Alpaca

Alpaca is an API-first brokerage that focuses on giving traders and developers streamlined access to U.S. markets through a clean web interface and programmatic tools. Rather than centering on heavy desktop terminals, the experience emphasizes a browser-based trader and an ecosystem designed for automation. From the web dashboard, users can build and monitor watchlists, pull up responsive charts across multiple timeframes, and place market, limit, and stop orders with clear ticketing. Account management—statements, balances, and activity—lives in the same portal, which keeps day-to-day tasks simple whether you’re trading casually or supervising models. The product lineup concentrates on exchange-traded assets many investors use to build diversified portfolios: U.S. equities, exchange-traded funds, and a curated selection of cryptocurrencies. That mix allows different approaches to coexist in one account. A long-term investor might dollar-cost average into ETFs while running small allocations to single stocks; an active participant could focus on earnings season or news-driven momentum; a technically minded user may explore crypto pairs during off-hours. Fractional share support and order types help tailor position sizes to specific risk budgets without overcomplicating execution. For builders, the API path opens up systematic ideas, from simple rebalancers and screeners to full event-driven strategies. Onboarding is designed to be straightforward: complete basic identity checks, fund via familiar rails, and start in a paper environment before going live. Educational materials and platform guides aim to shorten the learning curve with practical explanations—order behavior, good-til settings, and ways to think about risk at the position and portfolio levels. Because leverage and complex derivatives are not the focus, the workflow encourages disciplined routines: define entries and exits, size positions carefully, review exposure to sectors and themes, and keep an eye on earnings calendars or macro events that can move prices. Risk management remains central regardless of approach. Sensible habits—protective stops, thoughtful position sizing, and periodic post-trade reviews—can help keep results consistent. For developers, sandbox testing, rate-limit awareness, and monitoring for connectivity issues are part of a robust setup. Altogether, Alpaca’s proposition is about accessibility and clarity: a web-first experience, API capability for automation, and a product set centered on stocks, ETFs, and crypto so users can research, execute, and iterate with confidence.