IB Gateway vs TWS for Third-Party Apps (NeonChainX)
Compare IB Gateway and Trader Workstation for connecting NeonChainX and other API apps: ports, headless use, and which to choose for IBKR options trading.
Published May 16, 2026
NeonChainX connects to Interactive Brokers through the TWS API. You can run either Trader Workstation (TWS) or IB Gateway on your machine. Both work; the best choice depends on how you trade.
Quick comparison
| TWS | IB Gateway | |
|---|---|---|
| UI | Full trading workstation | Minimal (connection only) |
| Best for | Traders who already use TWS charts | Headless / dedicated API machine |
| Paper port | 7497 | 4002 |
| Live port | 7496 | 4001 |
When to use TWS
- You want charts, order tickets, and NeonChainX side by side
- You are learning IBKR and prefer the full desktop
- You already run TWS all day for options
Enable API under File → Global Configuration → API → Settings (see Getting Started).
When to use IB Gateway
- You want a lighter process without the full TWS UI
- You run NeonChainX on a machine used mainly for execution
- You automate login and keep a stable API socket open
Gateway uses the same API settings as TWS; only default ports differ.
Connecting NeonChainX
- Start TWS or IB Gateway and log in (paper or live).
- Enable ActiveX and Socket Clients; disable Read-Only API.
- In NeonChainX Settings, set host
127.0.0.1and the port for your setup. - See TWS API ports for the full port reference.