If you’re running Facebook Lead Ads, you’re probably looking for an easy way to get instant alerts anytime a new lead submits their contact details. 

Getting leads from Facebook is only half the job. The real challenge is what happens after someone fills out your form.

Instant lead alerts and transfer means you won’t need to manually check and download new leads via CSV. This means you can get in touch with them as quickly as possible, skyrocketing the chances of making a sale.

There are a few ways to get your Facebook leads to your team faster.

One option is Zapier. It acts as a bridge between your Facebook Lead Ads and other sales tools, so every new Facebook lead can be emailed to you, added to a spreadsheet, or sent to another app you already use.

Another option is Privyr. Instead of just passing new leads through a connector tool like Zapier, Privyr integrates directly with your Facebook Lead Ads. This way, Privyr can help you act on new leads right away. In addition to receiving instant lead alerts, you can also quickly call, WhatsApp, text, and manage leads in just one tap, from your phone or laptop. If you want, you can even trigger WhatsApp automations so you don’t even have to send that first outreach yourself.

While both Zapier and Privyr can help you know when a new Facebook lead comes in, they solve very different problems. Zapier is mainly about moving lead data between apps. Privyr is about helping you respond faster and manage the follow-up process more easily.

So, should you use Zapier or Privyr for Facebook Lead Ads?

Let’s compare them properly.

Quick answer: Should you use Zapier or Privyr for Facebook Lead Ads?

Use Zapier if you only want to send Facebook Lead Ads data into another tool, such as spreadsheets, your CRM, or another app. Additionally, you do not mind building and maintaining the initial setup which involves multiple tools.

Use Privyr if you want your sales team to quickly receive, contact, manage, assign, and follow up with Facebook leads. It connects your Facebook Lead Ads directly to your sales workflow, so you can respond faster and convert more leads.

Here’s a simpler way to think about it: Zapier only moves lead data. Privyr helps you work the lead fast.

Zapier is a powerful automation platform. Privyr, on the other hand, is a lead conversion tool that combines the functionality of Zapier with CRM capabilities while integrating with Facebook directly.

Zapier vs Privyr for Facebook Lead Ads: Quick comparison

CategoryZapierPrivyr
Best forRouting Facebook leads to other appsInstantly syncing, contacting, and managing Facebook leads
Main purposeAutomation and app-to-app data transferAutomatic lead transfer & distribution, follow-up, and sales management
Facebook Lead Ads use caseSend leads to CRM, spreadsheet, email tool, or notification channelAutomatically receive leads with instant alerts. Automatically distribute, contact, and assign leads. Track follow-ups and manage sales process
WhatsApp follow-upPossible with additional WhatsApp-related actions or notificationsBuilt around WhatsApp-based sales workflows
CRM featuresRequires a separate CRM or destination appBuilt-in mobile CRM for leads and client management
Setup difficultyDepends on the workflow, app permissions, and field mappingDesigned for simpler setup and sales team adoption
Best fitTechnical users, marketers, ops teams, businesses with existing systemsSalespeople, small businesses, agencies, real estate agents, insurance agents, consultants, and teams that follow up on WhatsApp
Follow-up remindersDepends on connected app/workflowBuilt-in follow-up reminders and lead tracking
Lead assignmentPossible through Zaps and connected toolsDesigned for assigning and distributing leads to team members
Pricing modelTask-based automation pricingCRM and sales engagement pricing, with paid add-ons for some automations

How does Zapier help with Facebook Lead Ads

Zapier connects Facebook Lead Ads with other apps.

For example, you can use Zapier when you need to:

  • Add new Facebook leads to Google Sheets
  • Send lead details to Gmail
  • Send leads in your CRM
  • Add leads to Mailchimp or other email platforms
  • Send Slack or WhatsApp notifications
  • Trigger multi-step workflows after a lead submits a form

Zapier captures leads from Facebook ad campaigns and automatically sends them to CRMs, email marketing platforms, and spreadsheets. This can be useful if you already have a sales system in place and you just need a way to instantly get new Facebook Lead details.

For example, Zapier can be a good fit if your team already works from a CRM like HubSpot, Salesforce, or another CRM. Similarly, Zapier can also help if you want a spreadsheet backup of every Facebook lead or want to push leads into an email marketing sequence.

