Forex API Gold API Precious Metals API Real-time Quotes API _ 2025 Latest Comparison - iTick

In the field of quantitative investment, Forex API, Gold API, Precious Metals API, and Real-time Quotes API play a foundational role, being key elements for the effective operation of quantitative strategies.

From a market insight perspective, these APIs are the "eyes" and "ears" of quantitative investors. Real-time Quotes API continuously transmits the latest exchange rates, gold, and various precious metals price information, enabling quantitative investors to grasp market dynamics at the first moment. Whether it is the subtle price fluctuations of currency pairs in the ever-changing forex market or the price fluctuations in the gold and precious metals market caused by economic data releases and geopolitical changes, they cannot escape their "eyes." For example, when a key economic indicator is released, the forex market may experience dramatic fluctuations instantly. Quantitative investors with Real-time Quotes API can capture price changes in milliseconds and react quickly, while those who miss this critical information may miss out on profit opportunities.

In terms of strategy construction and backtesting, the data provided by these APIs are the "raw materials" of quantitative strategies. The rich historical data provided by Forex API, including exchange rate trends and trading volumes over different periods, can help quantitative investors review past market conditions and simulate the performance of different strategies in historical environments. By deeply analyzing this data, investors can determine whether a strategy was feasible under specific market conditions in the past. For example, an arbitrage strategy based on forex market volatility patterns during a particular economic cycle, if it performs well in historical data backtesting, may be implemented in future markets. The data from Gold API and Precious Metals API are equally important. Their unique price trends and correlation data with other assets provide a basis for quantitative investors to construct diversified investment portfolio strategies, enabling investors to allocate funds reasonably according to the characteristics of different assets and reduce portfolio risk.

In the trading execution phase, these APIs are the "bridge" connecting quantitative strategies and the market. When a quantitative model issues buy or sell orders based on real-time quote data and preset strategies, Forex API, Gold API, and Precious Metals API can quickly transmit the orders to the trading market, achieving fast and accurate trade execution. For example, in high-frequency trading strategies, where quick reactions to market price changes and trade operations are required within a very short time, the efficient data transmission and stable performance of these APIs are crucial for the successful implementation of high-frequency trading strategies. If the API experiences delays or data errors, it may result in trade orders not being executed timely and accurately, causing significant losses for quantitative investors.

Request K-line

python -m pip install requests

"""
**iTick**: A data agency that provides reliable data source APIs for fintech companies and developers, covering Forex API, Stock API, Cryptocurrency API, Index API, etc., helping to build innovative trading and analysis tools. Currently, there is a free package available that can basically meet the needs of individual quantitative developers.
Open-source stock data interface address:
https://github.com/itick-org
Apply for a free Apikey address:
https://itick.org

"""

import requests

 url = "https://api.itick.org/forex/kline?region=gb&code=EURUSD&kType=1"

 headers = {
    "accept": "application/json",
    "token": "bb42e24746784dc0af821abdd1188861d945a07051c8414a8337697a752de1eb"
 }

 response = requests.get(url, headers=headers)

 print(response.text)

Alpha Vantage

https://www.alphavantage.co/

  • Data Richness: Provides various data types such as stocks, forex, and cryptocurrencies. Its free API covers a wide range of basic data, including stock prices, historical data, and technical indicators, meeting the basic needs of individuals and small projects for financial data.
  • Real-time: The free version has certain request limitations, which may not be suitable for high-frequency trading or scenarios requiring extremely high real-time data. However, the paid version can provide faster and more stable real-time data updates.
  • Ease of Use: Simple and easy to use, supporting multiple programming languages such as Python, Java, and C++, with detailed documentation and sample code, making it easy for developers to get started and integrate quickly.
  • Stability: Overall stability is good, but occasional short data delays may occur during significant market fluctuations, though long-term service interruptions are rare.

