VOL. XCIV, NO. 247
★ BEST INVESTING TOOLS COMPARISON ★
NO ADVICE
Tuesday, February 17, 2026
Tool Comparison
Alpha Vantage vs FRED (Federal Reserve Economic Data) comparison
Compare pricing, supported platforms, categories, and standout capabilities to decide which tool fits your workflow.
Alpha Vantage
alphavantage.co
FRED (Federal Reserve Economic Data)
fred.stlouisfed.org
At a glance
Tool
Alpha Vantage
—
Starting price
Plans & pricing
Tool
FRED (Federal Reserve Economic Data)
—
Starting price
Plans & pricing
Vote sentiment comparison
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Platform details
| Attribute | Alpha Vantage | FRED (Federal Reserve Economic Data) |
|---|---|---|
Asset types | StocksETFsMutual FundsOptionsCurrenciesCryptosCommoditiesFunds | Other |
Experience | BeginnerIntermediateAdvanced | BeginnerIntermediateAdvanced |
Regions | North AmericaEuropeAPAC | Not specified |
Data freshness | Real-time15-min DelayedEnd of Day | Not specified |
API access | REST | REST |
Export formats | CSVJSON | ExcelImageJSONXML |
Coverage overlap
Categories where both tools offer overlapping coverage.
Categories covered by Alpha Vantage only.
Categories covered by FRED (Federal Reserve Economic Data) only.
Frequently Asked Questions
What's the difference between Alpha Vantage and FRED (Federal Reserve Economic Data)?
Alpha Vantage focuses on Data APIs, News, and News Sentiment while FRED (Federal Reserve Economic Data) specializes in Inflation Rates, Unemployment Rates, and GDP. They overlap in 8 categories, so choose based on your preferred workflow and pricing.
How much do Alpha Vantage and FRED (Federal Reserve Economic Data) cost?
Good news—both Alpha Vantage and FRED (Federal Reserve Economic Data) offer free plans. You can try each platform without commitment and only pay when you need premium features.
Can I use Alpha Vantage or FRED (Federal Reserve Economic Data) on my phone?
FRED (Federal Reserve Economic Data) has a mobile app so you can check your research on the go. Alpha Vantage is web-only, so you'll need a browser to access it from mobile devices.
Do Alpha Vantage and FRED (Federal Reserve Economic Data) have APIs?
Yes, both platforms offer API access for developers and quants who want to build custom integrations or automate their workflows.
Should I choose Alpha Vantage or FRED (Federal Reserve Economic Data)?
Choose Alpha Vantage if you need Cloud-native REST APIs for realtime and historical financial data across global stocks, ETFs, mutual funds, FX, cryptocurrencies, commodities, technical indicators and macroeconomic indicators in a single unified portfolio of endpoints., and Global equity time series APIs (daily, weekly, monthly and intraday 1–60 minute bars) with 20+ years of history, optional split/dividend-adjusted prices, and support for extended trading hours where available.. Go with FRED (Federal Reserve Economic Data) if 800,000+ economic data series from 100+ sources, covering topics such as GDP, prices/inflation, employment, exchange rates, and interest rates., and Browse and track data via categories, releases, sources, and tags; series pages show metadata like units/frequency and “last updated / next release” fields. better fits how you invest.
What asset classes do Alpha Vantage and FRED (Federal Reserve Economic Data) cover?
Both cover common asset types. Alpha Vantage also includes Stocks, ETFs, Mutual Funds, Options, Currencies, Cryptos, Commodities, and Funds. FRED (Federal Reserve Economic Data) adds coverage for Other.
Does Alpha Vantage or FRED (Federal Reserve Economic Data) have real-time data?
Alpha Vantage offers real-time data feeds, which is essential for active traders. FRED (Federal Reserve Economic Data) uses delayed or end-of-day data, which works fine for longer-term investors who don't need up-to-the-second quotes.
Can I export data from Alpha Vantage and FRED (Federal Reserve Economic Data)?
Both platforms let you export data to spreadsheets (JSON). This is useful for custom analysis or record-keeping.
Other tools you might like
These profiles share overlapping coverage with both sides of this matchup.
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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.