Where Zapier may not be enough

Zapier can send Facebook leads where you want, but this may not mean your sales team will reach out to every new lead quickly.

For example, imagine this workflow:

  1. Someone submits your Facebook Lead Ad.
  2. Zapier sends the lead to Google Sheets.
  3. Your salesperson needs to check the sheet.
  4. They copy the phone number.
  5. They save the contact.
  6. They open WhatsApp.
  7. They type a message.
  8. They try to remember to follow up later.

Technically, a new Facebook lead was “delivered”. But the sales process is still slow and time consuming with a lot of repetitive work. This means, Zapier can solve your lead-transfer problem, but not always help you streamline your sales process.

Zapier may not be enough if:

  • Your sales team mostly work from their phones
  • You communicate on messaging apps like WhatsApp
  • You need automatic reminders for follow ups and for leads that are not contacted
  • You want to track your sales team’s activities 
  • Your business loses deals when leads are contacted late

Zapier is a great tool for automatically receiving leads. But if your problem is slow response time or poor follow-up discipline, you may need more than app-to-app automation.

You need a system your sales team will actually use.

How does Privyr help with Facebook Lead Ads

Privyr is a mobile-first lead engagement system designed to help you act on new leads quickly. Instead of only sending lead data from Facebook to your phone, Privyr helps you:

  • Receive instant new lead alerts when new Facebook Leads come in
  • Instantly respond to new lead on WhatsApp, call, SMS, or email
  • Automatically follow up on new leads on WhatsApp with pre-defined sequences
  • Automatically assign leads to salespeople based on any rules
  • Track whether leads have been contacted
  • Set follow-up reminders
  • Monitor team activity
  • Easily manage leads from mobile and web

In Privyr, leads appear with an UNCONTACTED label until you act on them. You can set up Privyr to receive extra alerts if you or your team haven’t acted on a new lead within 15 or 60 minutes.

You don’t need a complicated CRM workflowIf you are a real estate agent, insurance advisor, education consultant, wedding planner, home services provider, agency, or freelancer. You simply want every new lead to land on your phone, ready to contact, with reminders and automations so no one forgets to follow up. That is where Privyr is much more useful.

Zapier vs Privyr: Data transfer vs sales system

Zapier and Privyr are not exactly the same type of tool. Zapier can be an automation layer in your sales system while Privyr offers a full sales system that includes automation, lead import, lead distribution, follow-up reminders, auto-responders, etc. 

Zapier is useful when you need to send Facebook Lead Ads data into another app. Privyr is useful when you want a system that helps your team contact, manage, and follow up with every Facebook lead quickly.

For example, if your business already has a CRM that your team uses every day, Zapier may be enough. You can send Facebook leads into that CRM and let your existing sales process handle the rest.

But if most of your customers are on WhatsApp, sending the lead to a spreadsheet or complex CRM may not help much. You quickly need new Facebook leads in the hands of the right sales rep, with the next action made obvious.

Zapier vs Privyr for WhatsApp follow-up

Zapier can support WhatsApp-related workflows. For example, the tool has a Facebook Lead Ads + WhatsApp Notifications integration that can send a user WhatsApp messages or alerts when a new Facebook lead is created. 

That can be useful if you want an internal notification workflow. But this might not be enough to ensure leads get contacted fast, followed-up and nurtured appropriately. 

Privyr is more directly built for WhatsApp-based sales processes.

Privyr’s WhatsApp Auto-Responder can instantly message new leads from your own WhatsApp Business number, even when you are busy or offline. You can even create a WhatsApp Sequence to automatically follow up multiple times with each lead. Privyr also lets you view and continue conversations directly in the WhatsApp Business app on your phone or laptop. Privyr is a verified Meta Business Partner and its Auto-Responder works through official WhatsApp APIs. 

If you do not want another complicated inbox but want to continue using WhatsApp with a better system behind it, Privyr is just designed for that. 

If WhatsApp is central to your sales process, Privyr will usually feel more natural than building a Zapier workflow from scratch.

Zapier vs Privyr setup comparison

You can set up both tools without technical difficulties, but the setup experience is different.

