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Alpha Vantage API Reference

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Alpha Vantage API Reference

Overview

Alpha Vantage provides free APIs for real-time and historical stock prices, forex rates, cryptocurrency data, technical indicators, and fundamental data (earnings, balance sheets, income statements). Covers global equities, ETFs, mutual funds, and commodities.

Base URL

https://www.alphavantage.co/query

All requests use a single endpoint with function parameter to select the data type.

Authentication

Rate Limits

  • Free tier: 25 requests per day. 5 calls per minute (as of late 2024; previously was 5/min + 500/day).
  • Premium tiers available for higher limits (30, 75, 150+ calls/min).
  • Exceeding limits returns a polite JSON message, not an error code.

Key Endpoints (by function parameter)

1. Stock Time Series

Intraday

GET /query?function=TIME_SERIES_INTRADAY&symbol={symbol}&interval={interval}&apikey={key}
ParameterRequiredValues
symbolYesTicker symbol (e.g., AAPL, MSFT)
intervalYes1min, 5min, 15min, 30min, 60min
outputsizeNocompact (last 100 points, default) or full (full history)
adjustedNotrue (default) or false
datatypeNojson (default) or csv

Example:

https://www.alphavantage.co/query?function=TIME_SERIES_INTRADAY&symbol=AAPL&interval=5min&apikey=YOUR_KEY

Daily

GET /query?function=TIME_SERIES_DAILY&symbol=AAPL&apikey=YOUR_KEY

Daily (Adjusted for splits/dividends)

GET /query?function=TIME_SERIES_DAILY_ADJUSTED&symbol=AAPL&outputsize=full&apikey=YOUR_KEY

Weekly / Monthly

GET /query?function=TIME_SERIES_WEEKLY_ADJUSTED&symbol=AAPL&apikey=YOUR_KEY
GET /query?function=TIME_SERIES_MONTHLY_ADJUSTED&symbol=AAPL&apikey=YOUR_KEY

Response (Daily):

json
{
  "Meta Data": {
    "1. Information": "Daily Prices (open, high, low, close) and Volumes",
    "2. Symbol": "AAPL",
    "3. Last Refreshed": "2024-11-01",
    "4. Output Size": "Compact",
    "5. Time Zone": "US/Eastern"
  },
  "Time Series (Daily)": {
    "2024-11-01": {
      "1. open": "228.6900",
      "2. high": "229.8600",
      "3. low": "225.8200",
      "4. close": "228.5200",
      "5. volume": "50423432"
    },
    "2024-10-31": {
      "1. open": "229.3400",
      "2. high": "230.2000",
      "3. low": "226.3700",
      "4. close": "227.5500",
      "5. volume": "51235678"
    }
  }
}

2. Stock Search (Symbol Lookup)

GET /query?function=SYMBOL_SEARCH&keywords={query}&apikey={key}

Example:

https://www.alphavantage.co/query?function=SYMBOL_SEARCH&keywords=microsoft&apikey=YOUR_KEY

Response:

json
{
  "bestMatches": [
    {
      "1. symbol": "MSFT",
      "2. name": "Microsoft Corporation",
      "3. type": "Equity",
      "4. region": "United States",
      "5. marketOpen": "09:30",
      "6. marketClose": "16:00",
      "7. timezone": "UTC-04",
      "8. currency": "USD",
      "9. matchScore": "1.0000"
    }
  ]
}

3. Global Quote (Real-Time Price)

GET /query?function=GLOBAL_QUOTE&symbol=AAPL&apikey=YOUR_KEY

Returns latest price, volume, change, change percent for a single symbol.


4. Forex (FX) Rates

Real-Time Exchange Rate

GET /query?function=CURRENCY_EXCHANGE_RATE&from_currency=USD&to_currency=EUR&apikey=YOUR_KEY

FX Time Series

GET /query?function=FX_DAILY&from_symbol=EUR&to_symbol=USD&apikey=YOUR_KEY
GET /query?function=FX_WEEKLY&from_symbol=EUR&to_symbol=USD&apikey=YOUR_KEY
GET /query?function=FX_MONTHLY&from_symbol=EUR&to_symbol=USD&apikey=YOUR_KEY
GET /query?function=FX_INTRADAY&from_symbol=EUR&to_symbol=USD&interval=5min&apikey=YOUR_KEY

