VOL. XCIV, NO. 247

Free Alternatives to Databento

Checking

Free replacement verdicts

Free Alternatives to Databento

Zero-cost replacements grouped by fit, tradeoffs, pricing friction, and platform access. Use this list to test Databento before paying for another subscription.

Switching from Databento doesn't have to cost a thing. We've curated 6 free-tier alternatives that cover similar workflows, from APIs & Data Feeds to Dividends and beyond. Each pick below is framed by fit, caveats, and access friction so you can trial replacements without opening your wallet.

Visit Databento All alternatives Tool details

Disclosure: outbound links may include affiliate or sponsor links

Which Alternative Should You Use?

FinancialData.Net

Closest replacement

Best for: Developers who want prices, fundamentals, statements, options, funds, ESG, calendars, ownership data, and news from one API.

FinancialData.Net best matches the base workflow on market data API, options data, and AI agent data access.
FinancialData.Net adds a free starting point that the base tool does not show. Free-plan limits: Signup required. Free plan lists 300 requests/day.

Watch for: Serious use is paid: The free tier is useful for testing but is capped at 300 requests/day and excludes many higher-value datasets and MCP access.

Compare FinancialData.Net plans

Details Compare

Alpha Vantage

Best workflow fit

Best for: Developers and students looking for a simple API key for market, fundamentals, macro, FX, crypto, commodity, and options data.

Alpha Vantage best matches the base workflow on market data API, historical market data, and options data.
Alpha Vantage adds a free starting point that the base tool does not show. Free-plan limits: Signup required. Free key is limited to 25 API requests per day.

Watch for: Free quota is small: A standard free limit of 25 API requests per day.

Get Alpha Vantage API key

Details Compare

EODHD

Strong runner-up

Best for: Developers and quants needing market data APIs across equities, ETFs, funds, forex, crypto, and options.

EODHD best matches the base workflow on historical market data, options data, and AI agent data access.
EODHD adds a free starting point that the base tool does not show. Free-plan limits: Signup required. Free plan shows 20 API calls per day.

Watch for: Free API quota is very limited: 20 API calls per day on the Free plan.

View EODHD pricing

Details Compare

Financial Modeling Prep (FMP)

Strong runner-up

Best for: Developers and analysts needing REST/WebSocket market data, fundamentals, calendars, transcripts, ownership, ESG, and macro datasets.

Financial Modeling Prep (FMP) best matches the base workflow on market data API, historical market data, and screening and idea generation.
Financial Modeling Prep (FMP) adds a free starting point that the base tool does not show. Free-plan limits: Signup required. Basic plan is limited to 250 API calls per day.

Watch for: Free sandbox is limited: The Basic plan is capped at 250 API calls per day, end-of-day timeframe, and around 5 years of history.

View FMP pricing

Details Compare

Detailed Alternatives

I want to

Pay lessFill a gapUpgrade overall

Free tiers first, then the lowest starting price.

Partial replacement

Marketstack

Bottom line: Developers needing a simple REST stock-data API with a free tier, low starting price, EOD history, intraday data, corporate actions, ETF holdings, bonds, commodities, ratings, and EDGAR endpoints.

Keep

APIs & Data Feeds
Dividends
Splits

Gain

ETF Analysis
Analyst Ratings & Price Targets

Lose

Order Book / Level II
Options
Options coverage
Futures coverage

Watch out

Avoid as a full replacement if you rely on options data, quant research, and AI agent data access.
Free-plan limits: Signup required. Free plan lists 100 requests/month. Basic is listed at $9.99/month and Professional at $49.99/month.
Request limits are tight at low tiers: Free includes 100 requests/month. The current public plan grid does not disclose endpoint-specific throttles.

Cost

Free with signup

$9.99/moto go paid

$189.01/mo less than Databento

Fit: Partial replacement

Compare Marketstack plans Compare

Full review and details

Partial replacement

EODHD

Analyst pickTested by us

Bottom line: Developers and quants needing market data APIs across equities, ETFs, funds, forex, crypto, and options.

