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.
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 15,000+ 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 15,000+ 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 15,000+ 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 |
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See how algorithmic trading can help to maximise your exposure
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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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Spread bets and CFDs are complex instruments and come with a high risk of losing money rapidly due to leverage. 70% 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 trading spread bets and CFDs can lose more than they deposit.
Options and futures are complex instruments which come with a high risk of losing money rapidly due to leverage. They’re not suitable for most investors. Before you invest, you should consider whether you understand how options and futures work, the risks of trading these instruments and whether you can afford to lose more than your original investment.
Trading stocks and shares ‘on margin’ within a US options and futures account – meaning that you only finance part of the cost of acquiring a position in a security – carries additional risks over buying securities on a fully funded basis and may result in losses exceeding your original investment. Trading on margin will also result in additional costs to you as the investor and any securities purchased using margin may be held as collateral by the lender, restricting both your rights as shareholder, and your ability to use the securities until the margin trade is closed. You should familiarise yourself with these risks before trading on margin.
The value of shares, ETFs and other ETPs bought through a share dealing account, a US options and futures account, a stocks and shares ISA or a SIPP can fall as well as rise, which could mean getting back less than you originally put in. Past performance is no guarantee of future results. Some ETPs carry additional risks depending on how they’re structured, investors should ensure they familiarise themselves with the differences before investing.
Share dealing and IG Smart Portfolio accounts provided by IG Trading and Investments Ltd, CFD accounts and US options and futures accounts are provided by IG Markets Ltd, spread betting provided by IG Index Ltd.
IG is a trading name of IG Trading and Investments Ltd (a company registered in England and Wales under number 11628764), IG Markets Ltd (a company registered in England and Wales under number 04008957) and IG Index Ltd (a company registered in England and Wales under number 01190902). Registered address at Cannon Bridge House, 25 Dowgate Hill, London EC4R 2YA. IG Markets Ltd (Register number 195355), IG Trading and Investments Ltd (Register Number 944492) and IG Index Ltd (Register number 114059) are authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority.
The information on this site isn’t directed at residents of the United States, Belgium or any particular country outside the UK and isn’t intended for distribution to, or use by, any person in any country or jurisdiction where such distribution or use would be contrary to local law or regulation.