

  • Kartra's inbound API system has a hardcoded limit of 20 API calls per second, per App.
  • This means that no individual App within a Kartra account should send more than 20 API calls per second to Kartra.

Exceeding the Limit

  • If the API call limit is exceeded, the system will return a "Too many requests" error message (429 error).
  • When this occurs, you should wait 1 second and try the instruction again.

Best Practices

  • It is highly recommended to implement a queue system that throttles outbound API calls from your App to a maximum rate of 20 calls per second.
  • This queue system should process calls in a first-in-first-out sequential order to prevent exceeding the limit.
  • It's better to hold back API calls for a second or two than to have them error out.

Additional Considerations

  • All API calls must be made using https:// (not http://) as Kartra's API requires SSL encryption.
  • Each API call must include specific parameters, including the API Key, API Password, and App ID.
  • Developers need to be aware of these limits and account for them in their code.

Summary

The Kartra API has a strict rate limit of 20 calls per second per App. Developers should implement queuing mechanisms to manage this limit and avoid errors. Proper authentication and encryption are also required for all API calls.

Latest API Version

Based on the search results provided, here are the key points regarding the most recent version of the Kartra API:

Current API Version

The search results do not explicitly mention a specific version number for the Kartra API. However, the information provided is from June 2024, indicating that it reflects the most up-to-date API as of that time.

Key Points

  1. API Endpoint:

    • The current Kartra API endpoint is: https://app.kartra.com/api
  2. Authentication:

    • The API requires SSL encryption and uses API Keys and Passwords for authentication
    • Both app developers and end users need to use their respective API Keys and API Passwords
  3. API Types:

    • Kartra offers both inbound and outbound API functionalities
  4. API Limits:

    • There are hardcoded limits for the Kartra API that developers need to account for in their code
  5. Developer Requirements:

    • The API is intended for advanced users with programming skills
    • Developers must be creating their own application to integrate with Kartra, not integrating third-party applications
  6. Data Privacy:

    • Developers using the API must ensure compliance with GDPR and user data privacy best practices

Best Practices

  1. Always use HTTPS for API requests
  2. Include the required parameters (API Key, API Password, and App ID) in every API call
  3. Be aware of and respect the API's hardcoded limits
  4. Ensure user consent and data privacy compliance when using the API to register leads
  5. Develop your own application as a middleware if you need to connect a third-party application to Kartra

While the search results don't provide a specific version number, they indicate that the information is current as of June 2024. For the most accurate and up-to-date information, it's always best to check the official Kartra developer documentation or contact their support directly.

How to get a Kartra developer account and API Keys?

Creating a Kartra App

  1. You need to create a Kartra App and submit it for review before you can use the API.

  2. Each App has a unique App ID that must be included in every API call to Kartra.

  3. You (the developer) will be the App owner and have the App ID.

API Keys and Authentication

  1. Both you (the App developer) and your App's end users will need API Keys and Passwords.

  2. API Keys and Passwords can be found under Integrations > API > My API in Kartra accounts.

  3. Your App's end users will need to input their Kartra API Key and Password to use your integration.

Important Considerations

  1. You cannot submit an API request on behalf of a third party. The API is intended for developers creating their own integrations.

  2. Your customers should not be submitting your App for approval on their Kartra accounts.

  3. You need to maintain your own Kartra account as an App developer.

  4. Make sure to comply with GDPR and data privacy best practices when handling user data through the API.

Steps to Get Started

  1. Sign up for a Kartra account if you don't already have one.

  2. Navigate to Integrations > API > My API to find your API Key and Password.

  3. Create your Kartra App and submit it for review.

  4. Once approved, you can start using the API by making POST requests to https://app.kartra.com/api.

  5. Include the required parameters (App ID, API Key, API Password) in every API call.

Remember that using the API requires programming skills, and Kartra's support team may have limited ability to help with custom integrations. Make sure to review Kartra's API documentation thoroughly and adhere to their usage limits and best practices.

What can you do with the Kartra API?

Based on the search results provided, here is a list of data models that can be interacted with using the Kartra API, along with what is possible for each:

Leads

  • Retrieve lead data
  • Search for leads
  • Create new leads
  • Edit existing lead information

Custom Fields

  • Create custom fields
  • Retrieve all custom fields in your account

Lists

  • Retrieve all lists in your account
  • Subscribe a lead to a list
  • Unsubscribe a lead from a list

Tags

  • Retrieve all tags in your account
  • Assign a tag to a lead
  • Unassign a tag from a lead

Sequences

  • Retrieve all sequences in your account
  • Subscribe a lead to a sequence
  • Unsubscribe a lead from a sequence

Pages

  • Retrieve all pages in your account

Payments

  • Get payment transaction details
  • Retrieve payment transactions for a lead
  • Search payment transactions
  • Refund a payment transaction

Recurring Payments

  • Get recurring payment subscription details
  • Retrieve recurring payment subscriptions for a lead
  • Search recurring payment subscriptions
  • Cancel a recurring payment subscription
  • Edit recurring payment subscription settings
  • Edit recurring payment subscription status

Calendars

  • Subscribe a lead to a calendar
  • Cancel a lead's subscription to a calendar

Points

  • Give points to a lead
  • Remove points from a lead

Additional Notes

  • The API allows for both inbound and outbound functionalities
  • There are API limits in place, though specific details are not provided in the search results
  • The API is intended for advanced users with programming skills
  • Developers must ensure compliance with GDPR and data privacy best practices when using the API
  • API approval is required, and it cannot be used to submit requests on behalf of third-party applications

It's important to note that while these data models and actions are available through the Kartra API, the specific implementation details and any additional features may require consulting the full API documentation, which is not provided in the search results.