---
id: cirq-ionq
version: "1.7.0"
license: Apache-2.0
license_treatment: permissive
maintenance: active
---

# cirq-ionq — A Cirq package to simulate and connect to IonQ quantum computers

License: permissive · Maintenance: active · Downloads: 155.3K/mo

## What it is and what it does

Cirq-IonQ is a bridge between Google's Cirq quantum programming framework and IonQ's quantum computers. It lets you write quantum algorithms using Cirq's abstractions and execute them on IonQ hardware, rather than only on simulators. The package depends on cirq-core and requests, and is built for NISQ (noisy intermediate-scale quantum) devices where hardware details matter for achieving good results.

You use it by defining a quantum circuit in Cirq, then submitting it to IonQ through the integration module's service interface. The package handles the translation between Cirq's circuit representation and IonQ's API, managing authentication and job submission. It's actively maintained, supports Python 3.11 through 3.14, and has no known security vulnerabilities.

Use it for:

- Run Cirq-written quantum algorithms on real IonQ quantum hardware instead of local simulators.
- Prototype quantum applications that require trapped-ion quantum computers for their specific qubit properties.
- Benchmark quantum circuit performance on IonQ devices as part of a larger Cirq-based research workflow.
- Integrate IonQ quantum execution into a hybrid classical-quantum application built with Cirq.
- Access IonQ's quantum computers from a Python environment without learning a separate SDK.

## Worth the install?

AI-flagged interpretation of the facts above — verify before relying.

Integrates Cirq quantum circuits with IonQ quantum computers, enabling you to write quantum algorithms in Cirq and execute them on IonQ hardware.

Yes, if you are already using Cirq and need access to IonQ quantum hardware. The package has low install friction, is actively maintained, carries a permissive license, and integrates cleanly with Cirq's ecosystem. It is not necessary if you only need local quantum simulation or are not targeting IonQ devices.

## Install

pip install cirq-ionq
uv add cirq-ionq
poetry add cirq-ionq

## Installing cirq-ionq

Before you install: Low friction installation with only two runtime dependencies (requests and cirq-core). The package is actively maintained with recent releases, and supports modern Python versions (3.11–3.14).

License in practice: Licensed under Apache-2.0 (permissive), so you can use, modify, and distribute the package freely with minimal restrictions.

Quickstart:

pip install cirq-ionq

import cirq
from cirq_ionq import IonQSimulatorService

# Create a simple quantum circuit
q0, q1 = cirq.LineQubit.range(2)
circuit = cirq.Circuit(cirq.H(q0), cirq.CNOT(q0, q1))

# Access IonQ service (requires authentication)
service = IonQSimulatorService()

Requires IonQ API credentials and access to IonQ devices; see the package documentation for authentication setup.

Verify before relying:

- Whether the package supports all current IonQ device types and capabilities
- Specific performance characteristics or latency when executing circuits on IonQ hardware
- Cost or quota implications of using IonQ devices through this integration

## Package facts

- License: Apache-2.0 (permissive)
- Python support: supports_current
- Install friction: low
- Maintenance: active
- Downloads: 155.3K/month (top 15,000 on PyPI)
- Known vulnerabilities: none known

## Tags

cirq ionq quantum integration, run quantum circuits on ionq, cirq quantum hardware interface, ionq quantum computer access, quantum circuit execution ionq, cirq ionq bridge, quantum programming ionq, quantum-computing, hardware-integration

[View on SkillFed](https://skillfed.io/packages/cirq-ionq) · [View on PyPI](https://pypi.org/project/cirq-ionq/)