5. Cryptocurrency

Real-Time Exchange Rate

GET /query?function=CURRENCY_EXCHANGE_RATE&from_currency=BTC&to_currency=USD&apikey=YOUR_KEY

Crypto Time Series

GET /query?function=DIGITAL_CURRENCY_DAILY&symbol=BTC&market=USD&apikey=YOUR_KEY
GET /query?function=DIGITAL_CURRENCY_WEEKLY&symbol=BTC&market=USD&apikey=YOUR_KEY
GET /query?function=DIGITAL_CURRENCY_MONTHLY&symbol=BTC&market=USD&apikey=YOUR_KEY

6. Technical Indicators

GET /query?function={INDICATOR}&symbol={symbol}&interval={interval}&time_period={n}&series_type={type}&apikey={key}
ParameterRequiredDescription
functionYesIndicator name (see list below)
symbolYesTicker symbol
intervalYes1min, 5min, 15min, 30min, 60min, daily, weekly, monthly
time_periodYes*Number of data points for calculation (e.g., 14 for RSI)
series_typeYes*close, open, high, low

*Required for most indicators; some (like MACD, BBANDS) have additional parameters.

Common Indicator Functions: SMA, EMA, WMA, DEMA, TEMA, VWAP, RSI, MACD, STOCH, ADX, CCI, AROON, BBANDS, AD, OBV, ATR, WILLR, MOM

Example -- RSI (14-day):

https://www.alphavantage.co/query?function=RSI&symbol=AAPL&interval=daily&time_period=14&series_type=close&apikey=YOUR_KEY

Example -- MACD:

https://www.alphavantage.co/query?function=MACD&symbol=AAPL&interval=daily&series_type=close&apikey=YOUR_KEY

7. Fundamental Data

Company Overview

GET /query?function=OVERVIEW&symbol=AAPL&apikey=YOUR_KEY

Returns: market cap, PE ratio, EPS, dividend yield, 52-week high/low, sector, description, and ~60 other fields.

Income Statement

GET /query?function=INCOME_STATEMENT&symbol=AAPL&apikey=YOUR_KEY

Balance Sheet

GET /query?function=BALANCE_SHEET&symbol=AAPL&apikey=YOUR_KEY

Cash Flow

GET /query?function=CASH_FLOW&symbol=AAPL&apikey=YOUR_KEY

Earnings

GET /query?function=EARNINGS&symbol=AAPL&apikey=YOUR_KEY

Returns both annual and quarterly earnings (EPS, estimated EPS, surprise).


8. Commodities & Economic Indicators

GET /query?function=WTI&interval=monthly&apikey=YOUR_KEY
GET /query?function=BRENT&interval=monthly&apikey=YOUR_KEY
GET /query?function=NATURAL_GAS&interval=monthly&apikey=YOUR_KEY
GET /query?function=COPPER&interval=monthly&apikey=YOUR_KEY
GET /query?function=ALUMINUM&interval=monthly&apikey=YOUR_KEY
GET /query?function=WHEAT&interval=monthly&apikey=YOUR_KEY
GET /query?function=CORN&interval=monthly&apikey=YOUR_KEY
GET /query?function=COTTON&interval=monthly&apikey=YOUR_KEY
GET /query?function=SUGAR&interval=monthly&apikey=YOUR_KEY
GET /query?function=COFFEE&interval=monthly&apikey=YOUR_KEY

Economic indicators:

GET /query?function=REAL_GDP&interval=quarterly&apikey=YOUR_KEY
GET /query?function=CPI&interval=monthly&apikey=YOUR_KEY
GET /query?function=INFLATION&apikey=YOUR_KEY
GET /query?function=RETAIL_SALES&apikey=YOUR_KEY
GET /query?function=UNEMPLOYMENT&apikey=YOUR_KEY
GET /query?function=FEDERAL_FUNDS_RATE&interval=monthly&apikey=YOUR_KEY
GET /query?function=TREASURY_YIELD&interval=monthly&maturity=10year&apikey=YOUR_KEY

Notes

  • All values are returned as strings in JSON.
  • JSON keys use numbered prefixes (e.g., "1. open", "2. high").
  • Time series data is keyed by date/timestamp strings, not arrays.
  • When rate limited, the API returns: {"Note": "Thank you for using Alpha Vantage! ..."}
  • For outputsize=full, daily data goes back 20+ years.
  • The datatype=csv option returns simpler CSV output for any endpoint.
  • Free tier is very restrictive (25/day). For production use, a premium key is recommended.