Quick answer
Alpha Vantage offers a free API key for stock, forex and crypto time series, technical indicators and fundamentals through one query?function=… endpoint. The free key allows 25 requests per day; exceeding it returns an Information message with HTTP 200, and several datasets are premium.
Alpha Vantage API at a glance
- Pricing
- Free key: 25 requests/day
- Availability
- Worldwide
- Paper trading
- Not applicable (data only)
- Integration type
- REST + API key
- In AlgoGP
- Built in: data adapter (Free)
- Endpoint
https://www.alphavantage.co/query?function=…&apikey=…- Free tier
- 25 requests per day
- Daily series
TIME_SERIES_DAILY,FX_DAILY,DIGITAL_CURRENCY_DAILY- Extras
- 50+ technical indicators, fundamentals, economic indicators
The functions a strategy uses
| Function | Returns |
|---|---|
TIME_SERIES_DAILY | Daily OHLCV for a stock or ETF (symbol=IBM) |
TIME_SERIES_INTRADAY | 1min–60min bars (interval=60min) |
FX_DAILY | Daily forex (from_symbol=EUR&to_symbol=USD) |
DIGITAL_CURRENCY_DAILY | Daily crypto (symbol=BTC&market=USD) |
RSI, SMA, MACD, … | Server-computed indicators |
Series come back as a JSON object keyed by date, with fields named "1. open", "2. high", "3. low", "4. close", "5. volume". outputsize=compact returns the latest 100 points; full returns the whole history where your plan allows it.
Free tier limits and premium
A free key allows 25 requests per day. When you exceed it, the API still answers 200 OK but with an Information or Note field instead of data, so code must check for that. Several datasets (full intraday history, adjusted daily series, real-time US data) are premium; paid plans are priced by requests per minute.
Use Alpha Vantage in AlgoGP
Open a project, go to the APIs & keys tab and, under Platforms, pick Alpha Vantage as the market data source (market_data.py). The choice is saved to config.json as a new strategy version:
{
"platforms": {
"data": "alpha-vantage",
"broker": "alpaca"
}
}backtest.py and live.py connect to when you run the exported code.| Key | What it is |
|---|---|
ALPHA_VANTAGE_API_KEY | Alpha Vantage API key (free from alphavantage.co/support/#api-key). |
.env.New to Alpha Vantage? Follow the step-by-step Alpha Vantage API key guide.
Alpha Vantage API: frequently asked questions
Is Alpha Vantage really free?
Yes, a free key gives 25 requests per day with no card. Premium plans raise the limit and unlock premium datasets.
Why did Alpha Vantage return no data?
Usually the daily limit or a premium-only function. Read the Information, Note or Error Message field in the response.
Does Alpha Vantage have crypto and forex data?
Yes: FX_DAILY/FX_INTRADAY for currencies and DIGITAL_CURRENCY_DAILY and related functions for crypto.
Turn Alpha Vantage data into a tested strategy
Backtest an idea in the browser, then export Python whose live loop reads candles straight from Alpha Vantage with your own key.
- Generated Alpha Vantage candle fetcher, closed bars only
- An AI copilot that writes and revises the rules
- Pair it with Alpaca, Binance, OANDA or another broker
Free plan, no card required.
Alpha Vantage alternatives
- Twelve Data API Built into AlgoGP (data)One API for global stocks, forex, crypto and ETFs with 1-minute to monthly bars and a generous free plan.
- Finnhub API Built into AlgoGP (data)Stock, FX and crypto prices plus fundamentals, estimates, news and alternative data behind one API key.
- EODHD API Built into AlgoGP (data)EOD Historical Data: global end-of-day and intraday prices for 150k+ tickers, fundamentals, FX and crypto at low cost.
- Financial Modeling Prep API Built into AlgoGP (data)Fundamentals, earnings, transcripts and end-of-day prices for global equities in one REST API.
Comparisons
Independent guide. AlgoGP is not affiliated with Alpha Vantage. Limits, prices and availability change; confirm them in the official documentation. Nothing here is investment advice.