VOL. XCIV, NO. 247

★ FINANCIAL TOOLS & SERVICES DIRECTORY ★

PRICE: 5 CENTS

Sunday, October 5, 2025

Head-to-head

OpenCorporates vs SEC API (sec-api.io) comparison

Compare pricing, supported platforms, categories, and standout capabilities to decide which tool fits your workflow.

Quick takeaways

OpenCorporates adds Other coverage that SEC API (sec-api.io) skips.

SEC API (sec-api.io) includes Insider Data, 13F, 13D/13G, Financials, Management Compensation, IPO, and APIs & SDKs categories that OpenCorporates omits.

OpenCorporates highlights: 230M+ company records spanning 145+ jurisdictions, aggregated from 140+ official registries with full provenance and source links., Versioned REST API with JSON (default) or XML output; API keys required. Free tier provides up to 200 requests per month (50 per day)., and OpenRefine Reconciliation API allows entity-matching from company names to legal identifiers..

SEC API (sec-api.io) is known for: Comprehensive API endpoints: query, full-text search, real-time streaming via WebSocket, download/PDF generator, XBRL-to-JSON conversion, and section extractors for 10-K/10-Q/8-K filings., Specialized form coverage including ADV, insider filings (Forms 3/4/5), 13F, 13D/G, Form 144, IPO registrations (S-1, 424B4), crowdfunding (Form C, Form D), Reg A filings, and fund reports (N-PORT, N-PX, N-CEN)., and Datasets include executive compensation, directors and board members, audit fees, subsidiaries, and public float/outstanding shares..

OpenCorporates logo

OpenCorporates

opencorporates.com

The world’s largest open database of legal entities, offering both a public-facing search and an API. Free access is available for personal or public-benefit use, while commercial API access and bulk datasets require a paid plan. Bulk deliveries are provided via SFTP in CSV format, and the platform includes a public status page for web, API, knowledge base, and SFTP availability.

Platforms

Web
API

Pricing

Free
Subscription

Quick highlights

  • 230M+ company records spanning 145+ jurisdictions, aggregated from 140+ official registries with full provenance and source links.
  • Versioned REST API with JSON (default) or XML output; API keys required. Free tier provides up to 200 requests per month (50 per day).
  • OpenRefine Reconciliation API allows entity-matching from company names to legal identifiers.
  • Enterprise bulk access via SFTP, with six structured CSV datasets (Companies, Officers, Non-Registered Addresses, Alternative Names, Additional Identifiers, and Relationships).
  • Relationships dataset includes 30M+ links covering subsidiaries, branches, control statements, and shareholdings, with data from sources like the SEC and UK PSC.

Community votes (overall)

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SEC API (sec-api.io) logo

SEC API (sec-api.io)

sec-api.io

Editor’s pick Hands-on review

A commercial API suite for SEC/EDGAR data, designed for developers, quants, and compliance teams. The free tier includes 100 calls per month. Paid tiers unlock higher rate limits, more data (5 GB vs 15 GB monthly, with $0.30/GB overage), and features such as multiple API keys or redistribution rights for enterprise users. The platform emphasizes speed, with new filings typically available in under 300 ms.

Platforms

Web
API

Pricing

Free
Subscription

Quick highlights

  • Comprehensive API endpoints: query, full-text search, real-time streaming via WebSocket, download/PDF generator, XBRL-to-JSON conversion, and section extractors for 10-K/10-Q/8-K filings.
  • Specialized form coverage including ADV, insider filings (Forms 3/4/5), 13F, 13D/G, Form 144, IPO registrations (S-1, 424B4), crowdfunding (Form C, Form D), Reg A filings, and fund reports (N-PORT, N-PX, N-CEN).
  • Datasets include executive compensation, directors and board members, audit fees, subsidiaries, and public float/outstanding shares.
  • Historical coverage back to 1993 with support for all 400+ EDGAR form types; new filings made available within ~300 ms of posting.
  • Live filing feeds available in real time via WebSocket for instant integration.

Community votes (overall)

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Overlap

Shared focus areas

2 overlaps

Mutual strengths include Data APIs, and Regulatory Filings Monitoring.

Where they differ

OpenCorporates

Distinct strengths include:

  • 230M+ company records spanning 145+ jurisdictions, aggregated from 140+ official registries with full provenance and source links.
  • Versioned REST API with JSON (default) or XML output; API keys required. Free tier provides up to 200 requests per month (50 per day).
  • OpenRefine Reconciliation API allows entity-matching from company names to legal identifiers.
  • Enterprise bulk access via SFTP, with six structured CSV datasets (Companies, Officers, Non-Registered Addresses, Alternative Names, Additional Identifiers, and Relationships).

