Which SEC data source should you use?
It depends on the job. For free, keyless JSON and a 10 requests-per-second limit, use the SEC’s own APIs. For the broadest set of commercial SEC datasets, sec-api.io. For prices plus fundamentals, a market-data API. For as-filed SEC data with source URLs, a free 1,000-request plan, MCP tools and a ChatGPT app, sec-api.dev.
| Option | Type | In one line |
|---|---|---|
| sec-api.io | Hosted SEC data API | The broadest commercial SEC API, priced by plan and bandwidth; sec-api.dev is a smaller, cheaper API with a larger free tier and an MCP server. |
| Official SEC EDGAR APIs | Free government API | Free, keyless JSON on data.sec.gov with a 10 requests-per-second fair-access limit and no SLA; sec-api.dev adds search, parsing, pagination and quotas on top. |
| Financial Modeling Prep | Market and fundamentals API | A broad market-data API with SEC filing and insider endpoints on paid plans; sec-api.dev is SEC-only with source-linked filings and a larger free filings allowance. |
| EdgarTools | Open-source Python library | An MIT-licensed Python library that reads EDGAR directly into Python objects; sec-api.dev is a hosted API for code in any language and for AI agents. |
| OpenInsider | Free insider-trading screener | A free website for screening Form 4 insider trades; it links no API. sec-api.dev offers the same SEC insider data as an API, an MCP tool and per-company pages. |
| Finnhub | Market data API | A market-data API whose free plan includes SEC filings and insider transactions for personal use; sec-api.dev is SEC-only and allows commercial use on every plan. |
| Quiver Quantitative | Alternative data API | An alternative-data API known for congressional trading, with insider and 13F data from $75 a month on non-commercial terms; sec-api.dev covers SEC insider and 13F data with a free plan. |
When not to choose sec-api.dev
- You need real-time market prices, standardized fundamentals or estimates: use a market-data API.
- You need SEC datasets we do not serve, such as executive compensation, N-PORT holdings or enforcement actions: sec-api.io lists them.
- You can work within SEC fair-access limits and only need submissions or companyfacts: the official API is free.
Vendor facts were read on 2026-11-09 from the pages linked on each comparison. Prices change; check the vendor before buying. Tell us through contact if something is out of date.
Plain-text version for agents and LLMs: /compare.md
Independent. Not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. Data is reproduced from public SEC filings and datasets. Not investment advice.