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Alpha Vantage vs Twelve Data

Alpha Vantage and Twelve Data are best known for equities, forex, and crypto rather than commodities, so this comparison uses a narrower lens than a full head-to-head write-up would: gold and silver data specifically, not the wider multi-asset rivalry between the two platforms.

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At a glance

FeatureAlpha VantageTwelve Data
Pricing & quotas
Free tier25 requests/day hard cap (~750/month)8 credits/min, 800/day
Entry paid price$49.99/mo, 75 req/min$29/mo Grow (personal use, billed monthly), 55 credits/min
Top paid price$249.99/mo, 1,200 req/minHigher tiers: see pricing page
Quota modelRate-limit only, no monthly cap on paid tiersCredits weighted by endpoint
Gold and precious-metals coverage
Gold / silver access pointCommodities endpoint/commodities endpoint (XAU/USD, XAG/USD)
Futures settlement symbols (GC/SI) distinct from spotNot documented; confirm with supportNot documented; confirm with support
Commodities breadth beyond metalsGold, silver, copper, aluminum, WTI, Brent, natural gas, wheat, corn, cotton, sugar, coffeeNot itemized beyond XAU/XAG in public docs
Copper (HG)Listed on the commodities endpointNot stated in their public docs
Streaming and developer experience
WebSocket streamingNot offeredYes, separate WS-credit pool (1,500/min Pro, 10,000/min Ultra)
MCP (Model Context Protocol)Not listed
Per-source license disclosureNone publishedNone published

Two generalists, one narrow lens

Alpha Vantage and Twelve Data both built their reputations on equities, forex, and crypto coverage. Gold and silver ride along as a commodities endpoint on each rather than a headline feature. This page stays inside that lens: it doesn't compare their stock-data depth, their options coverage, or anything outside precious metals, because that's a much bigger comparison neither this page nor a gold-focused developer needs.

Pricing and quotas

Twelve Data offers $79/month Grow at 377 credits/min ($66 billed yearly). Entry Grow is $29/month for personal use at 55 credits/min. Pro and Ultra cost more and raise the credit allowance; see its pricing page. Credits are weighted by endpoint.

What each documents for gold and silver

Alpha Vantage's commodities endpoint lists a wider set of commodities beyond metals: WTI, Brent, natural gas, and several agricultural commodities alongside gold, silver, and copper. Twelve Data's /commodities endpoint documentation in our source material only names XAU/USD and XAG/USD specifically. Neither provider's public docs call out a futures settlement symbol distinct from spot at the commodities-endpoint level, a gap worth confirming directly with either provider before building against it.

Streaming

Twelve Data offers WebSocket streaming with a dedicated WS-credit pool separate from its regular API credits. Alpha Vantage's published docs show no equivalent streaming product. If a live tick feed for gold or silver matters to your product, that alone tips the comparison toward Twelve Data.

Frequently asked questions

Do Alpha Vantage and Twelve Data cover more than gold?

Yes, both are multi-asset platforms where gold and silver are a small part of a much wider catalog. Alpha Vantage adds equities, forex, crypto, and economic indicators like CPI and Treasury yields alongside a commodities endpoint covering gold, silver, copper, aluminum, and several agricultural commodities. Twelve Data adds stocks, indices, ETFs, and crypto alongside a /commodities endpoint listing XAU/USD and XAG/USD. This page only compares the gold and silver slice of each.

Which one has a more generous free tier for gold price lookups?

Twelve Data Free has 8 credits/min and 800/day. Credits are weighted by endpoint. Commodities are shown from Grow up, starting at $29/month for personal use with 55 credits/min.

How do the two pricing models compare once you're past free?

Differently structured. Alpha Vantage meters by rate limit only, with no monthly ceiling, from $49.99/mo at 75 requests/min up to $249.99/mo at 1,200 requests/min. Twelve Data Grow starts at $29/month for personal use, with 55 credits/min. Pro and Ultra cost more and raise the allowance; see its pricing page. Credits are weighted by endpoint.

Does either document a distinct futures settlement symbol for gold?

No, not clearly, on either side. Alpha Vantage's public documentation doesn't call out futures settlement symbols (GC, SI) distinct from spot or generic commodity values. Twelve Data's /commodities endpoint lists XAU/USD and XAG/USD without a documented settlement symbol at that endpoint level either. If your product resolves against settlement rather than spot, confirm with each provider's support before committing to either.

Which one offers WebSocket streaming for live prices?

Twelve Data does, with a separate WS-credit pool: a trial pool on Free and Grow, 1,500 WS credits/min on Pro, and 10,000 WS credits/min on Ultra. Alpha Vantage's public docs list no WebSocket offering at all.

Where does goldprice.dev fit if gold is my primary use case rather than one asset among several?

goldprice.dev only covers gold, silver, and copper, but goes deeper on each: spot prices on every plan, live spot and dealer prices from Basic ($19/mo), and a native MCP server with nine tools on every plan including Free. If you also need equities or forex under the same key, Alpha Vantage or Twelve Data covers that ground and goldprice.dev doesn't.

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