The online trading market has been continuously growing as people actively seek passive ways to earn money. This growth entails the saturation of brokerage companies that try to capitalize on the growing trend. While celebrated, this expanding market makes it challenging for investors to find a suitable broker to invest with.
But don’t fret; our TRU experts have used, reviewed, and tested hundreds of online brokers to help you minimize all the work.
Among all the reviewed online brokers, our experts viewed Alpaca Trading as one of the standouts, thanks to its competitive regulatory compliance, low fees, and innovative API trading solutions.
In this Alpaca Trading review, you’ll walk through everything you need to know before you open an account with this broker. Read on to learn whether Alpaca is a good choice for your trading needs.
Overview of Alpaca Trading
Alpaca Trading is one of the most reputable broker-dealer service providers, backed by its strict compliance with the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) regulations.
Aside from its competitive compliance landscape, Alpaca Trading API provides value to both traders and organizations.
Retail traders benefit from its zero-commission stocks, low platform fees, and advanced charting tools. Upon testing the Alpaca API solutions, our experts noted that traders can easily build their own algorithmic trading tools to further sophisticate their stock trading strategies and systems.
Trading organizations and service providers can also benefit from the API solutions of Alpaca trading. Our experts reported that the Alpaca’s API can be seamlessly integrated into any institution’s platform, allowing them to develop end-to-end embedded trading and investment products.
However, our experts noted the lack of dedicated support for its users. Alpaca users rely on third-party developer communities, such as GitHub and Slack, to access user support. Additionally, the brokerage platforms have limited access to financial markets as traders can only trade U.S. stocks and exchange-traded funds (ETFs).
What Is an API and Its Importance to Traders?
Short for Application Programming Interface, an API leverages its algorithmic capabilities to monitor and capture patterns, enabling auto trading, quick trade execution, customized market monitoring, and backtesting.
- Trade Automation: Traders can automate their trade execution by setting predetermined parameters.
- Quick Execution: Traders can avoid costly slippage by integrating an API for high-speed trade execution.
- Market Analysis Customization: Traders can build algorithm-based trading strategies or risk management systems to eliminate emotional interference.
- Strategy and System Backtesting: Traders can develop trading APIs to replicate live market movements and behaviors, allowing them to backtest their strategies and systems without risking capital.
Aside from its value to traders, institutional or organizational traders benefit from the Alpaca Trading API. By integrating APIs into their backend systems, organizations and institutions can develop end-to-end, embedded trading and investment products that add value to their clients.
Related: RoboTrader Review: The Best Algo Trading Platform in 2025? – TradersUnited
Is Alpaca Trading Legit?
Yes, Alpaca Trading is a legit and safe stocks and ETF broker. Its strict regulatory compliance reflects its transparent operations, which are ultimately aligned with the financial laws and regulations of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and FINRA.
Both of these financial regulators have a robust regulatory framework in place to ensure the security and protection of all U.S. consumers.
Read More: TradersUnited – US Financial Regulatory Agencies
Do you want to hear about the experiences of verified traders in Alpaca? Or maybe you’re still looking for better trading API software? Join CommuniTrade, connect with thousands of verified traders, and learn from their first-hand experiences.
Alpaca Trading Review: Deeper Look into App, Features, and Fees
Alpaca Trading stands as one of the top online brokers, as reviewed by TRU experts. Its competitive regulatory compliance ensures client protection, its sophisticated API solutions enhance its traders’ investment experiences, and its no-commission stock ensures equitable access for retail investors.
Let’s break down the findings of our experts to explore if Alpaca is the best fit for your algo trading needs.
Alpaca Trading App
Innovation is the playing field of Alpaca Trading. Thus, our experts were not surprised by the mobile-friendly Alpaca app.
Upon their testing of the app, the experts noted that the Alpaca trading app is efficient in terms of order confirmation and execution. However, it’s worth remembering that the app’s search engine and login security measures need to be improved.
Alpaca Trading API and Paper Trading
Alpaca Trading offers numerous trading solutions designed to enhance the trading experience of traders. Arguably, the most popular features of Alpaca Trading are its API development software and paper trading.
Being an API-first broker, Alpaca Trading’s API can be seamlessly used and integrated into any supported trading platform, including TradingView.
The API is also beginner-friendly, allowing new algorithmic traders to develop their own API that fits perfectly with their trading system. Lastly, it supports a wide range of programming languages to cater to the diverse needs of developers.
According to our experts, Alpaca’s paper trading follows straightforward integration compared to its leading competitors.
Alpaca Trading Fees
Alpaca Trading became one of the most popular US-based brokers due to its competitive fee structure. It’s known to be a zero-commission stock and ETF broker.
Additionally, the platform doesn’t charge its users for inactivity or withdrawal fees. What makes Alpaca a better choice for API traders is its free distribution of market data.
Alpaca Trading Login
Ensure you’re an existing Alpaca client (either as a trader or broker) to log onto the platform. If not, you can easily create a free account by visiting its website (https://alpaca.markets).
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Is Alpaca a Broker?
Yes, Alpaca is an API-first broker. It offers commission-free U.S. stocks and ETF trading services that are regulated by the US SEC and FINRA.
Within the platform, you can develop your own trading API, which can be integrated into numerous Alpaca-supported trading platforms.
Is Alpaca Trading Safe?
Yes, Alpaca Trade is a safe and secure platform to use. The broker’s compliance with the financial law and regulations of top-tier regulatory bodies (SEC and FINRA) ensures its legitimate operation.
How Does Algo Trading Work?
Algorithmic trading, also known as API trading, utilizes computational abilities to recognize and act upon specific market patterns. By setting your predetermined parameters in your trading API, you can automate your trades, facilitate high-speed execution, sophisticate market analysis, or customize your trading strategies and systems.
Is Alpaca Trading Worth It in 2025?
Alpaca Trading is generally a solid choice for stock traders who are new to API trading. Its commendable regulatory landscape, intuitive API, and competitive price structure present immense value to traders. However, our experts emphasize the need for better customer support.
Do you want to hear about the experiences of verified traders in Alpaca? Or maybe you’re still looking for better trading API software? Join CommuniTrade, connect with thousands of verified traders, and learn from their first-hand experiences.
