Best Free Finance APIs for Stock & Crypto Market Data in 2025: A Detailed Comparison
December 08, 2025
If you're building a Notion investment tracker, a crypto portfolio, or an automated trading tool, choosing the right finance API is crucial. But with so many options—Marketstack, Alpha Vantage, Financial Modeling Prep (FMP), and Yahoo Finance API (via RapidAPI)—which one is the best?
In this article, we compare the best free finance APIs for stock market data, real-time prices, forex, crypto, and fundamental analysis so you can pick the right one for your project.
What is a Finance API?
A finance API allows developers to access stock prices, crypto market data, forex rates, and financial reports through a simple request. These APIs are used for:
- ✅ Investment tracking (e.g., Notion dashboards)
- ✅ Algorithmic trading & backtesting
- ✅ Crypto & forex market data
- ✅ Fundamental stock analysis
Comparison: EODHD vs Marketstack vs. Alpha Vantage vs. Financial Modeling Prep vs. Yahoo Finance API
Let’s compare these free finance APIs based on data coverage, real-time access, pricing, and ease of use.
In this comparison, I have used these finance APIs:
1. Data Coverage & Features
| Feature | EODHD | Marketstack | Alpha Vantage | Financial Modeling Prep | Yahoo Finance API |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stock Market Data | ✅ 60+ exchanges |
✅ 60+ exchanges | ✅ US & global stocks | ✅ US | ✅ Global stock data |
| Real-time Data | ✅ Available (delayed 15 minutes) | ❌ Available (only premium) | ❌ Available (only premium) | ❌ Available (only premium) | ✅ Available (free & paid) |
| Historical Data | ✅ Up to 30 years | ✅ Up to 30 years | ✅ Long-term data | ✅ 5 years free account (30+ premium) | ✅ Comprehensive historical data |
| Forex & Crypto | ✅ Includes forex & crypto | ❌ No forex or crypto | ✅ Includes forex & crypto | ✅ Includes forex & crypto | ✅ Includes forex & crypto |
| Batch Requests | ✅ Supported | ✅ Supported | ❌ No (premium only) | ✅ Supported | ✅ Supported |
Exchange Market Support Comparison
| Stock Exchange | EODHD | Marketstack | Alpha Vantage | Financial Modeling Prep | Yahoo Finance API |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| NYSE (New York, US) | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes |
| NASDAQ (US) | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes |
| London Stock Exchange (LSE, UK) | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes | ❌ No (Premium only) | ✅ Yes |
| Euronext (Europe) | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes | ❌ No (Premium only) | ✅ Yes |
| Toronto Stock Exchange (TSX, Canada) | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes | ❌ No (Premium only) | ✅ Yes |
| India NSE & BSE | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes | ❌ No (Premium only) | ✅ Yes |
| Shanghai Stock Exchange (SSE, China) | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes | ❌ No (Premium only) | ✅ Yes |
| Shenzhen Stock Exchange (SZSE, China) | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes | ❌ No (Premium only) | ✅ Yes |
| Hong Kong Stock Exchange (HKEX) | ❌ No | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes | ❌ No (Premium only) | ✅ Yes |
| Tokyo Stock Exchange (Japan) | ❌ No | ❌ No | ❌ No | ❌ No (Premium only) | ✅ Yes |
| Australia (ASX) | ✅ Yes | ❌ No | ❌ No | ❌ No (Premium only) | ✅ Yes |
| Cryptocurrency Markets | ✅ Yes | ❌ No | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes |
| Forex (Currency Pairs) | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes |
2. Free Plans & Pricing
| Plan Type | EODHD | Marketstack | Alpha Vantage | Financial Modeling Prep | Yahoo Finance API |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Free Tier | ✅ 20 requests/ day |
✅ 100 requests/ month |
✅ 25 requests/ day |
✅ 250 requests/ day |
✅ 500 requests/ month |
| Paid Plans | ✅ From $19.99/month | ✅ From $8.99/month | ✅ From $49.99/month | ✅ From $19/month | ✅ From $10/month |
3. Which API is Best for Your Project?
| Use Case | Best API |
|---|---|
| Building investment tracker (US market) | ✅ Financial Modeling Prep |
| Building investment tracker (EU market) | ✅ EODHD / Marketstack |
| Building investment tracker (Global market) | ✅ Yahoo Finance API (via RapidAPI) |
| Live stock price updates | ✅ Alpha Vantage (real-time & indicators) |
BrAPI for Brazilian Market Data
If you're specifically interested in the Brazilian stock market, BrAPI is worth considering. This API specializes in B3 (Brazilian stock exchange) data and provides comprehensive access to Brazilian stocks, dividends, FIIs (Real Estate Investment Funds), ETFs, and economic indicators.
Conclusion: Which Finance API Should You Choose?
- For fundamental stock analysis (US) → Use Financial Modeling Prep
- For fundamental stock analysis (EU) → Use EODHD or Marketstack
- For historical stock data → Use EODHD or Marketstack
- For real-time stock prices & forex → Use Alpha Vantage
- For Brazilian market data → Use BrAPI
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a Finance API?
A Finance API (Application Programming Interface) is a tool that allows developers to integrate financial data, such as stock market prices, currency exchange rates, and banking services, into their applications.
How do free Finance APIs work?
Free finance APIs provide limited access to financial data and services, often with rate limits or restricted features. They typically require an API key for authentication.
What are the best free Finance APIs for beginners?
Some beginner-friendly finance APIs include Financial Modeling Prep, Alpha Vantage, Marketstack, and CoinGecko API for cryptocurrency data.
How do I get started with a Finance API?
Sign up on the API provider's website, obtain an API key, then make requests using HTTP methods like GET to retrieve financial data.