Interactive Brokers
Ordertune supports three distinct integration methods for Interactive Brokers. Each solves a different problem and targets a different user profile. You only need one.
Which option is right for you?
| Quick Start | Recommended | Pro Setup | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Method | CP Gateway | Local Agent | OAuth 1.0a |
| Setup time | ~5 min | ~30 min | ~20 min |
| Requires daily re-login | Yes | No (IBC automates it) | No (24-hour token) |
| Works 24/7 unattended | No | Yes | Yes |
| Paper trading | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Runs on | Your PC (browser) | Your PC (background app) | Ordertune server |
| Best for | First-time testers | Regular traders | Power users / VPS |
Quick Start — CP Gateway
Best for: Getting started quickly. You open IB Gateway, log into the browser UI, and Ordertune executes orders directly from your browser on the same machine.
No server configuration. Works in minutes. The limitation: you must be logged in to the CP Gateway browser session whenever you want orders to execute.
Recommended — Local Agent
Best for: Traders who want unattended 24/7 execution. You install a small background app (the Ordertune Agent) alongside IB Gateway Classic and IBC on your machine. The agent maintains a persistent connection to Ordertune and executes orders automatically without any browser involvement.
IBC handles daily re-login to IB Gateway automatically. Once configured, this setup runs indefinitely without manual intervention.
Pro Setup — OAuth
Best for: Users who want pure server-to-server execution with no local software. You register as your own OAuth consumer in the IBKR Self-Service Portal, generate an RSA key pair, and store the credentials in Ordertune. All order execution happens server-to-server, no software to run locally.
Requires generating RSA keys and a one-time registration at IBKR's Self-Service Portal. Available to all IBKR Pro individual accounts — no institutional account required.
Common prerequisites
All three options require:
- An Interactive Brokers account — either a live account or a paper trading account
- IBKR Pro tier (recommended; IBKR Lite does not support full API access)
- Two-factor authentication enabled on your Ordertune account (required before connecting any broker)
- Relevant market data subscriptions in your IBKR account for the securities you trade (NASDAQ-100 stocks require US equity data)
- Permissions to trade the relevant security types (US Stocks) enabled in your IBKR account settings
Paper trading is available with all three methods. Select "Paper Trading" when connecting your broker in Ordertune Settings to use your IBKR paper account. Paper and live accounts are completely separate in IBKR.