HubSpot retired their classic API keys in 2022. The modern way to grant a third-party app access to your HubSpot data is a Private App — you (an admin in your HubSpot account) create the app, pick exactly which permissions it needs, and HubSpot issues you a permanent token to paste into Anexus.
Before you start
- You need to be a HubSpot admin (or have a user with "App Marketplace Access" + "Service Hub" permissions).
- Works on every HubSpot plan, including the free CRM tier.
Step 1 — Create the Private App in HubSpot
In HubSpot, go to Settings (gear icon, top right) → Integrations → Private Apps.
Click Create a private app.
On the Basic Info tab:
- Name: Anexus Connect
- Logo: optional
- Description: "Auto-syncs contacts captured by Anexus to HubSpot"
Switch to the Scopes tab. Search for and tick:
crm.objects.contacts.readcrm.objects.contacts.write
These let us look up existing contacts (so we update instead of duplicating) and create new ones.
Click Create app at the top right. HubSpot shows a warning that you can't change scopes after creation — confirm.
HubSpot displays the Access token. It starts with pat- and is about 80 characters long. Copy it now — you can come back to view it again later, but it's easier to copy from this screen.
Step 2 — Paste it into Anexus
In Anexus, go to Settings → CRM Integrations.
Find the HubSpot card and click Connect.
Paste the access token. Click Save & connect.
Anexus runs a quick test call to HubSpot to confirm the token works and to retrieve your account name (so we can show it on the card). On success the card turns green.
What syncs to HubSpot
Every new contact captured via your exchange form becomes (or updates) a HubSpot Contact record with:
- Email (HubSpot's unique key — we upsert by email so the same person is never duplicated)
- First name, last name
- Phone, company, job title
hs_lead_status = NEW(so they appear in your "New Leads" view by default)
To backfill contacts captured before connecting, click Sync past contacts on the HubSpot card. We push them in batches of 50 with a live progress bar.
If something goes wrong
"HubSpot rejected the token"
The token is wrong, expired, or the scopes are missing. Open the Private App in HubSpot → re-copy the access token → reconnect in Anexus. If scopes are wrong, you'll need to delete the app and create a new one (HubSpot doesn't allow scope changes).
Contacts not appearing in HubSpot
Click Test on the HubSpot card to confirm the token is still active (an admin may have revoked it). If test passes but new contacts aren't appearing, check your HubSpot "New" filter — they may be in the "All contacts" view sorted by an old date.
Duplicate contacts in HubSpot
Shouldn't happen — we look up by email before creating. If you see duplicates, it usually means the same person submitted your form with two different email addresses (each one is a different HubSpot record).
How to disconnect
Click Disconnect on the HubSpot card. We immediately stop pushing new contacts. To also revoke the token from HubSpot's side: go back to Settings → Integrations → Private Apps in HubSpot, open the Anexus Connect app, and click Delete.