Bybit API — how to get keys, cost & limits

Bybit's v5 unified API covers spot, USDT perpetuals, inverse contracts and options over REST and WebSocket, with low derivatives fees. Here's how to get keys and what it costs.

What the API does & cost

Use	Cost
Market data (REST/WS)	Free
Spot trading fee	~0.1%
Perpetuals (taker)	~0.055%
API access	Free

⚠️ The Bybit API is free to use — you only pay trading fees on the trades it places. Fees and limits change; confirm on the official docs. Market-data (read-only) endpoints cost nothing.

New to Bybit?

Create an account with our referral link — you may get a fee discount and welcome bonuses. You support APICostCalc (we earn a small share of fees, at no extra cost to you).

How to get your Bybit API keys (step by step)

1. Sign up / log in at bybit.com and complete verification.
2. Go to Account → API (API Management).
3. Click Create New Key → System-generated API Keys.
4. Set permissions (Read-Only, or Read & Trade) and add an IP whitelist (required for trade keys).
5. Copy the API Key and Secret — the secret is shown once.

Quick test

# public ticker — no key needed (v5)
curl "https://api.bybit.com/v5/market/tickers?category=linear&symbol=BTCUSDT"

Security — read this

Use Read-Only keys for data/analytics bots. For trading, IP-whitelist is mandatory and worth it. Never enable withdrawal permission unless required. Store the secret in an env var, never in client-side code or git.

Alternatives

Binance has deeper spot liquidity; OKX adds a unified options suite. For just prices, CoinGecko. See Binance and OKX.

Browse all API guides → · trade safely — size positions with RektCalc.

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