VOL. XCIV, NO. 247

★ FINANCIAL TOOLS & SERVICES DIRECTORY ★

PRICE: 5 CENTS

Sunday, October 5, 2025

Head-to-head

SEC API (sec-api.io) vs Wayback Machine (Internet Archive) 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, Insider Data, 13F, 13D/13G, Financials, Management Compensation, and IPO coverage that Wayback Machine (Internet Archive) skips.

Wayback Machine (Internet Archive) includes Citations & Source Pinning, and Other 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..

Wayback Machine (Internet Archive) is known for: On‑demand archiving via Save Page Now (SPN2) with POST/GET; options include capture_outlinks, capture_all, capture_screenshot, custom UA/cookies, and conditional capture (if_not_archived_within)., Snapshot discovery: Availability API (/wayback/v1/available) returns the closest archived capture to a URL/time; CDX Server API lists/filters captures; Memento TimeGate/TimeMap endpoints enable time‑based content negotiation., and Operational endpoints: user status (remaining/active SPN sessions) and system status (overload/OK) for SPN2..

Wayback Machine (Internet Archive) 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.

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Wayback Machine (Internet Archive) logo

Wayback Machine (Internet Archive)

web.archive.org

General‑purpose web archiving used widely in financial research to cite and compare historical webpages (IR pages, fund fact sheets, product sites). Save Page Now (SPN2) enables on‑demand snapshots with options like outlink capture and full‑page screenshots. Availability and CDX APIs expose snapshot discovery; Memento provides time‑based negotiation. Rate limits/quotas apply to SPN2; crawling and replay behavior may vary by target site robots/policies. Some large platforms (e.g., Reddit) restrict Wayback access to content.

Platforms

Web
API
Mobile

Pricing

Free

Quick highlights

  • On‑demand archiving via Save Page Now (SPN2) with POST/GET; options include capture_outlinks, capture_all, capture_screenshot, custom UA/cookies, and conditional capture (if_not_archived_within).
  • Snapshot discovery: Availability API (/wayback/v1/available) returns the closest archived capture to a URL/time; CDX Server API lists/filters captures; Memento TimeGate/TimeMap endpoints enable time‑based content negotiation.
  • Operational endpoints: user status (remaining/active SPN sessions) and system status (overload/OK) for SPN2.
  • Mobile & extensions: official iOS/Android apps and browser extensions (Chrome, Firefox, Safari, Edge) for quick saving and lookup.
  • Quotas/limits (SPN2): per‑minute, per‑day, per‑URL, resource size and screenshot size limits; concurrency dampening by host; max outlinks/embeds returned.

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Overlap

Shared focus areas

2 overlaps

Mutual strengths include Data APIs, and APIs & SDKs.

Where they differ

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.

Wayback Machine (Internet Archive)

Distinct strengths include:

  • On‑demand archiving via Save Page Now (SPN2) with POST/GET; options include capture_outlinks, capture_all, capture_screenshot, custom UA/cookies, and conditional capture (if_not_archived_within).
  • Snapshot discovery: Availability API (/wayback/v1/available) returns the closest archived capture to a URL/time; CDX Server API lists/filters captures; Memento TimeGate/TimeMap endpoints enable time‑based content negotiation.
  • Operational endpoints: user status (remaining/active SPN sessions) and system status (overload/OK) for SPN2.
  • Mobile & extensions: official iOS/Android apps and browser extensions (Chrome, Firefox, Safari, Edge) for quick saving and lookup.

Feature-by-feature breakdown

AttributeSEC API (sec-api.io)Wayback Machine (Internet Archive)
Categories

Which research workflows each platform targets

Shared: Data APIs, APIs & SDKs

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

Shared: Data APIs, APIs & SDKs

Unique: Citations & Source Pinning, Other

Asset types

Supported asset classes and universes

Stocks, ETFs, Mutual Funds, Funds

Other

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, Mobile

Pricing

High-level pricing models

Free, Subscription

Free

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

  • On‑demand archiving via Save Page Now (SPN2) with POST/GET; options include capture_outlinks, capture_all, capture_screenshot, custom UA/cookies, and conditional capture (if_not_archived_within).
  • Snapshot discovery: Availability API (/wayback/v1/available) returns the closest archived capture to a URL/time; CDX Server API lists/filters captures; Memento TimeGate/TimeMap endpoints enable time‑based content negotiation.
  • Operational endpoints: user status (remaining/active SPN sessions) and system status (overload/OK) for SPN2.
  • Mobile & extensions: official iOS/Android apps and browser extensions (Chrome, Firefox, Safari, Edge) for quick saving and lookup.
  • Quotas/limits (SPN2): per‑minute, per‑day, per‑URL, resource size and screenshot size limits; concurrency dampening by host; max outlinks/embeds returned.
  • Timestamps and replay: captures are timestamped (UTC) and replayed with toolbar metadata; screenshot capture available as a separate archived asset.
Tested

Verified by hands-on testing inside Find My Moat

Yes

Not yet

Editor pick

Featured inside curated shortlists

Highlighted

Standard listing

Frequently Asked Questions

Which workflows do SEC API (sec-api.io) and Wayback Machine (Internet Archive) both support?

Both platforms cover Data APIs, 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 Wayback Machine (Internet Archive) require subscriptions?

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

Which tool has mobile access?

Wayback Machine (Internet Archive) 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 Wayback Machine (Internet Archive) stands out for On‑demand archiving via Save Page Now (SPN2) with POST/GET; options include capture_outlinks, capture_all, capture_screenshot, custom UA/cookies, and conditional capture (if_not_archived_within)., Snapshot discovery: Availability API (/wayback/v1/available) returns the closest archived capture to a URL/time; CDX Server API lists/filters captures; Memento TimeGate/TimeMap endpoints enable time‑based content negotiation., and Operational endpoints: user status (remaining/active SPN sessions) and system status (overload/OK) for SPN2..

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.