How to sync user data in React app when Stripe webhooks update database

Frontend
1

I’m building a subscription app with React frontend and Python backend. I use Stripe webhooks to update customer information in my database when payment events happen.

The issue is that some Stripe events happen without user interaction (like failed renewals or trial expirations). When these events trigger my webhook and update the database, the user’s browser doesn’t know about the changes. If someone is logged in during these updates, their displayed information becomes outdated.

I’m looking for the best approach to handle this situation. Here are some options I considered:

WebSocket connections - Push updates from webhook to connected clients, but users might not always be online

Periodic API calls - Call user info endpoint every few minutes, but seems wasteful

Check on each request - Fetch latest user data with every API call, but doubles request volume

Response headers - Include user data in all API responses and update state when different, but adds complexity

What’s the recommended pattern for keeping frontend user state synchronized with webhook-driven backend updates? I want something efficient that doesn’t overload the server.

2

i think just refreshing data when users take actions is the way to go. websockets can be way too much for this case. most users won’t even notice that extra fetch when they’re interacting, and it keeps things simple.

3

What about server-sent events instead of websockets? They’re lighter but still feel real-time. How often do webhook events actually fire when users are online though? If they’re rare, polling might not be as wasteful as you think.

4

Had this exact issue on a SaaS project last year. Here’s what worked: I used a hybrid approach with background sync through the Page Visibility API. When users come back to your tab, trigger a quick sync call to check if their subscription changed. This catches most webhook updates without the constant polling overhead. I also set up targeted polling just for users in transition - like trials ending or payment retries within 48 hours. For stable subscribers, this cut unnecessary requests by 80% while keeping critical updates fast. The trick is realizing most webhook events happen around predictable user actions, so you can be smart about when to check instead of doing it constantly.