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Trading with APIs
Connect your front-end solutions to our market-leading pricing and execution technology. Start trading with APIs today with the world’s No.1 leading CFD provider.1
Start trading today. Call +44 (20) 7633 5430, or email sales.en@ig.com to talk about opening a trading account. We’re here 24/5.
What is API trading?
API trading (short for application programming interface) lets you connect two applications – for example, your IG trading account and your custom-built platform. Trading with APIs lets you access our ecosystem directly – giving you faster order execution and more control over your trades.
Trading with our APIs is an easy way to get live market data, historical prices and execute trades from any of your IG trading accounts – without having to manually trawl through different exchanges’ order books and dark pools for data and prices. Instead, you can get the information delivered directly to you, ensuring speed and efficiency.
Who typically trades with APIs?
Trading with APIs is popular with both institutions such as hedge funds and registered trading firms, as well as retail traders. That’s because APIs offer access to more advanced programs.
If you want to focus on trading rather than coding, but would like to use an advanced platform that’s capable of trading with algorithms, you might benefit from our partnership with ProRealTime platform.
Why trade with APIs?
Create bespoke trading solutions with our web-based APIs, either REST-based or streaming
Take advantage of DMA and OTC products with our FIX API via IG’s institutional service
Get coding as quickly as possible with our sample app
Benefit from third-party software such as Excel (VBA), .NET, and Java
Why trade with us?
Choose the market-leader
Start trading with the world's No.1 CFD provider1
Access deep liquidity
Take advantage of our market-leading pricing and execution
Trade over 17,000 markets
With competitive pricing and round-the-clock support
Feel secure with a trusted provider
With 45 years' experience, we’re proud to offer a truly market-leading service
Open an account now
Open an account now
Fast execution on a huge range of markets
Enjoy flexible access to more than 17,000 global markets, with reliable execution
Deal seamlessly, wherever you are
Trade on the move with our natively designed, award-winning trading app
Feel secure with a trusted provider
We have over 45 years of experience offering a truly market-leading service
*IG Group’s total markets
Open an account now
Open an account now
Fast execution on a huge range of markets
Enjoy flexible access to more than 17,000 global markets, with reliable execution
Deal seamlessly, wherever you are
Trade on the move with our natively designed, award-winning trading app
Feel secure with a trusted provider
We have over 45 years of experience offering a truly market-leading service
*IG Group’s total markets
Routes to trading with APIs
With us, there are two different routes to trading with APIs:
Directly through IG's API
Via ProRealTime
You’d do this if you want to build your own trading platform.
- Create a live trading account
- Generate an API key
- Connect to the IG API using our Excel app or start coding
- Understand the risks and costs of trading before you open your first trade
You’d do this if you want to trade with us from a custom interface you have built.
- Create a live trading account
- Launch ProRealTime
- Build your own algorithms
- Start trading
You can also use our demo account to test your application in a risk-free environment. To use APIs on our demo, you have to use the same email address as your live account. If you already have a live account, you can use the account switcher on the top left of the page to open a demo.
Trading CFDs with APIs
With IG's trading API, you can either build your own or use pre-made solutions to trade CFDs.
- CFD trading - 'contracts for difference' allow you to speculate on the price of a huge variety of financial markets, without having to own the asset.
When you trade CFDs, you can take a long or a short position. You'd take a long position if you expect the market to rise, and a short position if you expect it to fall.
Once you've opened a position, your profit or loss will depend on the market movement of the underlying instrument.
Our API markets and costs
- Forex
- Indices
- Commodities
- Cryptos
| Market | Minimum spread |
| EUR/USD | 0.6 |
| AUD/USD | 0.6 |
| EUR/GBP | 0.9 |
| GBP/USD | 0.9 |
| Market | Minimum spread |
| Hong Kong HS50 | 5 |
| Wall Street | 2.4 |
| US Tech | 0.4 |
| Australia 200 | 1 |
| Market | Minimum spread |
| Spot Gold | 0.3 |
| Spot Silver | 2 |
| Oil - US Crude | 2.8 |
| Oil - Brent Crude | 2.8 |
| Market | Minimum spread |
| Bitcoin | 38 |
| Ether | 1.2 |
| Bitcoin Cash | 2 |
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1 Based on revenue (published financial statements, 2024)
Contact us
New clients: +44 (20) 7633 5430 or email sales.en@ig.com
Clients: Help & Support
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