Alpha Vantage vs Unusual Whales comparison

Alpha Vantage focuses on Data APIs, News, and News Sentiment while Unusual Whales specializes in Options & Derivatives, Money Flow, and Screeners. They overlap in 6 categories, so choose based on your preferred workflow and pricing.

Good news—both Alpha Vantage and Unusual Whales offer free plans. You can try each platform without commitment and only pay when you need premium features.

Alpha Vantage is more beginner-friendly with an approachable interface. Both can work for intermediate users.

Unusual Whales 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.

Yes, both platforms offer API access for developers and quants who want to build custom integrations or automate their workflows.

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 Unusual Whales if Options flow tool: tracks options trades (docs: “every options trade placed across the entire US stock exchange”) and displays trade details across options exchanges; includes filters, configurable columns, sorting, and saved trades., and Multi-leg tagging in the flow feed; multileg icon can open a pop-up that preloads the Options Profit Calculator with a P/L profile for the trade. better fits how you invest.

Both cover Stocks, ETFs, Options, and Cryptos. Alpha Vantage also includes Mutual Funds, Currencies, Commodities, and Funds.

Yes, both platforms provide real-time market data. This makes either suitable for active trading strategies where timing matters.

Alpha Vantage supports data exports to CSV, and JSON. Unusual Whales has more limited export options.

Unusual Whales is built with active traders in mind, offering features like real-time data and technical analysis. Alpha Vantage is better suited for buy-and-hold investors focused on fundamentals.

Unusual Whales includes a stock screener for finding investment ideas. Alpha Vantage focuses on other analytical tools.