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Alpaca

Broker
Traders
18.7 K
Trade
Overview
Reviews Publications

Reviews


JeanPaul81

Great platform where it aligns perfectly with different strategies of trading and most importantly user friendly

AlpacaBroker

Thank you for the great feedback! We’re thrilled to hear that the platform supports your trading strategies while remaining intuitive and easy to use!

bluewhackadoo

Love Alpaca I wish it had a total value column in TV and had more support by places like Plaid. Otherwise absolutely love it! I'm always happy with trade speed and execution.

AlpacaBroker

Thank you for the wonderful feedback! We're thrilled to hear that you're happy with Alpaca's trade speed and execution - that's at the core of what we do! 🚀

We also really appreciate you taking the time to share your suggestions - we are always looking to improve our services and offerings.

Hiro_Zenzo

Alpaca is an excellent broker for algorithmic and API-driven trading! The powerful, easy-to-use API with great documentation makes building and automating strategies a breeze. Commission-free trades on US stocks, ETFs, options, and crypto keep costs low, while fast execution, fractional shares, and reliable performance add huge value. Highly recommended for developers and algo traders—top-notch reliability and innovation! 5 stars.

AlpacaBroker

Thank you so much for this amazing review! We're absolutely thrilled to hear that Alpaca is powering your algorithmic trading success! ⭐

masakcz

When I started looking for a broker for automated trading, Alpaca was the first to come to mind. The connection with TradingView works without any problems. As a non-US citizen, I am glad that Alpaca is now more accessible to us. I really appreciate their work.

AlpacaBroker

Thank you so much for sharing your experience with Alpaca! We're honoured that we were top of mind when you were searching for an automated trading solution! 🌍 Alpaca is proud to service millions of clients on a global scale.

garthalley

I would give Alpaca 6 stars if they offered pure cash accounts. Sadly I signed up after coming from IBKR, that do. I was looking for an advanced, fast connection for automation through traderspost.io, IBKR's connection is in beta and flacky. With a cash account I can avoid the trading rules limiting the number of trades. I thought I had a winner with Alpaca until I realised after signing up and transferring my funds the margin account issues Perhaps I am a special case. But I doubt it . Hey alpaca shoot me an email if you ever offer cash accounts. I'll come back unless IBKR has caught up to you by that time.... Tough learning on my part, not having to deal with those nasty trading rules.

AlpacaBroker

Thank you for taking the time to share such detailed feedback, we truly appreciate it. We understand how frustrating some of the trading rules associated with margin accounts can be.

At this time, Alpaca accounts are margin based, meaning regulatory FINRA requirements such as the PDT rules apply and aren’t something we’re able to override. We understand this setup doesn’t suit every trading style and your situation is completely understandable.

Additionally, your feedback regarding cash accounts is well noted and something we are considering. We really appreciate you trying Alpaca and we hope to have the chance to support your trading needs again down the road!

j3c1987

Very basic broker that lets me trade how I want with TradingView integration. Easy to add and remove funds. Clean and bare user interface that lets me manage my account easily.

AlpacaBroker

We appreciate your feedback and are excited to support you as you explore all the possibilities and continue your trading journey!

UnbreAlex

One of the best broker, its a fantastic trading platform, fast and reliable, with great API documentation and helpful support.

AlpacaBroker

We appreciate your feedback and are excited to support you as you explore all the possibilities and continue your trading journey!

alphajun

Excellent trading fees and clear and easy to use website. support. Great API documentation.

AlpacaBroker

Thanks so much for taking the time to leave us feedback! We are thrilled to hear you are pleased with Alpaca's online dashboard, support and API documentation.

kashishgarg999

I've been using Alpaca for the last 4 years, never faced any issues, its a fantastic trading platform, with exceptionally responsive and helpful support. It's a reliable broker that I've had a great experience with.

AlpacaBroker

Thanks for your kind feedback and your loyalty to Alpaca! We are thrilled to hear that Alpaca is your broker of choice and that you enjoy our reliability and responsive support!

leoslim88

Fast, Reliable, Margin 2-4x available, Fractional shares is available, open hour long 4am to 20pm EST, PDT Restriction is the weakness

AlpacaBroker

We appreciate your feedback! PDT rules are FINRA regulated requirements that apply to all margin accounts, so we don’t have the ability to adjust or override them at this time. We understand this can be inconvenient and sincerely apologize for any disruption it may cause. We’re glad to hear you’re enjoying the features on the platform!

kd0shk

Great support and great API documentation. Easy to use website.

