Public demo trading routes
An application programming interface (API) lets software exchange data with a service. To practice submitting orders, you need an API that supports trading on your exact demo account, not simply a source of prices.
The table contains 6 entity-and-platform offerings with documented or conditional public demo access in our research. Conditional access may require a live account, application approval or account authorization. It is not a complete list of worldwide APIs, and none of these connections has been tested for this research.
| Entity & research region | Interface & access | Requirements & limits | Evidence & entry |
|---|---|---|---|
| OANDA 1 offering | |||
| United States OANDA Corporation OANDA proprietary web/mobile | OANDA v20 · REST / HTTP streaming Broker API · Documented The v20 documentation supports practice accounts for the US division. This finding does not cover MT4, TradingView or spot cryptocurrency integrations. | Use an eligible OANDA v20 practice account and generate a personal access token. US entity reviewed; residence selected at signup. Complete demo country list not stated. | Documented · Research 2026-10-14 Register in OANDA Hub; platform setup follows. |
| Capital.com 1 offering | |||
| United Kingdom Capital Com (UK) Limited Capital.com web platform | Capital.com Public API · REST / WebSocket Broker API · Documented The public API supports demo accounts. Available instruments follow this UK account’s permissions. | Create a demo account, enable two-factor authentication and generate an API key. Use the demo environment. UK entity scope only; confirm residence eligibility and final contracting entity when registering. | Documented · Research 2026-10-14 Choose Explore demo trading on the UK page. Registration not tested. |
| FXCM 1 offering | |||
| United Kingdom Stratos Markets Limited Trading Station | ForexConnect / Java SDKs Broker API · Conditional The UK API comparison permits demo credentials for ForexConnect and Java. FIX lists live credentials; it is not included in this demo finding. | Trading Station demo credentials and the relevant SDK; account permissions and any enablement requirements still apply. UK site; spread betting expressly limited to UK residents. Demo-specific full country list not stated. | Conditional · Research 2026-10-14 FXCM UK API credential comparison Broker demo page; select your platform to continue. |
| IG 1 offering | |||
| United Kingdom IG Markets Ltd (CFD scope) IG proprietary web/mobile | IG REST / streaming APIs Broker API · Conditional IG documents retail API demo access when the demo is linked to a live account. A standalone demo signup does not satisfy that prerequisite. | Open an eligible live IG account, generate an API key and create or link its demo account as instructed by IG. This record covers UK CFDs. UK site says not directed at US, Belgium or countries outside UK; demo residency acceptance not tested. | Conditional · Research 2026-10-14 IG UK retail API and demo instructions Broker demo page; select your platform to continue. |
| Pepperstone 1 offering | |||
| United Kingdom Pepperstone Limited cTrader | cTrader Open API · JSON / Protobuf Platform API · Conditional Spotware documents Open API access for demo accounts at affiliated cTrader brokers. The broker offers this cTrader demo; access remains subject to account eligibility and app authorization. | An eligible cTrader demo linked to a cTrader ID, a registered and approved application, and OAuth account authorization. Does not establish API support for other platforms. UK site excludes US/Belgium residents; full eligible-country list not stated. | Conditional · Research 2026-10-14 Broker demo page; select your platform to continue. |
| IC Markets Global / IC 1 offering | |||
| Seychelles Raw Trading Ltd cTrader | cTrader Open API · JSON / Protobuf Platform API · Conditional Spotware documents Open API access for demo accounts at affiliated cTrader brokers. The broker offers this cTrader demo; access remains subject to account eligibility and app authorization. | An eligible cTrader demo linked to a cTrader ID, a registered and approved application, and OAuth account authorization. Does not establish API support for other platforms. Excludes residents of US, Canada, New Zealand, Iran, North Korea; additional local-law restrictions. | Conditional · Research 2026-10-14 Demo registration portal; select your platform. |
Use the Demo API supported filter to compare account conditions. Search all research records for firms outside this shortlist.
Four different things called an API
| Ask about | What to demonstrate |
|---|---|
| Broker and platform trading APIs | These can expose account information and order operations for supported accounts. OANDA v20 and cTrader Open API are examples; the entity and account prerequisites above still apply. |
| Market-data feeds | A price or historical-data endpoint supplies information. Access to prices alone does not establish permission to submit orders, use every instrument or redistribute the data. Check the licence and subscriptions separately. |
| Terminal automation | MT4 Expert Advisors run in the terminal. MT5 also documents a Python integration with its terminal. Neither feature by itself establishes a broker-hosted REST service for your account. |
| FIX connections | FIX is a financial messaging protocol, not an access category. A broker may offer a negotiated institutional service; a platform may offer a different customer route. Confirm which service, credentials, order types and environment the agreement covers. |
Official references: OANDA v20, cTrader Open API, MT4 Expert Advisors and MT5 Python integration.
Do not carry access across different products
IG: the documented API demo route requires an associated live account. A standalone demo registration does not establish API access. Read IG’s prerequisites.
FXCM UK: the comparison page lists demo or live credentials for ForexConnect and Java, while FIX lists live credentials. These are different routes. Read FXCM’s API comparison.
cTrader FIX: this is separate from cTrader Open API and from a broker's institutional offering. Spotware lists limits including no account balance/margin or historical-price information. Read the FIX limitations.
Interactive Brokers: the standalone TWS trial in this finder has conflicting API evidence. Client paper accounts have separate prerequisites. Trial API access remains Requires Verification.
Trading 212: the reviewed public API is for Invest and Stocks ISA; that does not provide access to the CFD demo listed here. Read the product exclusion and sources.
Omission from the shortlist does not mean a firm has no API. Group-level documentation, another affiliate's service and live-only access must be assessed separately.
Before you connect your software
- Confirm your residence, contracting entity, platform and account type with the provider. Ask whether the API permissions include the instruments you need.
- Identify the demo environment and its authentication instructions. Keep credentials out of shared code and use the provider's supported authorization flow.
- Start with account and instrument information. Then test a small, controlled demo order workflow, including cancellation and rejected requests.
- Record rate limits, disconnections, duplicate-request handling and how your application reconciles orders, fills and positions after reconnecting.
- Check market-data licensing, fees and account dependencies. Public documentation does not mean anonymous access or free data.
- Keep a separate record of what was actually tested. A working demo integration does not prove live execution quality or managed-account allocation support.
For client-account allocation, use the Managed Accounts technology guide. For fund books and investor balances, use the separate Fund Accounting evaluation guide.