SEC API (sec-api.io)

Distinct strengths include:

  • Comprehensive API endpoints: query, full-text search, real-time streaming via WebSocket, download/PDF generator, XBRL-to-JSON conversion, and section extractors for 10-K/10-Q/8-K filings.
  • Specialized form coverage including ADV, insider filings (Forms 3/4/5), 13F, 13D/G, Form 144, IPO registrations (S-1, 424B4), crowdfunding (Form C, Form D), Reg A filings, and fund reports (N-PORT, N-PX, N-CEN).
  • Datasets include executive compensation, directors and board members, audit fees, subsidiaries, and public float/outstanding shares.
  • Historical coverage back to 1993 with support for all 400+ EDGAR form types; new filings made available within ~300 ms of posting.

Feature-by-feature breakdown

AttributeOpenCorporatesSEC API (sec-api.io)
Categories

Which research workflows each platform targets

Shared: Data APIs, Regulatory Filings Monitoring

Unique: Other

Shared: Data APIs, Regulatory Filings Monitoring

Unique: Insider Data, 13F, 13D/13G, Financials, Management Compensation, IPO, APIs & SDKs

Asset types

Supported asset classes and universes

Other

Stocks, ETFs, Mutual Funds, Funds

Experience levels

Who each product is built for

Beginner, Intermediate, Advanced

Beginner, Intermediate, Advanced

Platforms

Where you can access the product

Web, API

Web, API

Pricing

High-level pricing models

Free, Subscription

Free, Subscription

Key features

Core capabilities called out by each vendor

Unique

  • 230M+ company records spanning 145+ jurisdictions, aggregated from 140+ official registries with full provenance and source links.
  • Versioned REST API with JSON (default) or XML output; API keys required. Free tier provides up to 200 requests per month (50 per day).
  • OpenRefine Reconciliation API allows entity-matching from company names to legal identifiers.
  • Enterprise bulk access via SFTP, with six structured CSV datasets (Companies, Officers, Non-Registered Addresses, Alternative Names, Additional Identifiers, and Relationships).
  • Relationships dataset includes 30M+ links covering subsidiaries, branches, control statements, and shareholdings, with data from sources like the SEC and UK PSC.
  • Data acquisition ranges from hourly to quarterly; registry ingestion checks run every 5 minutes. Bulk deliveries are typically no more than one month behind official registries.

Unique

  • Comprehensive API endpoints: query, full-text search, real-time streaming via WebSocket, download/PDF generator, XBRL-to-JSON conversion, and section extractors for 10-K/10-Q/8-K filings.
  • Specialized form coverage including ADV, insider filings (Forms 3/4/5), 13F, 13D/G, Form 144, IPO registrations (S-1, 424B4), crowdfunding (Form C, Form D), Reg A filings, and fund reports (N-PORT, N-PX, N-CEN).
  • Datasets include executive compensation, directors and board members, audit fees, subsidiaries, and public float/outstanding shares.
  • Historical coverage back to 1993 with support for all 400+ EDGAR form types; new filings made available within ~300 ms of posting.
  • Live filing feeds available in real time via WebSocket for instant integration.
  • XBRL-to-JSON service delivers standardized financial statements (income, balance sheet, cash flow) mapped to US GAAP items; dataset is survivorship-bias free.
Tested

Verified by hands-on testing inside Find My Moat

Not yet

Yes

Editor pick

Featured inside curated shortlists

Standard listing

Highlighted

Frequently Asked Questions

Which workflows do OpenCorporates and SEC API (sec-api.io) both support?

Both platforms cover Data APIs, and Regulatory Filings Monitoring workflows, so you can research those use cases in either tool before digging into the feature differences below.

Do OpenCorporates and SEC API (sec-api.io) require subscriptions?

Both OpenCorporates and SEC API (sec-api.io) keep freemium access with optional paid upgrades, so you can trial each platform before committing.

How can you access OpenCorporates and SEC API (sec-api.io)?

Both OpenCorporates and SEC API (sec-api.io) prioritize web or desktop access. Investors wanting a mobile-first workflow may need to rely on responsive web views.

What unique strengths set the two platforms apart?

OpenCorporates differentiates itself with 230M+ company records spanning 145+ jurisdictions, aggregated from 140+ official registries with full provenance and source links., Versioned REST API with JSON (default) or XML output; API keys required. Free tier provides up to 200 requests per month (50 per day)., and OpenRefine Reconciliation API allows entity-matching from company names to legal identifiers., whereas SEC API (sec-api.io) stands out for Comprehensive API endpoints: query, full-text search, real-time streaming via WebSocket, download/PDF generator, XBRL-to-JSON conversion, and section extractors for 10-K/10-Q/8-K filings., Specialized form coverage including ADV, insider filings (Forms 3/4/5), 13F, 13D/G, Form 144, IPO registrations (S-1, 424B4), crowdfunding (Form C, Form D), Reg A filings, and fund reports (N-PORT, N-PX, N-CEN)., and Datasets include executive compensation, directors and board members, audit fees, subsidiaries, and public float/outstanding shares..

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.