Many companies use HubSpot as their CRM to manage contacts, companies, deals, and marketing activity. Others use PostgreSQL as a central database for business operations, analytics, or application development.
As data grows across platforms, keeping information consistent between systems becomes more important. This is where the concept of two way sync applies—allowing changes in either system to reflect in the other automatically.
This guide explains how syncing HubSpot with PostgreSQL works in 2025. It covers key approaches, setup steps, sync patterns, and best practices for accuracy, security, and performance.
HubSpot excels at customer relationship management but has limitations for complex data analysis. PostgreSQL, as a relational database, offers powerful querying capabilities that complement HubSpot's strengths. When these systems remain disconnected, organizations face several challenges:
Data becomes fragmented across platforms
Teams work with outdated or inconsistent information
Reporting requires manual exports and reconciliation
Customer insights remain isolated from operational data
A two-way sync between HubSpot and PostgreSQL creates a unified data environment where both systems contain current, accurate information.
Benefits of connected systems:
Enhanced analytics: Combine CRM data with financial, product, and operational metrics for comprehensive business intelligence
Developer access: Enable technical teams to build custom applications using familiar database tools
Data governance: Implement consistent backup, security, and compliance practices across all customer data
Two way sync (also called bidirectional synchronization) means data flows in both directions between systems. When information changes in either HubSpot or PostgreSQL, the update appears in the other system automatically.
Unlike one-way data pipelines that only move information in a single direction, two-way sync creates a continuous data loop. This approach maintains consistency across platforms without manual intervention.
For example, when a sales representative updates a contact's phone number in HubSpot, that change appears in PostgreSQL. Similarly, when a customer service application connected to PostgreSQL records a support interaction, that information updates the corresponding HubSpot record.
The technical components that enable effective two-way sync include:
Change detection: Methods for identifying when data has been modified
Field mapping: Rules that connect fields between different systems
Conflict resolution: Logic for handling simultaneous updates to the same record
Error handling: Processes for managing failed syncs and data inconsistencies
Organizations can connect HubSpot with PostgreSQL using several methods, each with different capabilities and requirements:
This basic approach involves exporting CSV files from HubSpot and importing them into PostgreSQL using SQL commands. While simple, this method:
Requires human intervention for each data transfer
Creates only point-in-time snapshots rather than ongoing synchronization
Cannot support real-time updates or two-way data flow
Becomes impractical as data volume or update frequency increases
Developers can build custom code that connects to HubSpot's API and writes data to PostgreSQL. This approach:
Offers complete flexibility in how data moves between systems
Can support real-time updates and two-way sync with proper design
Requires significant development resources and ongoing maintenance
Demands expertise in both HubSpot's API and PostgreSQL
Integration platforms provide pre-built connectors for moving data between systems. These tools:
Offer visual interfaces for mapping fields without extensive coding
Support scheduled syncs at regular intervals
May have limited support for real-time or two-way synchronization
Vary widely in pricing, capabilities, and ease of use
Purpose-built synchronization tools focus specifically on keeping data consistent across systems. These solutions:
Support real-time, bidirectional data flow
Handle conflict resolution automatically
Adapt to schema changes without breaking
Require minimal technical configuration
This comparison highlights key differences between approaches:
Approach | Setup Complexity | Technical Requirements | Real-time Updates | Two-way Sync | Best For |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Manual Export/Import | Low | Basic SQL knowledge | No | No | Occasional data transfers |
Custom API Integration | High | Development expertise | Possible | Possible | Highly customized workflows |
ETL/iPaaS Platforms | Medium | Configuration skills | Limited | Limited | Scheduled batch syncs |
Specialized Sync Tools | Low-Medium | System administration | Yes | Yes | Continuous data consistency |
Setting up a basic sync between HubSpot and PostgreSQL involves five main steps:
Begin by creating API credentials in HubSpot:
Navigate to Settings > Integrations > Private Apps
Create a new private app with a descriptive name
Select the specific data access scopes needed (contacts, companies, deals)
Generate and securely store the access token
Remember that access tokens contain sensitive permissions and should be protected like passwords. Store them in secure environment variables or a secrets manager rather than in code repositories.
Prepare your database to receive HubSpot data:
CREATE TABLE hubspot_contacts (
id BIGINT PRIMARY KEY,
firstname TEXT,
lastname TEXT,
email TEXT,
created_at TIMESTAMPTZ,
updated_at TIMESTAMPTZ
);
Create a dedicated database user with appropriate permissions for the integration. This user should have only the access levels required for the sync process, following the principle of least privilege.