Keep

APIs & Data Feeds
Options
Dividends
Splits

Gain

Calendar
News
News Sentiment
Corporate Actions & Special Situations

Lose

Order Book / Level II
Futures coverage

Watch out

Avoid as a full replacement if you rely on market data API, quant research, and backtesting and quant research.
Free-plan limits: Signup required. Free plan shows 20 API calls per day. Paid personal plans default to 100,000 daily API calls.
Free API quota is very limited: 20 API calls per day on the Free plan.

Cost

Free with signup

$19.99/moto go paid

$179.01/mo less than Databento

Fit: Partial replacement

View EODHD pricing Compare

Full review and details

Partial replacement

Financial Modeling Prep (FMP)

Tested by us

Bottom line: Developers and analysts needing REST/WebSocket market data, fundamentals, calendars, transcripts, ownership, ESG, and macro datasets.

Keep

APIs & Data Feeds
Dividends
Splits

Gain

Screeners
News
Calendar
IPO

Lose

Order Book / Level II
Options
Options coverage
Futures coverage

Watch out

Avoid as a full replacement if you rely on options data, quant research, and AI agent data access.
Free-plan limits: Signup required. Basic plan is limited to 250 API calls per day. Free tier has end-of-day timeframe, around 5 years of history, and limited bandwidth.
Free sandbox is limited: The Basic plan is capped at 250 API calls per day, end-of-day timeframe, and around 5 years of history.

Cost

Free with signup

$22/moto go paid, billed yearly

$177/mo less than Databento

Fit: Partial replacement

View FMP pricing Compare

Full review and details

FinancialData.NetClosest replacementFree • From $29/moFree with signup

Closest replacement

FinancialData.Net

Bottom line: Developers who want prices, fundamentals, statements, options, funds, ESG, calendars, ownership data, and news from one API.

Keep

APIs & Data Feeds
Options
Dividends
Splits

Gain

Sheets / Excel Add-ins
Quant
News
Calendar

Lose

Order Book / Level II

Watch out

Avoid as a full replacement if you rely on historical market data, quant research, and screening and idea generation.
Free-plan limits: Signup required. Free plan lists 300 requests/day. Professional is $149/month or $1,299/year and includes MCP server plus internal commercial use.
Serious use is paid: The free tier is useful for testing but is capped at 300 requests/day and excludes many higher-value datasets and MCP access.

Cost

Free with signup

$29/moto go paid

$170/mo less than Databento

Fit: Partial replacement

Compare FinancialData.Net plans Compare

Full review and details

TiingoPartial replacementFree • From $30/moFree with signup

Partial replacement

Tiingo

Bottom line: Developers and quants who need flat-rate APIs for prices, fundamentals, news, forex, crypto, or corporate actions.

Keep

APIs & Data Feeds
Dividends
Splits

Gain

Screeners
Portfolio
News

Lose

Order Book / Level II
Options
Options coverage
Futures coverage

Watch out

Avoid as a full replacement if you rely on options data, quant research, and backtesting and quant research.
Free-plan limits: Signup required. Pricing page lists Starter at $0/month. Individual Power is listed at $30/month or $300/year.
Commercial use needs the right plan: Individual and Commercial plans allow internal use only. Display or data redistribution requires a separate license.

Cost

Free with signup

$30/moto go paid

$169/mo less than Databento

Fit: Partial replacement

Compare Tiingo pricing Compare

Full review and details

Alpha VantageBest workflow fitFree • From $49.99/moFree with signup

Best workflow fit

Alpha Vantage

Tested by us

Bottom line: Developers and students looking for a simple API key for market, fundamentals, macro, FX, crypto, commodity, and options data.

Keep

APIs & Data Feeds
Options
Dividends
Splits

Gain

News
News Sentiment
Market Sentiment
Calendar

Lose

Order Book / Level II
Futures coverage

Watch out

Avoid as a full replacement if you rely on quant research, screening and idea generation, and backtesting and quant research.
Free-plan limits: Signup required. Free key is limited to 25 API requests per day. Personal premium plans run from $49.99 to $249.99 monthly or $499 to $2,499 yearly.
Free quota is small: A standard free limit of 25 API requests per day.

