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 CFD provider.1
Call 010 500 8624 or email newaccounts.za@ig.com to talk about opening a trading account. We're here 24 hours a day from 9am Saturday to 11pm Friday.
Contact us: 010 500 8624
Call 010 500 8624 or email newaccounts.za@ig.com to talk about opening a trading account. We're here 24 hours a day from 9am Saturday to 11pm Friday.
Contact us: 010 500 8624
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 – available through IG Prime
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
Trade with the world's No.1 CFD provider1
Access deep liquidity
Take advantage of our market-leading pricing and execution technology
Trade over 17,000 markets
Seize opportunity with more 24-hour markets than anywhere else
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 17,000 global markets, with reliable execution
React faster with powerful technology
Our platform and apps are intuitive and highly responsive, so trading opportunities are always within reach
Grow your confidence with an established provider
We’re a FTSE 250 company that’s been leading our industry for nearly 50 years, so our expertise is second to none
Open an account now
Open an account now
Fast execution on a huge range of markets
Enjoy flexible access to 17,000 global markets, with reliable execution
React faster with powerful technology
Our platform and apps are intuitive and highly responsive, so trading opportunities are always within reach
Grow your confidence with an established provider
We’re a FTSE 250 company that’s been leading our industry for nearly 50 years, so our expertise is second to none
Routes to trading with APIs
With us, there are two different routes to trading with APIs:
Through IG's API
Through 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 our 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 our trading API, you can either build your own or use pre-made solutions to trade CFDs.
- CFD trading enables you to offset losses against profits for tax purposes,2 making it suitable for hedging
When you trade CFDs, you can take a long or a short position. You’d buy (go long) if you expect the market to rise, and you’d sell (go short) if you expect it to fall.
Learn more about the markets to trade with IG
Our API markets and costs
- Forex
- Indices
- Commodities
| 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 30 | 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 |
Try these next
See how algorithmic trading can help to maximise your exposure
Reduce the negative impact of emotions by creating pre-planned strategies
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 June 2020).
2 Tax laws are subject to change and depend on individual circumstances. Tax law may differ in a jurisdiction other than the UK.
Contact us
Interested in opening an account?
Contact 010 500 8624 or
Want to check on your application's progress? Email
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