AlpacaBroker

We appreciate your feedback and are excited to support you as you explore all the possibilities and continue your trading journey!

Terms and fees


Tradable assets
Stocks, Crypto, ETFs, Options
Min deposit
0.00 USD
Max leverage
4:1
Account opening
It is subject to review process
Deposit fee
Fees vary by type. See Broker Fee Schedule at Alpaca's website.
Withdrawal fee
Fees vary by type. See Broker Fee Schedule at Alpaca's website.
Inactivity fee
Fees vary by type. See Broker Fee Schedule at Alpaca's website.

About Alpaca


Founded
2018
Headquarters
United States of America
Documents
Disclosures
Regulators
FINRA
+2
Website
alpaca.markets
Community
AlpacaHQ
Support and feedback
support@alpaca.markets
Address
20 N San Mateo Dr, Ste #10, San Mateo CA, 94401, USA
Alpaca is a US-headquartered self-clearing broker-dealer and brokerage infrastructure for stocks, ETFs, options, crypto and 24/5 trading – raising over USD170 million in funding. Alpaca is backed by top-tier investors globally, including Portage Ventures, Spark Capital, Tribe Capital, Social Leverage, Horizons Ventures, Unbound, SBI Group, Derayah Financial, Elefund, and Y Combinator.

Important Documents

Tools and features


Order types
Market orders
Orders to buy or sell at the current market price. Executed instantly.
Limit orders
Orders to buy or sell at a specified price or better. Executed only when the specified price is reached.
Stop orders
Orders that activates when the price reaches a certain level, after which it is executed as a market order.
Stop limit orders
A combination of a stop order and a limit order. Activates when the stop price is reached but is executed only at the specified limit price.
Order features
Order history
Access to a list of previously placed orders with details of their execution.
Execution history on the chart
Display of executed orders directly on the chart for convenient analysis.
Position features
Partial position close
The ability to close only a portion of an open position, rather than the entire position.
Reverse position
Quickly closes the current position and opens an opposing position (e.g., from long to short).
Brackets
Order brackets
The ability to attach take-profit and stop-loss orders to an order.
Order brackets modification
The ability to modify take-profit and stop-loss levels after placing an order.
Add brackets to existing order
The ability to add take-profit and stop-loss brackets to existing order.
Position brackets
Take profit and stop loss brackets support for the position.
Position brackets modification
Modifying take-profit and stop-loss levels for an open position.
Add brackets to existing position
Adding take-profit and stop-loss levels to an already open position.
Trailing stop
A dynamic stop loss that automatically follows the price of an asset by a set distance. It is used to limit possible losses and manage risks.
Other
Demo account
A virtual account for practicing trading without the risk of losing real funds.
Level 2 data
Market depth (order book), showing buy and sell orders with volume details.
AD-free trading on chart for basic plan
A clean chart without distracting ads for convenient analysis.

Frequently Asked Questions


Alpaca allows to trade the following assets:
- Stocks
- Cryptocurrencies
- ETFs
- Options
Alpaca is regulated by the following organisations:
- FINRA (Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, Inc.)
- SEC (U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission)
- SIPC (Securities Investor Protection Corporation )
To trade with Alpaca on TradingView, you’ll need an account. If you already have one, simply connect to Alpaca on the Trading Panel. If not, click Open account in the broker's profile, and you’ll be redirected to their website to complete the registration. Once your account is set up, return to our Superchart, find the broker’s icon on the trading panel, and log in with your credentials.

Note that different brokers have different terms, and Alpaca has its own account opening time — It is subject to review process.
No, Alpaca doesn't provide a demo account.
Alpaca requires a minimum deposit of 0 USD.

Brokers usually require deposits to manage risk, cover trading costs, and comply with regulations. Deposits act as collateral for leveraged trades, ensuring brokers don’t face losses if a trade goes against a trader. They also help cover fees, prevent fraud, and ensure serious trading activity.
No, Alpaca doesn't offer Level 2 data to its clients.

Level 2 is a subscription-based service that offers real-time access to the exchange’s order book. It gives traders and investors a detailed view of market depth and momentum, helping them make more informed and strategic trading decisions.
Yes, Alpaca applies the fee for accounts that remain inactive for some time: Fees vary by type. See Broker Fee Schedule at Alpaca's website..

