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CFDs are complex financial instruments and come with a high risk of losing money rapidly due to leverage. You should consider whether you understand how CFDs work, and whether you can afford to take the high risk of losing your money. CFDs are complex financial instruments and come with a high risk of losing money rapidly due to leverage. You should consider whether you understand how CFDs work, and whether you can afford to take the high risk of losing your money.

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

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Start trading today. Call +971 (0) 4 5592108 or email sales.ae@ig.com. Our sales team is available from 8:00am to 6:00pm (Dubai time), Monday to Friday.

Contact us: +971 (0) 4 5592108

Start trading today. Call +971 (0) 4 5592108 or email sales.ae@ig.com. Our sales team is available from 8:00am to 6:00pm (Dubai time), Monday to Friday.

Contact us: +971 (0) 4 5592108

What is API trading?

API trading (short for application programming interface) lets you connect two applications – for example, your IG 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.

What is API trading?

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 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 – 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 IG?

Market-leading trading APIs
Best pricing and execution

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

Over 16,000 markets for your API trading
A trusted provider for API trading

Trade over 17,000 markets

Seize opportunity with more 24-hour markets than anywhere else

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 access ProRealTime

Open an IG account in minutes to access ProRealTime

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 more than 45 years years of experience, we’re proud to offer a truly market-leading service

*Best Finance App, Best Multi-Platform Provider and Best Platform for the Active Trader as awarded at the ADVFN International Financial Awards 2024.

Open an IG account in minutes to access ProRealTime

Open an IG account in minutes to access ProRealTime

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 more than 45 years years of experience, we’re proud to offer a truly market-leading service

*Best Finance App, Best Multi-Platform Provider and Best Platform for the Active Trader as awarded at the ADVFN International Financial Awards 2024.

Start trading now

Log in to your account now to access today’s opportunity in a huge range of markets.

Start trading now

Log in to your account now to access today’s opportunity in a huge range of markets.

Routes to trading with APIs

There are two different ways to trade via APIs with an IG account:

Through IG's API

Through 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

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, making it suitable for hedging

When you trade 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 CFD trading 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

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

* Best trading app as awarded at the ADVFN International Financial Awards 2020.
2 Based on revenue excluding FX (published financial statements, June 2020); for forex based on number of primary relationships with FX traders (Investment Trends UK Leveraged Trading Report released June 2020).