name: Phemex API Plans
description: Phemex provides tiered API access through standard and VIP/VAPI tiers. Standard access is available to all registered users. VIP and VAPI tiers unlock higher rate limits, particularly for contract trading, based on 30-day trading volume and average asset balances.
created: '2026-06-13'
modified: '2026-06-13'
plans:
  - name: Standard
    description: Default API access for all registered Phemex users. Includes REST and WebSocket access for spot and contract trading, market data, and asset transfers.
    url: https://github.com/phemex/phemex-api-docs/blob/master/Generic-API-Info.en.md
    rateLimits:
      - name: IP Rate Limit
        description: Maximum requests per IP across all endpoints.
        limit: 5000
        window: 5 minutes
        lockout: 5 minutes
      - name: Contract API Group
        description: Rate limit for contract trading endpoints.
        limit: 500
        window: 1 minute
      - name: SpotOrder API Group
        description: Rate limit for spot order endpoints.
        limit: 500
        window: 1 minute
      - name: Others API Group
        description: Rate limit for all other endpoints including market data.
        limit: 100
        window: 1 minute
    features:
      - REST API access (https://api.phemex.com)
      - WebSocket API access (wss://phemex.com/ws)
      - Spot trading
      - Contract (perpetual) trading
      - Hedged perpetual trading
      - Asset transfers
      - Market data subscriptions
      - Up to 5 concurrent WebSocket connections
      - Up to 20 subscriptions per WebSocket connection
    pricing:
      model: free
      notes: No charge for API access; trading fees apply per transaction.

  - name: VIP / VAPI
    description: Enhanced API access for high-volume traders and institutions. Unlocks higher contract rate limits and symbol-level rate limit granularity. Eligibility based on 30-day trading volume, average asset balance, and/or vePT holdings.
    url: https://phemex.com/fees-conditions
    rateLimits:
      - name: IP Rate Limit
        description: Maximum requests per IP across all endpoints.
        limit: 5000
        window: 5 minutes
        lockout: 5 minutes
      - name: Contract API Group (VIP)
        description: Enhanced rate limit for contract trading endpoints at VIP tier.
        limit: 5000
        window: 1 minute
      - name: Per-Symbol Contract Limit
        description: Rate limit per individual trading symbol for contract endpoints.
        limit: 500
        window: 1 minute
      - name: CONTACT_ALL_SYM Group
        description: Rate limit for contract operations affecting all symbols simultaneously.
        limit: 500
        window: 1 minute
      - name: SpotOrder API Group
        description: Rate limit for spot order endpoints (unchanged from standard).
        limit: 500
        window: 1 minute
      - name: Others API Group
        description: Rate limit for all other endpoints (unchanged from standard).
        limit: 100
        window: 1 minute
    baseURL: https://vapi.phemex.com
    webSocketURL: wss://vapi.phemex.com/ws
    features:
      - All Standard plan features
      - High rate limit REST endpoint (https://vapi.phemex.com)
      - High rate limit WebSocket (wss://vapi.phemex.com/ws)
      - 10x contract trading rate limit (5000/min vs 500/min)
      - Symbol-level rate limit tracking
      - Reduced trading fees (maker/taker discounts)
      - Dedicated institutional support
    qualification:
      - 30-day spot or futures trading volume thresholds
      - Average asset balance over preceding 30 days
      - vePT (vote-escrowed PT) token holdings
    pricing:
      model: volume-based
      notes: VIP tier is earned through trading activity and asset holdings, not a subscription fee. Fee discounts include up to 20% on spot and 10% on futures trading fees.