Databento vs Twelve Data
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 | Twelve Data |
|---|---|---|
| API Quality | 5/5 ✓ | 4/5 |
| Doc Quality | 5/5 ✓ | 4/5 |
| Data Latency | tick | second |
| SDK Languages | 6 languages ✓ | 5 languages |
| Free Tier | Yes | Yes |
| Affiliate Program | No | Yes |
| Asset Coverage Breadth | 5 asset classes | 6 asset classes ✓ |
| Asset Coverage | US Equities, US Futures, US Options, Crypto, FX | US Equities, Global Equities, Forex, Crypto, ETFs, Indices |
| Historical Depth | 2004–present (varies by dataset) | 30+ years (daily); intraday varies by plan |
| Starting Price | From $0 | $0/mo |
| Rate Limits | No hard rate limits on historical; live feed by subscription tier | Credit-based; each endpoint consumes different credit amount |
Databento: Best For
- Quant researchers
- HFT developers
- Backtesting engines
- Academic research
Not Ideal For
- Retail traders needing cheap real-time quotes
- Non-technical users
Twelve Data: Best For
- Global coverage needs
- Technical indicator API
- Fintech apps
- Forex + crypto combo
Not Ideal For
- Tick data / HFT
- Deep US options data
- Large bulk downloads
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