Alpaca vs MetaAPI
Head-to-head market data API comparison. Updated 2026-05-24.
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Feature | Alpaca | MetaAPI |
|---|---|---|
| API Quality | 4/5 | 4/5 |
| Doc Quality | 4/5 | 4/5 |
| Data Latency | second | second |
| SDK Languages | 4 languages ✓ | 3 languages |
| Free Tier | Yes | Yes |
| Affiliate Program | No | No |
| Asset Coverage Breadth | 3 asset classes | 4 asset classes ✓ |
| Asset Coverage | US Equities, US Options, Crypto | Forex, CFDs, Indices, Commodities |
| Historical Depth | 2016–present (minute bars); limited tick | Broker-dependent; typically 1-5 years via MT4/MT5 |
| Starting Price | $0/mo | $0/mo |
| Rate Limits | 200 req/min free; higher on paid plans | Varies by plan; 10k calls/mo free |
Alpaca: Best For
- Retail algo traders
- Python quants
- Paper trading bots
- US equity automation
Not Ideal For
- International markets
- Deep historical tick data
- Options analytics
MetaAPI: Best For
- MT4/MT5 EA automation
- Forex broker API access
- Copy trading systems
- Multi-account management
Not Ideal For
- US equities data
- Crypto exchange data
- Tick data archive
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