Finnhub vs Plaid API
Same instrument, two spec sheets — measured, not claimed.
Finnhub vs Plaid API: common questions
Which is more reliable, Finnhub or Plaid API?
Both are neck-and-neck — Finnhub and Plaid API each measure 100% uptime over 90 days on our probe schedule. Reliability here is verified from our own scheduled checks; use the 30-day bars above to see which has been steadier lately.
Which is faster, Finnhub or Plaid API?
Finnhub has the lower median latency in our checks — Finnhub responds in 157 ms versus Plaid API at 359 ms (P50). Tail latency (P95) is in the table above; for most workloads the median is the number that shapes how the API feels.
Do Finnhub and Plaid API need an API key?
Both ask you to authenticate — Finnhub uses an API key and Plaid API uses an API key. Each key is free to obtain; the Auth and Card-required rows above spell out the signup terms.
Can I call Finnhub and Plaid API from the browser?
Yes — both Finnhub and Plaid API send CORS headers over HTTPS, so front-end code can fetch either directly with no backend proxy. That makes them easy to swap in a client-side app while you compare responses.
Are Finnhub and Plaid API free for commercial use?
Finnhub has unclear commercial terms, and Plaid API has unclear commercial terms. We track service terms and the data license as separate fields — see the Commercial use and Data license rows above, and confirm both before shipping either in a paid product.