Alpha Vantage vs MetaAPI
Head-to-head comparison of two trading data providers. Updated 2026-05-23.
Overall winner: MetaAPI — wins 2 of 6 comparison axes.
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Feature | Alpha Vantage | MetaAPI |
|---|---|---|
| API Quality | 3/5 | 4/5 ✓ |
| Doc Quality | 3/5 | 4/5 ✓ |
| Free Tier | Yes | Yes |
| Affiliate Program | No | No |
| Data Latency | minute | second |
| SDK Languages | 5 languages ✓ | 3 languages |
| Asset Coverage | US Equities, Global Equities, Forex, Crypto, Commodities | Forex, CFDs, Indices, Commodities |
| Historical Depth | 20+ years (daily); intraday 1-2 months on free | Broker-dependent; typically 1-5 years via MT4/MT5 |
| Starting Price | $0/mo | $0/mo |
| Rate Limits | Free: 25/day; paid from 75/min | Varies by plan; 10k calls/mo free |
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
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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