Databento VS IEX Cloud (Discontinued)
Head-to-head market data API comparison.
UPDATED 2026-05-27 · 7 axes scored
WINNER · DATABENTO · 4/7 AXES
Quick Decision
▶ PICK DATABENTO IF DATA-API
- Quant researchers
- HFT developers
- Backtesting engines
- Academic research
▶ PICK IEX CLOUD (DISCONTINUED) IF DATA-API
- Historical reference only
Side-by-Side Matrix
| METRIC | DATABENTO | IEX CLOUD (DISCONTINUED) |
|---|---|---|
| API Quality | 5/5 | 3/5 |
| Doc Quality | 5/5 | 3/5 |
| Data Latency | tick | second |
| SDK Languages | 6 languages | 5 languages |
| Free Tier | Yes | No |
| Affiliate Program | No | No |
| Asset Coverage Breadth | 5 classes | 5 classes |
| Asset Coverage | US Equities · US Futures · US Options · Crypto · FX | US Equities · US Options · Crypto · Forex · Commodities |
| Historical Depth | 2004–present (varies by dataset) | Service discontinued |
| Starting Price | From $0 | N/A |
| Rate Limits | No hard rate limits on historical; live feed by subscription tier | Service discontinued |
Asset Class Coverage
Where the two providers overlap and where each has unique coverage.
| ASSET CLASS | DATABENTO | IEX CLOUD (DISCONTINUED) |
|---|---|---|
| Commodities | — | ✓ Covered |
| Crypto | ✓ Covered | ✓ Covered |
| FX | ✓ Covered | — |
| Forex | — | ✓ Covered |
| US Equities | ✓ Covered | ✓ Covered |
| US Futures | ✓ Covered | — |
| US Options | ✓ Covered | ✓ Covered |
| TOTAL CLASSES | 5 | 5 |
Only Databento
US Futures · FX
Only IEX Cloud (Discontinued)
Forex · Commodities
Shared · 3
US Equities · US Options · Crypto
Pricing Tier Map
Full tier ladder side-by-side · names and prices as published by each provider · 4 vs 1 tiers.
DATABENTO · 4 TIERS FREE TIER
01
Usage-based From $0
Pay-as-you-go for historical data; no subscription
02
Standard $199/mo
Monthly subscription for individuals and small teams
03
Plus Per-contract
For investment firms and institutional service providers
04
Unlimited Per-contract
Complete historical access for institutional users
▲ Free Tier · $125 in free credits for new users (6-month expiry); usable on historical data
IEX CLOUD (DISCONTINUED) · 1 TIERS
01
Discontinued N/A
IEX Cloud shut down on August 31, 2024
Technical Stack Fit
SDK languages and data formats determine integration cost for your existing codebase.
| DIMENSION | DATABENTO | IEX CLOUD (DISCONTINUED) |
|---|---|---|
| API Types | REST · WebSocket · SDK | REST · WebSocket · SDK |
| SDK Languages | Python · Rust · C++ · Go · Java · C# | Python · JavaScript · Java · Go · Ruby |
| Data Formats | DBZ (native) · CSV · JSON · Parquet | JSON |
| Rate Limits | No hard rate limits on historical; live feed by subscription tier | Service discontinued |
| Latency Class | tick | second |
Fit Profile
DATABENTO · PROFILE DATA-API
Best For
- Quant researchers
- HFT developers
- Backtesting engines
- Academic research
Not Ideal For
- Retail traders needing cheap real-time quotes
- Non-technical users
Full Databento Review
IEX CLOUD (DISCONTINUED) · PROFILE DATA-API
Best For
- Historical reference only
Not Ideal For
- Any new project — service is shut down
Full IEX Cloud (Discontinued) Review
Adjacent Comparisons
Related matchups — same category first, then cross-category for context.
Databento vs Polygon.io (now Massive)IEX Cloud (Discontinued) vs Polygon.io (now Massive)Databento vs AlpacaIEX Cloud (Discontinued) vs AlpacaDatabento vs FinnhubIEX Cloud (Discontinued) vs FinnhubDatabento vs Alpha VantageIEX Cloud (Discontinued) vs Alpha VantageDatabento vs Twelve DataIEX Cloud (Discontinued) vs Twelve DataDatabento vs EODHD (EOD Historical Data)IEX Cloud (Discontinued) vs EODHD (EOD Historical Data)Databento vs FinazonIEX Cloud (Discontinued) vs FinazonDatabento vs OANDAIEX Cloud (Discontinued) vs OANDA