VOL. XCIV, NO. 247

★ FINANCIAL TOOLS & SERVICES DIRECTORY ★

PRICE: 5 CENTS

Sunday, October 5, 2025

View SEC API (sec-api.io)View Unusual WhalesBack to Home

Head-to-head

SEC API (sec-api.io) vs Unusual Whales comparison

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

Quick takeaways

SEC API (sec-api.io) adds Regulatory Filings Monitoring, 13D/13G, Financials, Management Compensation, and IPO coverage that Unusual Whales skips.

Unusual Whales includes Screeners, Options & Derivatives, Portfolio, Paper Trading, Dark Pool & Off-Exchange, Alerts, News, US Government Trades, Education, Calendar, and Dividends categories that SEC API (sec-api.io) omits.

SEC API (sec-api.io) 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)., and Datasets include executive compensation, directors and board members, audit fees, subsidiaries, and public float/outstanding shares..

Unusual Whales is known for: Live options flow across all US options exchanges, with a status indicator so you know the feed is healthy., Dark-pool tape plus ‘Dark Pool Levels’ to surface recent prints and ticker-specific liquidity zones., and Options and stock screeners with filters for premium, volume, open interest, IV rank, and common technicals..

Unusual Whales offers mobile access, which SEC API (sec-api.io) skips.

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)

0% upvotes 0% downvotes
You haven't voted yet
View full profileVisit site
Unusual Whales logo

Unusual Whales

unusualwhales.com

Editor’s pick Hands-on review

Real-time options flow and dark-pool analytics built for active traders. Free plans view delayed data; paid tiers stream live flow, with annual plans unlocking data downloads. The public API is sold separately, and “Periscope” (market-wide SPX exposure) is available as an add-on.

Platforms

Web
Mobile
API

Pricing

Free
Subscription

Quick highlights

  • Live options flow across all US options exchanges, with a status indicator so you know the feed is healthy.
  • Dark-pool tape plus ‘Dark Pool Levels’ to surface recent prints and ticker-specific liquidity zones.
  • Options and stock screeners with filters for premium, volume, open interest, IV rank, and common technicals.
  • Options Profit Calculator to model multi-leg strategies, Greeks, and payoff P/L.
  • Paper trading for both stocks and options to test ideas without risk.

Community votes (overall)

0% upvotes 0% downvotes
You haven't voted yet
View full profileVisit site
Overlap

Shared focus areas

4 overlaps

Mutual strengths include Data APIs, Insider Data, and 13F plus 1 more area.

Where they differ

SEC API (sec-api.io)

Distinct strengths include:

Regulatory Filings Monitoring
13D/13G
Financials
Management Compensation
IPO
  • 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.

Unusual Whales

Distinct strengths include:

Screeners
Options & Derivatives
Portfolio
Paper Trading
Dark Pool & Off-Exchange
Alerts
News
US Government Trades
  • Live options flow across all US options exchanges, with a status indicator so you know the feed is healthy.
  • Dark-pool tape plus ‘Dark Pool Levels’ to surface recent prints and ticker-specific liquidity zones.
  • Options and stock screeners with filters for premium, volume, open interest, IV rank, and common technicals.
  • Options Profit Calculator to model multi-leg strategies, Greeks, and payoff P/L.

Feature-by-feature breakdown

AttributeSEC API (sec-api.io)Unusual Whales
Categories

Which research workflows each platform targets

Shared: Data APIs, Insider Data, 13F, APIs & SDKs

Unique: Regulatory Filings Monitoring, 13D/13G, Financials, Management Compensation, IPO

Shared: Data APIs, Insider Data, 13F, APIs & SDKs

Unique: Screeners, Options & Derivatives, Portfolio, Paper Trading, Dark Pool & Off-Exchange, Alerts, News, US Government Trades, Education, Calendar, Dividends

Asset types

Supported asset classes and universes

Stocks, ETFs, Mutual Funds, Funds

Stocks, ETFs, Options

Experience levels

Who each product is built for

Beginner, Intermediate, Advanced

Beginner, Intermediate, Advanced

Platforms

Where you can access the product

Web, API

Web, Mobile, API

Pricing

High-level pricing models

Free, Subscription

Free, Subscription

Key features

Core capabilities called out by each vendor

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.

Unique

  • Live options flow across all US options exchanges, with a status indicator so you know the feed is healthy.
  • Dark-pool tape plus ‘Dark Pool Levels’ to surface recent prints and ticker-specific liquidity zones.
  • Options and stock screeners with filters for premium, volume, open interest, IV rank, and common technicals.
  • Options Profit Calculator to model multi-leg strategies, Greeks, and payoff P/L.
  • Paper trading for both stocks and options to test ideas without risk.
  • Portfolio Manager with broker linking for IBKR, tastytrade, Fidelity, and Robinhood.
Tested

Verified by hands-on testing inside Find My Moat

Yes

Yes

Editor pick

Featured inside curated shortlists

Highlighted

Highlighted

Frequently Asked Questions

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

Both platforms cover Data APIs, Insider Data, 13F, and APIs & SDKs workflows, so you can research those use cases in either tool before digging into the feature differences below.

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

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

Which tool has mobile access?

Unusual Whales ships a dedicated mobile experience, while SEC API (sec-api.io) focuses on web or desktop access.

What unique strengths set the two platforms apart?

SEC API (sec-api.io) differentiates itself with 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., whereas Unusual Whales stands out for Live options flow across all US options exchanges, with a status indicator so you know the feed is healthy., Dark-pool tape plus ‘Dark Pool Levels’ to surface recent prints and ticker-specific liquidity zones., and Options and stock screeners with filters for premium, volume, open interest, IV rank, and common technicals..

Keep exploring

Stay on top of related tools

Browse the categories and profiles that overlap most with this comparison to round out your shortlist.

Recommended tools

These profiles share overlapping coverage with both sides of this matchup.

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.