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 spread betting and CFD provider.1
Call 0800 195 3100 or email newaccounts.uk@ig.com to talk about opening an account.
Contact us 0800 195 3100
Get info fast via our instant help and support portal. Available for account queries, ProRealTime, product info and more.
Visit help and support for more information.
Get info fast via our instant help and support portal. Available for account queries, ProRealTime, product info and more.
Visit help and support for more information.
Call 0800 409 6789 or email helpdesk.uk@ig.com if you have any questions about trading or investing. We’re available from 9am to 5pm (UK time), Monday to Friday.
Contact us 0800 409 6789
Call 0800 195 3100 or email newaccounts.uk@ig.com to talk about opening an account.
Contact us 0800 195 3100
Get info fast via our instant help and support portal. Available for account queries, ProRealTime, product info and more.
Visit help and support for more information.
Get info fast via our instant help and support portal. Available for account queries, ProRealTime, product info and more.
Visit help and support for more information.
Call 0800 409 6789 or email helpdesk.uk@ig.com if you have any questions about trading or investing. We’re available from 9am to 5pm (UK time), Monday to Friday.
Contact us 0800 409 6789
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 spread betting and 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
*Demo accounts are only available for spread betting and CFD trading.
Open an account now
Fast execution on a huge range of markets
Enjoy flexible access to 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
With 50 years of experience, we’re proud to offer a truly market-leading service
*Demo accounts are only available for spread betting and CFD trading.
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
Deal seamlessly, wherever you are
Trade on the move with our natively designed, award-winning trading app
Feel secure with a trusted provider
With 50 years of experience, we’re proud to offer a truly market-leading service
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 spread bets or CFDs with APIs
With our trading API, you can either build your own or use pre-made solutions to trade spread bets or 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 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 ways 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 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 |
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, 2023); 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.
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