Brokers impose inactivity fees to cover maintenance costs, comply with regulations, and encourage active trading. These fees help offset expenses for managing inactive accounts and prevent account abandonment.
Yes, Alpaca charges the withdrawal fee of Fees vary by type. See Broker Fee Schedule at Alpaca's website..
Alpaca allows leverage of up to 4:1.
Yes, Alpaca requires the deposit fee of Fees vary by type. See Broker Fee Schedule at Alpaca's website..
Alpaca allows the following order types:
- Stop orders
- Limit orders
- Market orders
- Stop limit orders
Yes, you can place bracket orders with Alpaca.
Yes, Alpaca requires 25.00% as a margin.
Brokers provide access to financial markets and execute trades. They act as intermediaries between traders and exchanges, providing the necessary infrastructure and tools to place buy and sell orders. They offer services such as order execution, market access, research, analysis, and customer support. Additionally, brokers facilitate the use of leverage, margin trading, and help ensure regulatory compliance, providing traders with a secure environment to trade effectively. Without brokers, individual traders would struggle to access markets and execute trades efficiently.
An order is an instruction for a broker to execute a trade - buy or sell an asset on behalf of a trader. Depending on your strategy, risk tolerance, and market condition, different kinds of orders can be more or less effective, let's see the basic ones.
- Market order. It's a basic type designed to buy or sell an asset immediately at the next price available
- Limit order. Specifies the maximum (for buying) or minimum (for selling) price at which a trader is willing to execute a trade. It's only executed if the price reaches the preset level. There are buy and sell limit orders - they're set to buy/sell an asset at or below/above a certain price
- Stop order. Triggered when an asset moves above or below a certain price level, always executed in the direction that the price is moving. There are stop-loss orders (automatically closes a position at a certain level if the market moves against you) and (initiates a trade when the price breaks a certain level)
Successful trading requires thorough preparation, ensuring every decision is well-informed and carefully considered. To develop a winning strategy, follow these key steps:
- Find the right asset using our screeners and heatmaps. Explore the stock market with the Stock Screener, track cryptocurrencies on the Crypto Coins Heatmap, and more tools to find in the main menu
- Analyze price movements on our Supercharts. Utilize multiple drawing tools, built-in indicators, and advanced features to gain deeper market insights
- Stay on top of market changes with the Economic Calendar and the latest news, helping you quickly adapt to shifting conditions
- Test your strategy in a risk-free environment with a Paper Trading account to see how it performs before committing real capital
- Choose a broker and start your trading journey with confidence once you have a clear strategy in place
A broker's rating on TradingView is based on its clients' reviews. We ensure broker ratings reflect real user experiences by allowing reviews only from verified TradingView users with active linked accounts. Recent ratings carry more weight, providing up-to-date insights for informed decisions. This approach promotes transparency and prevents manipulation. Make sure to rate your broker to help it improve its service and assits other users in their choice.
Leverage is a mechanism that allows traders to open larger positions with a smaller amount of capital. It basically means borrowing funds from a broker, often multiplying your position size by 5x, 10x, or more. For example, with 5x leverage, a $100 deposit could open a $500 trade with your broker lending you $400 you don't have. It's a popular technique, but remember that while leverage increases potential profits, it also magnifies losses, which is why it's essential to learn how to manage risks.

It's always worth preparing for trades before actually executing them. On TradingView, you can do this with our Paper Trading functionality.
Margin trading means an investor buying an asset by borrowing the balance from a broker. It allows traders to increase their buying power, enabling larger positions with less upfront capital. While it can provide greater market exposure with less capital and amplify potential gains, it also comes with increased risks:
- Increased risk of losses, including exceeding initial investment
- Interest costs on borrowed funds
- Potential for margin calls requiring additional deposits
Make sure to analyze an asset thoroughly and test your strategy on a Paper Trading account to ensure you're ready to navigate these risks.
Commissions in trading are fees that brokers charge for executing trades on behalf of traders. These costs help brokers maintain their platforms, provide essential services, and ensure smooth access to financial markets.

Understanding commission structures is essential for traders, as fees can impact overall profitability. Choosing a broker with competitive rates and transparent pricing ensures cost-effective trading.