Trading with APIs
Automate your trading by connecting your front-end solutions to our market-leading pricing and execution technology. Start API trading today across a range of markets, including forex and cryptocurrencies.
Call +35 318 009 95362 or email newaccounts.uk@ig.com to talk about opening a trading account. We’re here 24 hours a day, from 8am Saturday to 10pm Friday.
What is API trading?
API stands for application programming interface. It is a program that connects two applications – for example, your IG trading account and your custom-built platform. Trading with APIs enables you to gain direct access to IG’s ecosystem, providing you with faster order execution and more control, which can enhance the experience of trading.
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 various exchanges 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 APIs are popular among hedge funds and registered trading firms as they enable access to more advanced programs, but they are also widely used among private traders and investors.
If you want to focus on trading rather than coding, but would like to use an advanced platform that is capable of trading with algorithms, you can use our 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
Use alongside third-party software such as Excel (VBA), .NET, and Java
Why trade with IG?
Choose the market-leader
Start trading with the world's No.1 spread betting and CFD provider1
Access deep liquidity
Take advantage of our market-leading pricing and execution technology
Trade over 17,000 markets
With more 24-hour markets than anywhere else and round-the-clock support
Feel secure with a trusted provider
With 45 years of experience, we’re proud to offer a truly market-leading service
Open an IG account in minutes to get started
Fill in our simple online form
We’ll ask a few questions about your trading experience.
Get quick verification
We can usually verify your ID in just a few seconds.
Fund your account and trade
Or practise on a risk-free demo if you’d prefer.
Routes to trading with APIs
There are two different ways to trade via APIs with an IG account:
Directly through IG's API
Via ProRealTime
You’d do this if you want to build your own trading platform.
- Create a live IG 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 send IG trades from a custom interface you have built.
- Create a live IG account
- Launch ProRealTime
- Build your own algorithms
- Start trading
Alternatively, you could create a demo account to test your application in a risk-free environment. To use APIs via an IG 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 account.
Trading CFDs and spread betting with APIs
With IG’s trading API, you can either build your own or use pre-made solutions to place spread bets and trade CFDs.
- Spread betting is a tax-free way to speculate on the future price of a financial market2
- CFD trading enables you to offset losses against profits for tax purposes,2 making it suitable for hedging
When you trade either of these products, 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.
Learn more about the ways to trade with IG
Markets and costs with APIs
- 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 |
| FTSE 100 | 1 |
| Wall Street | 2.4 |
| Germany 40 | 1.2 |
| 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 | 36 |
| Ether | 1.2 |
| Bitcoin Cash | 2 |
| Ripple | 0.36 |
You might be interested in…
Explore the fast, user-friendly trading platforms that you can use to trade CFDs with us.
Understand the risks of trading, and discover the tools we offer to help you mitigate them.
Use award-winning trading technology tailored to your business’s needs via our FIX API
1 Based on revenue (published financial statements, 2022); for forex based on number of primary relationships with FX traders (Investment Trends UK Leveraged Trading Report released July 2024).
2 Tax laws are subject to change and depend on individual circumstances. Tax law may differ in a jurisdiction other than the UK.
Connect with us
Options and turbo warrants are complex financial instruments. Trading these financial instruments involves the high risk of losing money rapidly.
Spread bets and CFDs are complex instruments and come with a high risk of losing money rapidly due to leverage. 74% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading spread bets and CFDs with this provider. You should consider whether you understand how spread bets and CFDs work, and whether you can afford to take the high risk of losing your money.
Professional clients can lose more than they deposit.
CFD, spread betting, options and turbo warrants accounts are provided by IG Europe GmbH. IG Europe GmbH (a company incorporated in the Federal Republic of Germany and registered in the Frankfurt Trade Register under number HRB 115624 with registered office at Westhafenplatz 1, 60327 Frankfurt, Germany). IG Europe GmbH (Register number 148759) is authorised and regulated by the Bundesanstalt für Finanzdienstleistungsaufsicht and Deutsche Bundesbank.
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