Alpaca vs OANDA
Head-to-head market data API comparison. Updated 2026-05-24.
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Feature | Alpaca | OANDA |
|---|---|---|
| API Quality | 4/5 | 4/5 |
| Doc Quality | 4/5 | 4/5 |
| Data Latency | second | tick |
| SDK Languages | 4 languages ✓ | 3 languages |
| Free Tier | Yes | Yes |
| Affiliate Program | No | Yes |
| Asset Coverage Breadth | 3 asset classes | 4 asset classes ✓ |
| Asset Coverage | US Equities, US Options, Crypto | Forex, CFDs, Commodities, Indices |
| Historical Depth | 2016–present (minute bars); limited tick | 2001–present (FX tick and candle) |
| Starting Price | $0/mo | $0 |
| Rate Limits | 200 req/min free; higher on paid plans | 120 req/sec on REST; no stated limit on streaming |
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
OANDA: Best For
- Forex algo traders
- FX backtesting (deep history)
- CFD automation
- EA developers
Not Ideal For
- Equities data
- Crypto beyond CFDs
- Non-FX asset classes
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