Broker API quickstarts: key to first API call
10 quickstarts. Each one walks from getting access to a first call, and each page says whether its steps have been run.
Risk warning: CFDs and spread bets are complex instruments and come with a high risk of losing money rapidly due to leverage. You can lose money on these products, and each provider publishes its own loss figure under FCA rules. You should consider whether you understand how they work and whether you can afford to take the high risk of losing your money. Automated and API trading can amplify losses through bugs, connectivity failures and runaway orders.
Every quickstart
In order of name. The order is not a ranking. The samples use placeholders only: no page on this site asks for a key, a username or a password.
| Quickstart | For | Steps | Sample code | Checked |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Capital.com: key to first call Capital.com API quickstart: 2FA, API key, session, GET /accounts and a complete Python script for the demo host that keeps the session alive. Placeholder credentials only. | Capital.com Broker API | 7, of which 7 carry a source | curl, JavaScript, Python | Capital.com Public APIchecked |
| cTrader Open API Python quickstart cTrader Open API in Python: register an app, get a token by OAuth or the Playground, install OpenApiPy and list your accounts on the demo host. | cTrader Open API Platform API | 7, of which 7 carry a source | curl, JavaScript, Python | cTrader Open APIchecked |
| Deriv API quickstart: token to first REST call Make a first Deriv REST call: a health check with no credentials, then your Options accounts with a bearer token, in Python, JavaScript or curl. Deriv's trading and market data run over WebSocket and are not covered here. The samples were written from Deriv's documentation and have not been run against Deriv. | Deriv Broker API | 9, of which 9 carry a source | curl, JavaScript, Python | Deriv API: API overviewchecked |
| eToro API quickstart: user key to first call eToro API quickstart: create a demo user key in Settings, send x-request-id, x-api-key and x-user-key, and call GET /api/v1/me. Sourced on eToro's own API portal, with the one step it does not document marked unverified. | eToro Broker API | 8, of which 7 carry a source | curl, Python | Authentication, eToro API portalchecked |
| IG: key to first call Make your first IG API call: demo host, session login and GET /accounts in Python, JavaScript and curl, using placeholder credentials only. | IG Broker API | 7, of which 6 carry a source | curl, JavaScript, Python | ig.comchecked |
| Interactive Brokers: paper account to first call Connect to an IBKR paper account with ib_async or the Client Portal Web API: ports, API settings, account summary and free delayed data. Every step sourced. | Interactive Brokers Broker API | 6, of which 6 carry a source | curl, JavaScript, Python | IBKR TWS API documentation, TWS configuration for API usechecked |
| MetaTrader 5: Python to first call Install MetaTrader5 on Windows, connect to a running terminal, pull ticks, bars and deal history, and send a demo order. Every step sourced. | MetaTrader 5 (Python package and MQL5) Platform API | 6, of which 5 carry a source | Python | MQL5 docs: Python integrationchecked |
| OANDA v20: token to first call Make your first OANDA v20 API call in Python, JavaScript or curl: personal token, practice host and account summary, using placeholder credentials only. | OANDA Broker API | 7, of which 7 carry a source | curl, JavaScript, Python | developer.oanda.comchecked |
| Saxo OpenAPI quickstart: simulation account to first call Saxo OpenAPI quickstart: a free simulation account, an app key, the 24 hour developer portal token, the SIM gateway URL and a first GET on /port/v1/users/me. Every step sourced on Saxo's own developer pages. | Saxo OpenAPI Broker API | 7, of which 7 carry a source | curl, Python | Saxo OpenAPI Learnchecked |
| Trading 212 API quickstart: practice key to first call Make a first Trading 212 API call on the paper trading host: a key and secret, the Basic header and GET account summary in Python, JavaScript or curl. Each step is sourced on Trading 212's own pages. The samples were written from the documentation and have not been run against Trading 212. | Trading 212 Broker API | 11, of which 11 carry a source | curl, JavaScript, Python | Trading 212 API docs: general information, environments and authenticationchecked |
Before your first call
Start on a demo or paper account if the provider offers one, so that a mistake costs nothing. Keep keys and passwords out of your code and out of anything you share: read them from the environment or a secrets store.
A first call that fails is normal. The reply usually says why, and the error pages here decode the common ones.