Alpaca vs Mercury
Which Finance AI tool is better in 2026?
Alpaca
Commission-free brokerage API for building AI-powered trading agents and fintech apps.
Mercury
Radically different online business banking for startups, small businesses, and scaling companies.
Side-by-side
Mercury leads on both fronts — more capital raised ($500M) and a lower entry price than Alpaca.
| Metric | Alpaca | Mercury |
|---|---|---|
| Taglinei | Commission-free brokerage API for building AI-powered trading agents and fintech apps. | Radically different online business banking for startups, small businesses, and scaling companies. |
| Foundedi | 2015🏆 | — |
| HQi | San Mateo, US | US |
| Employeesi | — | — |
| Neuron scorei | 72🏆 | 70 |
| Total fundingi | $202M | $500M🏆 |
| Latest roundi | Series D | Series C · Mar 2025 |
| Valuationi | $1.1B🏆 | — |
| Cheapest paid plani | From $99/mo | —🏆 |
| Free plani | ✓ | ✓ Standard Accounts |
| Free triali | ✗ | ✗ |
| Top tier pricei | Pricing not disclosed | Treasury by Mercury Advisory · Contact sales |
| Pricing summaryi | Free · From $99/mo | 3 published plans |
| Categoriesi |
Capability matrix
Developer-facing capabilities and access signals for Alpaca and Mercury.
| Capability | Alpaca | Mercury |
|---|---|---|
| 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
- Higher Neuron score (72 vs 70)
- Newer company (2015)
🔵 Strengths of Mercury
- Has raised more capital ($500M vs $202M)
Which should you choose?
Choose Mercury if price matters most — it starts at Free, which is friendlier for teams watching burn. Both AI Finance tools ship core features, so the cost delta often decides it for small teams and solo operators.
Choose Mercury if you want the most established option — it has raised $500M, 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.
Frequently asked questions
Alpaca vs Mercury — which is better?
It depends on your priority. Alpaca is the leaner option; Mercury is cheaper to start. See the side-by-side table above.
Is Alpaca cheaper than Mercury?
No — Mercury's cheapest paid plan is Free, while Alpaca's is Free · From $99/mo.
Do Alpaca and Mercury offer free plans?
Alpaca: Yes, has a free plan. Mercury: Yes, has a free plan.
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