IEX Cloud

http://www.iexcloud.io/

  • Data Quality: Comprehensive data coverage, including real-time and historical stock data, as well as detailed financial data and exchange data, suitable for in-depth financial analysis and market research.
  • Real-time: The free version's data update frequency is relatively low, making it difficult to meet real-time trading needs. Higher frequency real-time data requires a paid subscription to higher-level services.
  • Documentation and Community Support: Good documentation support and an active community. Developers can easily find solutions to problems encountered during use and refer to community experiences and code examples to better utilize the API.
  • Limitations: Some data, such as financial statements, require additional paid subscriptions, which may increase costs for budget-limited users.

Google Real-time Financial Data

https://www.google.com/finance/?hl=en

  • Data Comprehensiveness: Provides extensive financial data, covering stocks, ETFs, forex, cryptocurrencies, and more, along with related financial news and analysis, offering comprehensive decision support for investors.
  • Real-time and Accuracy: Data updates are timely and accurate, meeting investors' needs for real-time market dynamics monitoring. However, using this API requires a certain level of technical expertise, and some features may not be user-friendly for beginners.
  • Advanced Features Paid: The free version has significant limitations, and some advanced features, such as more detailed data analysis tools and personalized data push, require payment, making the usage cost relatively high.
  • Applicable Scenarios: Suitable for investors and developers who need comprehensive market trend analysis, financial news, and stock data, especially those involved in cross-border investments and cryptocurrency trading.

Finnhub

https://finnhub.io/

  • High-frequency Trading Support: Provides high-frequency trading data, supports real-time updates, and can achieve faster data transmission through Websocket interface, suitable for building real-time trading systems and investment monitoring systems.
  • Data Diversity: Covers various markets such as stocks, currencies, and cryptocurrencies, and provides institutional-level fundamental and alternative data, aiding in more in-depth investment analysis.
  • Free Version Limitations: The free version has limited features, such as the number of API calls and the range of data available. More comprehensive data and advanced features require a paid subscription.
  • Technical Requirements: Requires a certain level of technical expertise from developers, including familiarity with Websocket programming and related financial data processing knowledge, to fully leverage the API's advantages.

iTick

https://itick.org

  • Real-time Data Support: Offers a diverse product system, covering stock quotes from various regions, global forex, and various index products. With network optimization strategies deployed in various regions, it effectively reduces data transmission latency, providing stable and continuous real-time quote information to external users, ensuring data timeliness and accuracy, and providing strong data support for global financial trading and investment decisions.
  • Data Diversity: Covers various markets such as stocks, currencies, and cryptocurrencies, and provides institutional-level fundamental and alternative data, aiding in more in-depth investment analysis.
  • Free Version Support: The free version has limited features, such as the number of API calls and the range of data available. More comprehensive data and advanced features require a paid subscription.
  • Technical Requirements: Equipped with detailed and rich interface documentation, along with carefully prepared access examples in multiple mainstream programming languages, greatly facilitating developers' use, demonstrating high friendliness and adaptability to the developer community.

ETNET

http://www.etnet.com.hk/

  • Comprehensive Data Services: As a well-known financial information service company in Hong Kong, its API provides comprehensive US stock market data, including bonds and options data, suitable for multi-asset strategy users.
  • Rich Historical Data: Possesses 10 years of US stock historical data, with advantages in the length and completeness of historical data, suitable for users needing long-term strategy backtesting.
  • Service Reliability: Has high credibility in Hong Kong and the Asia-Pacific region, with mature and reliable data services, ensuring data stability and accuracy.
  • Price and Customer Support: High prices may not be suitable for budget-limited small quantitative teams, and there is no dedicated customer support, so users may need to solve technical problems on their own.

Bloomberg API

https://www.bloomberg.com/

  • Brand and Data Quality: As a leading global financial information and data service company, Bloomberg's API provides comprehensive US stock market data, with rich and comprehensive data coverage. Its brand is highly recognized in the financial market, and the data quality and reliability are widely trusted.
  • Multi-asset Support: Supports data queries for various assets such as US stocks, bonds, and options, suitable for diversified investment strategies for large institutions and professional trading teams.
  • Price and Subscription Method: The service is expensive and can only be subscribed annually. The high prepayment requirement may not be friendly to some small teams or startups.