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Metals-API vs MetalpriceAPI

Both Metals-API and MetalpriceAPI brand themselves around the same idea: metals plus FX, one key, a broad currency list.

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At a glance

FeatureMetals-APIMetalpriceAPI
Pricing
Cheapest paid plan (MetalpriceAPI billed yearly)$19.99/mo$5/mo (Essential, billed yearly)
Number of paid tiers1 published (plus a higher usage rate)Seven, $5–$132/mo, billed yearly
Free tierNot stated in their public docs100 calls/month, no card required
Overage policyAuto-billsNot stated in their public docs
Coverage
Currencies supported170+150+
Metals catalog breadthFull catalog incl. industrial metals (Al, Ni, Zn…)Gold, silver, platinum only (per their FAQ)
Update cadenceNot stated in their public docsDaily (Free) to 15-second (Business)
Developer experience
WebSocket streamingNot stated in their public docsNo, stated explicitly
Fixer.io-compatible endpoint shapeYes, stated explicitlyNot stated in their public docs
Native MCP serverNone (as of 2026-04-25)
Per-source attribution on responsesNot stated in their public docsNo, single value per call, no per-source attribution

Pricing shape: one ladder, one flat rate

MetalpriceAPI spreads its pricing across eight named tiers, Free through Business Plus, moving from $5/mo at Essential to $132/mo at Business Plus, billed yearly. Metals-API's own page shows a published entry point at $19.99/mo and a production-level rate at $149.99/mo, without the same number of visible middle steps.

For a team that wants to start near-free and step up gradually, MetalpriceAPI's ladder gives more granularity. For a team that already knows it needs the higher tier, Metals-API's flatter structure means fewer plan-comparison decisions along the way.

Coverage: broad catalog vs a named three-metal list

Metals-API's positioning leans on catalog breadth, industrial metals like aluminum, nickel, and zinc sit on the same key as gold. MetalpriceAPI's own FAQ names gold, silver, and platinum specifically as its spot coverage, without an equivalent industrial-metals list in the source we reviewed. Read literally, MetalpriceAPI is the narrower of the two despite both brands leaning on a similar "metals and FX" pitch.

Currency counts sit close: 170+ for Metals-API against 150+ for MetalpriceAPI. Neither gap is likely decisive on its own.

What neither one documents

MetalpriceAPI states outright that it has no WebSocket streaming. Metals-API's page simply doesn't address streaming, so treat that row as unconfirmed rather than a matching no. The same pattern shows up on free-tier detail and overage policy: MetalpriceAPI documents its free tier and stays silent on overage; Metals-API does the reverse. A team that needs a firm answer on either point should check directly with the provider rather than infer it from the other's public page.

Frequently asked questions

Which has the more granular pricing ladder?

MetalpriceAPI, clearly. It runs seven paid tiers from $5/mo up to $132/mo, billed yearly, against Metals-API's single published entry rate of $19.99/mo. If a team wants to grow through small, predictable price steps, MetalpriceAPI's ladder gives more of them.

Is one of these actually broader in metals coverage?

Metals-API positions itself as covering the full metals catalog, including industrial metals. MetalpriceAPI's own FAQ names gold, silver, and platinum specifically, without listing an equivalent industrial-metals lineup: narrower on paper than its "metals and FX" framing might suggest.

Does either offer WebSocket streaming?

MetalpriceAPI states plainly that it doesn't. Metals-API's own comparison page doesn't address streaming either way, so that's a gap rather than a confirmed no.

How do free tiers compare?

MetalpriceAPI publishes a Free tier: 100 calls/month on a daily update cadence, no card required. Metals-API's own page doesn't detail its free-tier limits, so a side-by-side free-tier comparison isn't possible from public sources.

What about overage charges?

Metals-API auto-bills for overage, per its own pricing page. MetalpriceAPI's overage policy isn't stated in the source we checked, so don't assume either behavior carries over.

Which one is closer to a Fixer.io drop-in replacement?

Metals-API, by its own claim. Its endpoint shape is stated to follow the Fixer.io convention. MetalpriceAPI makes no equivalent claim about matching another provider's API shape.

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