Alpaca VS Alpha Vantage
Head-to-head market data API comparison.
UPDATED 2026-05-27 · 7 axes scored
Quick Decision
▶ PICK ALPACA IF DATA-API
- Retail algo traders
- Python quants
- Paper trading bots
- US equity automation
▶ PICK ALPHA VANTAGE IF DATA-API
- Beginners
- Homework / hobby projects
- Technical indicator data
- Fundamentals screening
▼ Skip both if
- Deep historical tick data
Side-by-Side Matrix
| METRIC | ALPACA | ALPHA VANTAGE |
|---|---|---|
| API Quality | 4/5 | 3/5 |
| Doc Quality | 4/5 | 3/5 |
| Data Latency | second | minute |
| SDK Languages | 4 languages | 5 languages |
| Free Tier | Yes | Yes |
| Affiliate Program | No | No |
| Asset Coverage Breadth | 3 classes | 5 classes |
| Asset Coverage | US Equities · US Options · Crypto | US Equities · Global Equities · Forex · Crypto · Commodities |
| Historical Depth | 7+ years (minute bars); limited tick | 20+ years (daily); intraday 1-2 months on free |
| Starting Price | $0/mo | $0/mo |
| Rate Limits | Free: 200 req/min; Algo Trader Plus: up to 10,000 req/min | Free: 25/day; paid plans from 75/min up to 1200/min |
Asset Class Coverage
Where the two providers overlap and where each has unique coverage.
| ASSET CLASS | ALPACA | ALPHA VANTAGE |
|---|---|---|
| Commodities | — | ✓ Covered |
| Crypto | ✓ Covered | ✓ Covered |
| Forex | — | ✓ Covered |
| Global Equities | — | ✓ Covered |
| US Equities | ✓ Covered | ✓ Covered |
| US Options | ✓ Covered | — |
| TOTAL CLASSES | 3 | 5 |
Only Alpaca
US Options
Only Alpha Vantage
Global Equities · Forex · Commodities
Shared · 2
US Equities · Crypto
Pricing Tier Map
Full tier ladder side-by-side · names and prices as published by each provider · 2 vs 6 tiers.
ALPACA · 2 TIERS FREE TIER
01
Free $0/mo
Real-time IEX data + paper trading
02
Algo Trader Plus $99/mo
SIP real-time data + unlimited API calls
▲ Free Tier · Free tier: real-time IEX feed, unlimited historical (15-min delay on SIP)
ALPHA VANTAGE · 6 TIERS FREE TIER
01
Free $0/mo
25 req/day, no real-time
02
75 req/min $49.99/mo
75 requests/min, no daily limits
03
150 req/min $99.99/mo
150 requests/min, no daily limits
04
300 req/min $149.99/mo
300 requests/min, no daily limits
05
600 req/min $199.99/mo
600 requests/min, no daily limits
06
1200 req/min $249.99/mo
1200 requests/min, no daily limits
▲ Free Tier · Free: 25 API requests/day, no real-time
Technical Stack Fit
SDK languages and data formats determine integration cost for your existing codebase.
| DIMENSION | ALPACA | ALPHA VANTAGE |
|---|---|---|
| API Types | REST · WebSocket · SDK | REST |
| SDK Languages | Python · JavaScript · Go · C# | Python · JavaScript · Java · PHP · C# |
| Data Formats | JSON | JSON · CSV |
| Rate Limits | Free: 200 req/min; Algo Trader Plus: up to 10,000 req/min | Free: 25/day; paid plans from 75/min up to 1200/min |
| Latency Class | second | minute |
Fit Profile
ALPACA · PROFILE DATA-API
Best For
- Retail algo traders
- Python quants
- Paper trading bots
- US equity automation
Not Ideal For
- International markets
- Deep historical tick data
- Options analytics
Full Alpaca Review
ALPHA VANTAGE · PROFILE DATA-API
Best For
- Beginners
- Homework / hobby projects
- Technical indicator data
- Fundamentals screening
Not Ideal For
- Production trading systems
- Real-time needs on free tier
- Tick data
Full Alpha Vantage Review
Adjacent Comparisons
Related matchups — same category first, then cross-category for context.
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