How to use FastCron to trigger exports on a custom schedule

GravityExport includes built-in scheduling options for automated exports, such as hourly, daily, and weekly intervals. But what if you need more control—like running an export every second Thursday at 9:27 AM? In this article, you’ll learn how to use a free external cron service called FastCron to trigger your GravityExport feeds on any custom schedule using a webhook URL.

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What is a webhook trigger? #

When you create a GravityExport Save feed, you can choose how the export is triggered. One option is Webhook, which generates a public trigger URL after you save the feed. When that URL is accessed, GravityExport runs the export and saves the file according to your feed configuration.

This means any external service that can send an HTTP request to a URL can trigger your export (no WordPress login required).

What is FastCron? #

FastCron is an external cron job service that visits a URL on a schedule you define. It offers a free plan that supports up to five cron jobs, making it a simple and affordable option for triggering GravityExport feeds on custom schedules.

1. Set up a webhook trigger in GravityExport #

Before you can use FastCron, you need a webhook URL from your GravityExport Save feed.

1. In your WordPress admin, navigate to Forms > Settings > GravityExport
2. Open the GravityExport Save feed you want to trigger externally
3. Under Export Trigger, select Webhook
4. Click Save Settings

After saving, a Public trigger URL will appear below the trigger setting. Click the copy button next to the URL to copy it to your clipboard.

2. Create a free FastCron account #

1. Go to www.fastcron.com
2. Sign up for a free account (supports up to 5 cron jobs)

3. Add a new cron job in FastCron #

From your FastCron dashboard, click + Cron Job.

Next, paste your GravityExport webhook URL into the URL field.

4. Configure your custom schedule #

FastCron provides two ways to set your schedule:

Using preset intervals

FastCron includes several preset scheduling options, similar to GravityExport’s built-in scheduler. Select one of the available presets if it matches your needs.

Using a cron expression

For more granular control, click the Crontab tab. This lets you define exactly when the cron job runs by specifying:

• Minute – The minute of the hour (0–59)
• Hour – The hour of the day (0–23)
• Day – The day of the month (1–31)
• Month – The month of the year (1–12)
• Weekday – The day of the week (0–6, where 0 is Sunday)

For example, to run an export every Tuesday at 8:00 AM, you would set:

5. Save your cron job #

Once you’ve configured the schedule, click Save Changes. Your cron job is now active and will trigger your GravityExport feed on the schedule you defined.

Using webhook URLs with other automation tools #

The webhook trigger URL isn’t limited to cron services. You can also use it with automation platforms like:

• Zapier – Add the webhook URL as an action step in any Zap.
• Make – Use an HTTP module to call the URL as part of a scenario.
• n8n – Include the URL in an HTTP Request node within your workflow.

This makes it possible to trigger a GravityExport feed in response to external events, such as a new row being added to a Google Sheet, a Stripe payment being completed, or a form submission on another platform.

Summary #