Alpha Vantage vs Databento
Head-to-head market data API comparison. Updated 2026-05-23.
Overall winner: Databento — wins 3 of 7 comparison axes.
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Feature | Alpha Vantage | Databento |
|---|---|---|
| API Quality | 3/5 | 5/5 ✓ |
| Doc Quality | 3/5 | 5/5 ✓ |
| Data Latency | minute | tick |
| SDK Languages | 5 languages | 6 languages ✓ |
| Free Tier | Yes | Yes |
| Affiliate Program | No | No |
| Asset Coverage Breadth | 5 asset classes | 5 asset classes |
| Asset Coverage | US Equities, Global Equities, Forex, Crypto, Commodities | US Equities, US Futures, US Options, Crypto, FX |
| Historical Depth | 20+ years (daily); intraday 1-2 months on free | 2004–present (varies by dataset) |
| Starting Price | $0/mo | From $0 |
| Rate Limits | Free: 25/day; paid from 75/min | No hard rate limits on historical; live feed by subscription tier |
Alpha Vantage: 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
Databento: Best For
- Quant researchers
- HFT developers
- Backtesting engines
- Academic research
Not Ideal For
- Retail traders needing cheap real-time quotes
- Non-technical users
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