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Paid plans start at $99/mo. There's also a free plan.
Alpaca has free API tiers, but its paid Trading API plan starts at $99/month. The catch is that Alpaca splits pricing between Trading API and Broker API: the free plans are not equivalent, and market-data feeds and request limits differ. Broker API has a free Standard tier, while higher request tiers cost $500 to $2,000/month. Options indicative data adds $1,000/month on Standard and StandardPlus3000. Annual prices and trial terms are not published, so check the feed and traffic you need before budgeting.
01Every plan, line by line
| Plan | Billed annually | Billed monthly | Built for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Free (Basic) | — | $0 | Trading API users needing basic market data |
| Algo Trader Plus | — | $99 | Trading API users needing full US market data |
| Standard | — | $0 | Broker API users with basic request needs |
| StandardPlus3000 | — | $500 | Broker API users needing 3,000 requests/min |
| StandardPlus5000 | — | $1,000 | Broker API users needing 5,000 requests/min |
| StandardPlus10000 | — | $2,000 | Broker API users needing 10,000 requests/min |
Add-ons and overages
- Standard and StandardPlus3000: options indicative feed costs an additional $1,000/month.
02What the plan grid doesn't tell you
Different data feeds
Free (Basic) uses IEX equities data and indicative options feeds. Algo Trader Plus lists SIP real-time equities and OPRA options feeds.
Broker request tiers
Broker API pricing rises from free Standard to $500, $1,000 and $2,000/month for higher request limits.
Options feed surcharge
The options indicative feed costs an extra $1,000/month on Standard and StandardPlus3000. Options are included at no extra charge on the two higher tiers.
Annual and trial terms
Annual-billing prices and free-trial terms are not published on the vendor's site.
03Which plan should you buy?
| If you are… | Get | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Basic Trading API users | Free (Basic) | Costs $0/month and includes 200 API calls/min, IEX equity data and historical data back to 2016. |
| Full-market data users | Algo Trader Plus | At $99/month, it lists SIP real-time equities, OPRA options, 10,000 API calls/min and more than seven years of historical data. |
| Basic Broker API users | Standard | Costs $0/month and includes 1,000 requests/min, five stream connections and unlimited stream symbols. |
04Is Alpaca worth the money?
Alpaca's free tiers make it possible to start without a monthly plan fee, but they come with distinct request and market-data limits. The $99/month Algo Trader Plus tier is the listed paid entry point for Trading API users seeking full US market data. Broker API costs are a separate pricing track and reach $2,000/month at the listed top tier. It may fit teams that need trading or brokerage APIs; budget against the exact feeds and request volume, not the word “free.”
Alpaca pricing FAQ
What are Alpaca Markets?
Alpaca provides APIs for stock, options and crypto trading, along with brokerage and market-data tools. Its stated use cases include algorithmic trading, financial apps and embedding investing into other services. The published product information also lists developer SDKs and OAuth integrations.
Is Alpaca better than Robinhood?
The published information does not compare Alpaca with Robinhood, so it does not support a direct “better” verdict. Alpaca is presented as APIs for trading, brokerage and market data; check whether those tools and their feed limits match your needs before comparing it with another service.
How much does Alpaca data cost?
Free (Basic) includes IEX equities data and indicative options feeds. Algo Trader Plus costs $99/month and lists SIP real-time equities and OPRA options. Broker API feed access varies by tier; the options indicative feed adds $1,000/month on Standard and StandardPlus3000.
What happened to Alpaca Finance?
The published pricing information covers Alpaca Markets’ trading and brokerage APIs, but does not explain Alpaca Finance or report any change to it. We can’t verify what happened to Alpaca Finance from these sources; check its own official announcements for current information.