Title: Simplifying Stock Market Data Access: A Comparative Review of Leading APIs

In the fast-paced world of finance, access to accurate and timely stock market data is crucial for traders, analysts, and developers alike. With numerous API providers offering various features and pricing plans, choosing the right data source can be overwhelming. To streamline this decision-making process, we’ve compiled a comprehensive comparison of some of the most popular stock data APIs, highlighting their capabilities, restrictions, and costs—so you can focus on what matters most: making informed financial decisions.

Overview of Stock Data API Providers

Below is a detailed comparison of five prominent API providers—Polygon, Nasdaq, Finnhub, Prixe.io, and FMP—covering key features such as data limits, real-time access, historical data, and more.

| Feature / Provider | Polygon | Nasdaq | Finnhub | Prixe.io | FMP (Financial Modeling Prep) |
|—————————-|———————————|——————————–|——————————|————————–|———————————–|
| Free Tier | 5 requests per minute | 2 requests per minute | 60 requests per minute | 60 requests per minute | 250 requests per day |
| Paid Tier (Personal) | $29/month | $15/month | $3,000/month | $6/month | $19/month |
| Paid API Limits | Unlimited (15-minute delay) | 500 requests per minute | 900 requests per minute | 600 requests per minute | 300 requests per minute |
| Real-Time Data Access | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Historical Data Access | Yes (up to 5 years) | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes (up to 5 years) |
| WebSocket Support | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | Yes |

Key Insights

• Pricing & Limits: For individuals or small projects, Prixe.io and Finnhub offer affordable plans with generous request limits, while FMP provides a substantial daily quota suitable for moderate use. Nasdaq’s base plan is lower-cost but with more limited request capacity, whereas Polygon’s free tier is suitable for basic needs but includes delays.

• **Real-Time Data