Create a clear mapping between HubSpot properties and PostgreSQL columns. Consider data types carefully—HubSpot's fields may not perfectly match PostgreSQL's available types.
Common mapping challenges:
Date formats: HubSpot uses ISO 8601 format while PostgreSQL has specific date/time types
Custom fields: Properties created in HubSpot need corresponding columns in PostgreSQL
Enumerated values: Dropdown fields in HubSpot may need validation or transformation
Required fields: Some fields mandatory in one system may be optional in the other
Document your field mapping thoroughly, as it forms the foundation of your sync process.
Start with a small data sample to confirm your setup works correctly:
Sync a limited set of records (perhaps 10-20 contacts)
Verify the data appears correctly in PostgreSQL
Make changes in both systems to test bidirectional flow
Check for any missing fields or data type issues
Examine logs for warnings or errors that might indicate configuration problems.
Once testing confirms your sync works properly, establish a regular schedule:
For smaller datasets, full syncs might run hourly or daily
For larger volumes, use incremental syncs based on "last modified" timestamps
Consider business hours and usage patterns when scheduling updates
Monitor performance metrics to adjust timing as needed
Implementing a reliable sync between HubSpot and PostgreSQL requires attention to security, performance, and maintenance:
Security considerations:
Encryption: Use TLS/SSL for all connections between systems
Access controls: Apply the principle of least privilege to all integration accounts
Audit logging: Track all data changes for compliance and troubleshooting
Data classification: Identify and protect sensitive customer information
Performance optimization:
Incremental syncs: Only process records that have changed since the last sync
Batch processing: Group operations to reduce API calls and database overhead
Connection pooling: Reuse database connections rather than creating new ones
Indexing: Create appropriate indexes on frequently queried columns
Monitoring and maintenance:
Review sync logs regularly for errors or warnings
Track sync duration and record counts to identify trends
Update field mappings when new properties are added in HubSpot
Test the sync process after HubSpot or PostgreSQL updates
Even well-designed sync processes encounter obstacles. Here are frequent issues and their solutions:
API rate limiting: HubSpot restricts how many API requests you can make within a time period. To avoid hitting these limits:
Implement backoff strategies that pause and retry when limits are reached
Batch multiple records in single API calls where possible
Schedule intensive sync operations during off-peak hours
Schema evolution: Both HubSpot and PostgreSQL schemas change over time as business needs evolve. Address this by:
Building flexibility into your PostgreSQL schema (using JSONB fields for variable data)
Implementing a schema comparison step before each sync
Automating the addition of new columns when HubSpot properties are created
Data volume challenges: As records grow into the millions, sync performance can degrade. Mitigate this by:
Partitioning PostgreSQL tables by date or other logical divisions
Implementing parallel processing for large datasets
Using timestamp filtering to process only recently changed records
Error recovery: When syncs fail, data can become inconsistent between systems. Protect against this with:
Transaction-based operations that commit changes only when fully complete
Detailed error logging that captures the specific records and fields affected
Reconciliation processes that can detect and resolve inconsistencies
Connecting HubSpot with PostgreSQL through two-way sync creates a more unified data environment. This integration bridges the gap between customer relationship management and data analytics, enabling more comprehensive insights and streamlined operations.
The approach you select depends on your technical resources, data volume, and real-time requirements. While manual exports might suffice for occasional analysis, automated sync tools provide continuous data consistency with minimal maintenance.
As your integration matures, consider expanding beyond basic contact synchronization to include companies, deals, tickets, and custom objects. This comprehensive approach creates a complete view of customer data across all systems.
For organizations managing large datasets or requiring real-time synchronization, specialized tools like Stacksync offer purpose-built solutions. These platforms handle the technical complexities of two-way sync while providing the security and reliability needed for production environments.
Ready to implement a professional HubSpot–PostgreSQL integration? Talk with a cloud architect to design a reliable, secure, and scalable solution tailored to your specific business needs.
Custom objects require creating corresponding tables in PostgreSQL with appropriate foreign key relationships to maintain the same data structure found in HubSpot.
Data transformation can occur through ETL tools with built-in mapping functions, PostgreSQL views or functions, or middleware code that processes the data during the sync pipeline.
Large-volume syncs require incremental processing based on modified timestamps, batch operations instead of individual record updates, and partitioned PostgreSQL tables for improved query performance.