Robinhood does not offer a public API for stock trading

Robinhood does not provide an official application programming interface (API) that lets you build your own trading tools or automate stock orders through their platform. The company has never released a public API for this purpose, and there is no official way to connect external software directly to your Robinhood account to place trades.

This is different from some other brokers — firms like Interactive Brokers, TD Ameritrade, and Alpaca do publish APIs that developers can use to build trading bots and automated systems. Robinhood's decision to keep trading restricted to their own app and website means you cannot write code to execute orders on your behalf.

Key Takeaways

  • Robinhood has no official public API and does not support third-party automated trading tools connected to your account.
  • Unofficial libraries that reverse-engineer Robinhood's mobile app exist but violate the company's terms of service and carry legal risk.
  • If you want API-based trading, you will need to move your account to a broker that publishes an official API, such as Interactive Brokers or Alpaca.
  • Robinhood's mobile app and website both allow manual trading, but neither supports scheduled or algorithmic orders through external software.

Why Robinhood does not offer an API

Robinhood's business model relies on keeping users inside their own app. The company makes money through payment for order flow — they receive fees from market makers who buy and sell stocks, and those fees depend on order volume flowing through Robinhood's systems. An open API would let users route orders elsewhere or build tools that reduce time spent in the app, which cuts into that revenue.

Robinhood also faces regulatory oversight from the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA). Offering an API would require the company to monitor and take responsibility for how third-party developers use it, which adds compliance complexity and legal liability. Keeping trading confined to their own platform makes that oversight simpler.

Unofficial libraries and the risks of using them

Some developers have published unofficial Python libraries and other tools that attempt to mimic Robinhood's mobile app by reverse-engineering its code. These libraries let you write scripts that log into your account and place trades without using the official app. The most widely known is Algotrading, though others exist under different names.

Using these tools violates Robinhood's terms of service. The company has the right to close your account, freeze your funds, or take legal action against anyone using unauthorized access methods. Robinhood has also changed its app's underlying code multiple times specifically to break these unofficial libraries, which means code that worked last month may stop working this month without warning.

Beyond the terms-of-service risk, these tools are not maintained by Robinhood or any regulated entity. If a library has a bug that causes incorrect trades, loses your login credentials, or exposes your account to hackers, you have no recourse — Robinhood will not help you, and the developer is not liable.

Brokers that do offer official APIs for stock trading

If automated or algorithmic trading is important to you, several brokers publish official APIs that you can use legally and safely. Interactive Brokers offers a full-featured API for building trading bots, backtesting strategies, and automating order placement. Alpaca is designed specifically for algorithmic traders and offers a free API with commission-free stock trading. TD Ameritrade (now part of Charles Schwab) publishes an API that supports both paper trading and live orders.

Each of these brokers has different fee structures, account minimums, and API capabilities. Interactive Brokers charges commissions but offers the most advanced features. Alpaca charges no commissions and is popular with developers building trading bots. TD Ameritrade sits in the middle — no commissions on stocks, but the API is less flexible than Interactive Brokers.

If you currently use Robinhood and want to move to a broker with API support, you will need to open a new account, transfer your holdings (which usually takes three to five business days), and rewrite any trading logic for the new platform's API. This is a one-time cost in time and effort, but it is the only legal way to automate trading.

What you can do within Robinhood's app instead

Robinhood's mobile app and website do support some forms of automation that do not require an API. You can set up alerts that notify you when a stock reaches a certain price, and you can create watchlists to organize stocks you want to track. However, these features do not place trades automatically — they only notify you so you can decide whether to trade manually.

Robinhood also does not support scheduled orders (orders that execute at a specific time) or conditional orders (orders that execute only if another condition is met). If you want to buy a stock every month on the same date, or sell if a stock drops below a certain price, you have to place those orders by hand each time.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use a VPN or proxy to hide that I am using an unofficial API library?

No. A VPN masks your internet address but does not hide what you are doing from Robinhood's servers. The company can detect unauthorized API access by monitoring account behavior — unusual login patterns, rapid-fire orders, or requests that do not come from the official app. Using a VPN adds no protection and does not change the terms-of-service violation.

Will Robinhood ever release an official API?

There is no public announcement that Robinhood plans to release an API. The company has shown no movement toward this in the years since its founding. If you need API access now, you should plan to switch brokers rather than wait for Robinhood to change its policy.

What happens if Robinhood detects I am using an unofficial library?

Robinhood can close your account, freeze your funds temporarily, or ban you from opening a new account. In extreme cases, the company has pursued legal action against developers who published libraries designed to circumvent their systems. Your best protection is to avoid using these tools entirely.

Is there a way to export my Robinhood data to use with another broker's API?

Robinhood does not provide an automated export tool for your trading history or holdings. You can download statements and tax documents from your account, but you will need to manually enter your holdings into a new broker's system or use their standard account transfer process (ACAT) to move securities. The transfer process is free and takes three to five business days.