Alpaca vs Donut Labs
Which Trading AI tool is better in 2026?
Alpaca
Commission-free brokerage API for building AI-powered trading agents and fintech apps.
Donut Labs
The agentic crypto browser that automates on-chain trading
Side-by-side
Alpaca leads on both fronts — more capital raised ($352M) and a lower entry price than Donut Labs.
| Metric | Alpaca | Donut Labs |
|---|---|---|
| Taglinei | Commission-free brokerage API for building AI-powered trading agents and fintech apps. | The agentic crypto browser that automates on-chain trading |
| Foundedi | 2015🏆 | 2025 |
| HQi | San Mateo, US | New York, US |
| Employeesi | — | 11-50🏆 |
| Neuron scorei | 72🏆 | 61 |
| Total fundingi | $352M🏆 | $22M |
| Latest roundi | Series D · Jan 2026 | Pre-Seed |
| Valuationi | $1.1B🏆 | — |
| Cheapest paid plani | From $99/mo🏆 | Pricing not disclosed |
| Free plani | ✓ | ✓ |
| Free triali | ✗ | ✓ |
| Top tier pricei | Pricing not disclosed | Pricing not disclosed |
| Pricing summaryi | Free · From $99/mo | Free |
| Categoriesi |
Capability matrix
Developer-facing capabilities and access signals for Alpaca and Donut Labs.
| Capability | Alpaca | Donut Labs |
|---|---|---|
| MCP support | ✗ | ✗ |
| Public API | ✓ | ✗ |
| Webhooks | ✗ | ✗ |
| OAuth 2.0 | ✓ | ✗ |
| SDK languages | 4 (python, typescript, go, csharp) | — |
| Free plan | ✓ | ✓ |
| Free trial | ✗ | ✓ |
| Verified | ✗ | ✗ |
| Active deal | ✓ | ✗ |
🟢 Strengths of Alpaca
- Has raised more capital ($352M vs $22M)
- Higher Neuron score (72 vs 61)
- Lower starting price ($99/mo)
- More mature (2015)
🔵 Strengths of Donut Labs
- Offers a free trial
- Newer company (2025)
Which should you choose?
Choose Alpaca if price matters most — it starts at Free · From $99/mo, which is friendlier for teams watching burn. Both AI Trading tools ship core features, so the cost delta often decides it for small teams and solo operators.
Choose Alpaca if you want the most established option — it has raised $352M, suggesting more runway for enterprise features, support, and long-term roadmap. For mission-critical workflows or larger teams, that stability often outweighs a lower monthly price.
💸 Deals
Alpaca Paper Trading — free forever
Alpaca's paper trading API is free forever — build and backtest algorithmic strategies with real market data before going live.
Frequently asked questions
Alpaca vs Donut Labs — which is better?
It depends on your priority. Alpaca has raised more capital and is the more established option; Donut Labs has broader feature depth. See the side-by-side table above.
Is Alpaca cheaper than Donut Labs?
Yes — Alpaca's cheapest paid plan is Free · From $99/mo, while Donut Labs's is Free.
Do Alpaca and Donut Labs offer free plans?
Alpaca: Yes, has a free plan. Donut Labs: Yes, has a free plan.
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