Cost

Free with signup

$49.99/moto go paid

$149.01/mo less than Databento

Fit: Drop-in replacement

Get Alpha Vantage API key Compare

Full review and details

What This Shortlist Tells You

FinancialData.Net is the closest drop-in replacement with overlapping coverage in APIs & Data Feeds, Options, and Dividends while adding Sheets / Excel Add-ins and Quant coverage, REST API for real-time and historical prices, company statements, insider and institutional activity, earnings releases, and related datasets. and Coverage includes U.S. and international equities, indexes, funds, derivatives, OTC securities, crypto, foreign exchange, and commodities. features, and a free tier (workflow overlap ~80%).

Every pick keeps a free tier; start with FinancialData.Net, Alpha Vantage, and EODHD to road-test Databento workflows without paying up front.

Round out your stack with new coverage areas like Sheets / Excel Add-ins, Quant, News, and Calendar.

Databento still leads on Order Book / Level II, so keep it handy for those workflows.

Coverage Snapshot

Where alternatives already align

Most shared categories across the top matches.

APIs & Data Feeds×6 Dividends×6 Splits×6 Options×3

New angles introduced

Categories the alternatives add beyond Databento.

News+5 Calendar+4 ETF Analysis+4 Insider Data+4 IPO+4 Sheets / Excel Add-ins+4 ESG Ratings+3 Financials+3

Free Access & Pricing

Free to start

All 6

All 6 have a standing free tier, not a trial.

Paid plans from

$9.99/mo

Marketstack is the cheapest paid upgrade. Databento starts at $199/mo.

Mobile app

0 of 6

0 add a mobile app that Databento lacks.

API access

6 of 6

6 expose an API or data feed, usually on a paid plan.

Hands-on tested

3 of 6

3 tested hands-on. 1 are analyst picks.

Coverage overlap

70%

Average share of Databento categories each alternative covers.

Free Alternatives FAQ

What are the best free alternatives to Databento?

FinancialData.Net, Alpha Vantage, and EODHD cover the most Databento workflows without a paid plan, in that order.

Do these picks stay permanently free?

Yes. Every tool listed has a standing free tier, not a trial. Expect caps on exports, seats, or history once you use it heavily.

Which Databento workflows stay covered on the free plan?

The free plans cover APIs & Data Feeds, Options, Dividends, and Splits. Core Databento workflows in those areas do not need a paid upgrade.

What extra coverage do the free alternatives add?

The free alternatives add Sheets / Excel Add-ins, Quant, News, Calendar, IPO, Short Interest, Macro Data, Financials, Scores, ESG Ratings, Insider Data, Institutional Ownership, US Government Trades, ETF Analysis, Fund Analysis, Regulatory Filings Monitoring, News Sentiment, Market Sentiment, Corporate Actions & Special Situations, Yield Curves, Transcripts, Education, Screeners, Valuation Models, Analyst Forecasts, Analyst Ratings & Price Targets, and Portfolio, which Databento does not cover.

Where might I still rely on Databento?

Order Book / Level II and Options stay with Databento. Keep it for those tasks, or budget for a paid plan elsewhere if they matter.

Keep Exploring

Tool ComparisonsSide-by-side comparisons of screeners, portfolio trackers, and research platforms.

Wide Moat StocksBrowse the current moat score ranking and company-level moat notes.

Short InterestDaily tracker for heavily shorted stocks and short squeeze candidates.

Live AnalyticsSee what users are clicking, searching, and voting for across the site.

Research ToolsFind screeners, data platforms, portfolio trackers, and research tools.

Top Tools by Domain RatingThe 50 investing tools with the strongest websites, by Ahrefs Domain Rating.

Feedback

Missing an alternative, or is a listing out of date? Tell me and I will look.

Curation & Accuracy

This directory blends AI‑assisted discovery with human curation. Entries are reviewed, edited, and organized with the goal of expanding coverage and sharpening quality over time. Your feedback helps steer improvements (because no single human can capture everything all at once).

Details change. Pricing, features, and availability may be incomplete or out of date. Treat listings as a starting point and verify on the provider’s site before making decisions. If you spot an error or a gap, send a quick note and I’ll adjust.