Do I need to use webhooks for real-time sync?

Not always.

If by “real-time sync” you mean keeping two systems updated quickly, webhooks are a common and often the best option, but they’re not strictly required.

Use webhooks when:

• You want immediate updates when something changes
• The source system supports them
• You want to avoid constant polling
• You need to keep latency low and reduce unnecessary API calls

Alternatives:

• Polling: Your app checks the API every so often for changes.
  • Simpler to implement sometimes
  • But less efficient and less “real-time”
• Streaming / subscriptions: Some platforms offer persistent connections or event streams instead of webhooks
• Scheduled batch sync: Fine if near-real-time isn’t necessary
• Database replication / CDC: For internal systems, change data capture can be better than webhooks

Rule of thumb:

• If you need updates within seconds or minutes, webhooks are usually the right choice.
• If “real-time” is flexible or the provider doesn’t support webhooks, polling can still work.

If you want, I can help you decide the best approach for your specific app or API.