Databento vs Polygon.io (now Massive)
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 | Databento | Polygon.io (now Massive) |
|---|---|---|
| API Quality | 5/5 ✓ | 4/5 |
| Doc Quality | 5/5 ✓ | 4/5 |
| Data Latency | tick | tick |
| SDK Languages | 6 languages ✓ | 5 languages |
| Free Tier | Yes | Yes |
| Affiliate Program | No | No |
| Asset Coverage Breadth | 5 asset classes | 5 asset classes |
| Asset Coverage | US Equities, US Futures, US Options, Crypto, FX | US Equities, US Options, Forex, Crypto, Global Indices |
| Historical Depth | 2004–present (varies by dataset) | 2003–present (equities) |
| Starting Price | From $0 | $0/mo |
| Rate Limits | No hard rate limits on historical; live feed by subscription tier | Free: 5/min; Starter: 15/min; Developer+: unlimited |
Databento: Best For
- Quant researchers
- HFT developers
- Backtesting engines
- Academic research
Not Ideal For
- Retail traders needing cheap real-time quotes
- Non-technical users
Polygon.io (now Massive): Best For
- Algo traders
- Fintech app developers
- Options traders
- Crypto quants
Not Ideal For
- Tick-level HFT (DBZ format not available)
- Institutional order book depth
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