---
id: qiskit-ionq
version: "1.1.1"
license: Apache 2.0
license_treatment: permissive
maintenance: active
---

# qiskit-ionq — Qiskit provider for IonQ backends

License: permissive · Maintenance: active · Downloads: 75.5K/mo

## What it is and what it does

Qiskit IonQ Provider is a Qiskit backend plugin that connects quantum circuits to IonQ's ion trap quantum computers and simulators. It abstracts IonQ's REST API behind Qiskit's standard backend interface, allowing developers to write circuits in Qiskit and execute them on IonQ hardware or simulators without managing API calls directly.

The provider supports core quantum operations including mid-circuit measurements, qubit reuse, error mitigation strategies (debiasing), per-shot memory retrieval, and dry-run compilation for inspecting post-compilation circuits before execution. It handles circuit transpilation to IonQ's supported gate set and integrates with Qiskit's standard job submission and result retrieval patterns.

Use it for:

- Execute Qiskit quantum circuits on IonQ's ion trap QPUs for production quantum computing workloads
- Test and prototype quantum algorithms using IonQ's simulator backend before running on hardware
- Inspect compiled circuits and estimate gate counts via dry-run mode without incurring execution costs
- Retrieve per-shot measurement outcomes for statistical analysis of quantum algorithm results
- Implement error mitigation techniques like debiasing on IonQ backends within Qiskit workflows

## Worth the install?

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

Qiskit IonQ Provider enables submission of quantum circuits to IonQ's ion trap quantum systems and simulators through the Qiskit SDK, using IonQ's REST API with an access token.

Yes, if you need to run Qiskit circuits on IonQ hardware or simulators. The package is actively maintained, has low install friction, carries a permissive license, and integrates cleanly with Qiskit's standard patterns. Requires an IonQ API token and Python 3.10+; no known security vulnerabilities.

## Install

pip install qiskit-ionq
uv add qiskit-ionq
poetry add qiskit-ionq

## Installing qiskit-ionq

Before you install: Low install friction with a pure-Python wheel distribution. Active maintenance with a recent release (70 days ago) and ongoing repository commits. Five runtime dependencies are all standard Python packages.

License in practice: Apache 2.0 permissive license allows commercial and private use with minimal restrictions, typical for open-source quantum computing tools.

Quickstart:

pip install qiskit-ionq

from qiskit_ionq import IonQProvider
from qiskit import QuantumCircuit

provider = IonQProvider("your_api_token")
backend = provider.get_backend("ionq_simulator")
qc = QuantumCircuit(2, 2)
qc.h(0)
qc.cx(0, 1)
qc.measure([0, 1], [0, 1])
job = backend.run(qc)
print(job.result().get_counts())

Requires an IonQ API access token, obtainable from https://cloud.ionq.com/settings/keys; alternatively can be set via IONQ_API_KEY or IONQ_API_TOKEN environment variables.

Verify before relying:

- Whether IonQ API token acquisition process is straightforward for new users
- Performance characteristics when submitting large circuits or high shot counts
- Supported gate sets and transpilation limitations beyond what the excerpt describes

## Package facts

- License: Apache 2.0 (permissive)
- Python support: supports_current
- Install friction: low
- Maintenance: active
- Downloads: 75.5K/month (top 15,000 on PyPI)
- Known vulnerabilities: none known

## Tags

qiskit ionq provider, quantum circuit execution ionq, ion trap quantum backend, qiskit quantum provider, ionq api integration, quantum-computing, qiskit-plugin

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