Robinhood does not publish an official free API for developers

Robinhood does not maintain a public API that you can use to build your own trading tools or connect their data to other software. The company has not released official documentation or endpoints for developers to access account data, place trades, or pull market information through code.

Some developers have built unofficial tools that reverse-engineer Robinhood's mobile app to extract data or execute trades, but these are not supported by Robinhood. Using unofficial methods violates Robinhood's terms of service and can result in your account being suspended or closed. If you need programmatic access to trading data or execution, you will need to use a different broker that publishes an official API.

Key Takeaways

  • Robinhood does not offer an official public API for developers or traders who want to build custom tools.
  • Unofficial APIs that reverse-engineer Robinhood's app are not supported and can get your account banned.
  • Other brokers like Interactive Brokers, TD Ameritrade, and Alpaca publish official APIs that developers can use legally.
  • If you need API access, switching to a broker with official developer support is safer and more reliable than attempting workarounds.

Why Robinhood has not released an official API

Robinhood's business model is built around a straightforward, mobile-first experience designed for individual investors. The company has chosen to keep its platform closed rather than open it to third-party developers. This approach lets Robinhood control how their data is used and how trades are executed, which reduces compliance and security risks.

An official API would require Robinhood to maintain documentation, support developer questions, and monitor how external applications use their systems. It would also expose them to liability if a third-party tool malfunctions or causes financial harm. For a company focused on retail trading, the cost and complexity of managing a public API has not been a priority.

What unofficial APIs do and why they are risky

Some developers have published code libraries and tools that mimic Robinhood's internal API by sending the same requests that the mobile app sends. These unofficial tools can pull account balances, historical data, and sometimes place orders. Popular examples include libraries shared on GitHub, though their names and availability change frequently as Robinhood updates its app.

Using these tools violates Robinhood's terms of service. Robinhood actively detects and blocks accounts that use unofficial methods, and they can close your account without warning. You could lose access to your holdings, and recovery is difficult. Additionally, unofficial tools break whenever Robinhood updates their app, leaving your automated trades or data pulls non-functional at critical moments.

Brokers that do offer official APIs

Interactive Brokers publishes an official API called the Client Portal API and the Trader Workstation API. These are documented and supported, and they work with stocks, options, futures, and forex. Interactive Brokers charges a monthly fee for API access and requires a minimum account balance.

TD Ameritrade (now part of Charles Schwab) offers the thinkorswim API and the Schwab API for developers. These allow you to pull market data and execute trades programmatically. Documentation is available on their developer site, and access is free for account holders who meet minimum requirements.

Alpaca is a broker built specifically for algorithmic trading. Their API is free and well-documented, with no minimum account balance to start. Alpaca handles stocks and ETFs and is popular with developers who want to build trading bots or backtesting systems.

E*TRADE offers the E*TRADE API for stocks and options. Like TD Ameritrade, it is available to account holders and is documented on their developer portal.

How to move your account if you need API access

If you currently hold stocks or cash in Robinhood and want to switch to a broker with an official API, you can transfer your holdings without selling them. This is called an ACAT transfer (Automated Customer Account Transfer). You open an account at the new broker, request an incoming transfer, and they handle moving your positions from Robinhood.

ACAT transfers usually take three to five business days. Your new broker will guide you through the process. You do not have to sell your stocks, so you do not trigger capital gains taxes. Cash transfers separately and may take a few extra days. Once the transfer is complete, you can use the new broker's API to build your tools.

Alternatives if you want to automate without an API

If you want to stay with Robinhood but still automate some of your trading, you have limited options. Some traders use browser automation tools like Selenium to control the Robinhood website programmatically, but this is slow, fragile, and also violates their terms of service.

A safer approach is to use Robinhood's mobile app and set up alerts or notifications for price levels you care about, then execute trades manually when those alerts trigger. This is not true automation, but it keeps you within Robinhood's terms and does not risk your account.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use an unofficial Robinhood API without getting caught?

Robinhood actively monitors for unauthorized API use and closes accounts that use unofficial tools. The risk is high and the detection is reliable. Even if you avoid detection initially, the tool will break the next time Robinhood updates their app, leaving you without a working solution.

Does Robinhood plan to release an API in the future?

Robinhood has not announced plans for an official API. The company has not signaled interest in opening their platform to developers. If this changes, they would likely announce it on their blog or developer site.

Can I use Robinhood data with a third-party trading platform?

No. Without an official API, there is no supported way to connect Robinhood to external platforms. Some third-party tools claim to integrate with Robinhood, but they rely on unofficial methods and carry the same risks as using an unofficial API directly.

Is Alpaca a good replacement for Robinhood if I want to code?

Alpaca is designed for developers and offers a free, well-documented API. However, it only supports stocks and ETFs, not options or crypto. If you trade options or crypto on Robinhood, you would need to choose a different broker or accept that you cannot automate those positions.

What happens if Robinhood detects me using an unofficial API?

Robinhood will close your account. You will lose access to your holdings and cash, though you can request a transfer of your positions to another broker. Recovery is difficult, and Robinhood does not typically explain the specific reason for the closure beyond citing a terms of service violation.