Setting up Facebook Lead Ads with Zapier

Here’s how you typically set up Zapier to receive Facebook Leads:

  1. Create a new Zap.
  2. Choose Facebook Lead Ads as the trigger app.
  3. Select the “New Lead” trigger.
  4. Connect your Facebook account.
  5. Choose the Facebook Page and lead form.
  6. Test the trigger.
  7. Choose the destination app, such as Google Sheets, Gmail, or your CRM.
  8. Map Facebook form fields to the destination fields.
  9. Test the action.
  10. Publish the Zap.

This can work well when you configure everything correctly. However, Facebook Lead Ads permissions can sometimes create issues. When Facebook Lead Ads permissions are updated, you must reconnect your account to Zapier.

So, while Zapier is a no-code tool, you still need to understand accounts, permissions, forms, fields, and destination apps.

Setting up Facebook Lead Ads with Privyr

A typical Privyr setup is more sales-focused. You just need to create a Privyr account, go to integration and connect your Facebook account to Privyr in a few taps. You can then select the Facebook Pages you want to connect. With this, you can now:

  1. Automatically receive new Facebook lead alerts in Privyr.
  2. Automatically assign or distribute leads among your team members
  3. Add WhatsApp Auto-Responder or WhatsApp follow-up automations if needed.
  4. Use templates, reminders, notes, and follow-up tracking.

Privyr is designed around what a salesperson does after the lead arrives. That makes it easier for less technical teams to adopt.

Final verdict: Zapier or Privyr for Facebook Lead Ads?

Choose Zapier if your main goal is to just send Facebook Lead Ads data into other apps.

Choose Privyr if your main goal is to set up a system that helps you contact, manage, assign, and follow up with Facebook leads faster.

If you already have a CRM your team uses every day, Zapier can help you send Facebook leads there. But if your leads are getting missed, contacted late, or lost in spreadsheets, Privyr is likely the better choice.

For most small and medium businesses that depend on WhatsApp, phone calls, and fast follow-up, Privyr is more practical because it also focuses on what happens after the lead arrives. And that is where many Facebook Lead Ads campaigns are successful.

FAQs 

Is Zapier or Privyr better for Facebook Lead Ads?

Privyr is a better tool if you want your sales team to receive, contact, assign, and follow up with Facebook leads quickly, especially through WhatsApp or other messaging apps. Zapier is better if you just want to send Facebook Lead Ads data into other apps, such as a CRM, spreadsheet, email tool, or notification channel. 

Can Zapier connect Facebook Lead Ads to WhatsApp?

Yes, Zapier has Facebook Lead Ads and WhatsApp Notifications workflows. However, the exact setup depends on the WhatsApp-related app, message type, permissions, templates, and policies involved.

Can Privyr automatically message new Facebook leads on WhatsApp?

Yes. Privyr’s WhatsApp Auto-Responder can instantly message new leads from your own WhatsApp Business number when they come in. The Auto-Responder works through official WhatsApp APIs and your conversations can continue in the WhatsApp Business app.

Do I need Zapier if I use Privyr?

Not mostly. If your main goal is to receive and follow up with Facebook leads, Privyr is more than enough. You may need Zapier if you want to send the same lead data to other systems.

Do I need a CRM if I use Zapier for Facebook Lead Ads?

Usually, yes. Zapier is not a CRM by itself. It’s a connector tool designed to send lead data between apps. If you use Zapier to capture Facebook leads, you still need a destination where your team manages those leads, such as a CRM, spreadsheet, inbox, or another sales tool.

Which is easier to set up: Zapier or Privyr?

Privyr is usually easier for sales teams that want to receive and follow up new leads quickly. Zapier is simple and doesn’t demand technical expertise for a setup. However, you may require more setup around triggers, actions, destination apps, permissions, and test leads.

Can I use Privyr and Zapier together?

Yes. You can use Zapier to send leads from lead sources that do not integrate with Privyr. But that might not be necessary mostly since Privyr offers easy integration with most lead sources.

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Author

Aaron is the co-founder & CEO of Privyr, a mobile CRM that helps consumer-facing sales professionals convert leads into clients, from their phone. Prior to starting Privyr, he built and launched CRMs for sales and investment teams at the world's leading financial institutions, as a Vice President at GIC, and APAC CRM Lead at BlackRock. Aaron is a third-time founder across Silicon Valley and Singapore. He holds a degree in Electrical Engineering and Computer Science (EECS) from UC Berkeley.