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REST API vs. WebSocket Support by Product

When evaluating Intrinio products, one of the most common questions is whether a dataset is available through the REST API, WebSocket streaming, or both.

In general:

  • REST APIs are ideal for requesting historical data, snapshots, reference data, and on-demand queries.
  • WebSockets provide low-latency streaming updates for supported real-time and delayed market data products.

The table below summarizes which access methods are available for the most common products included in Intrinio plans.

Product REST API WebSocket Notes
EquitiesEdge (FMV Real-Time) ✅ ✅ Real-time derived equity prices, volume, and market activity.
OptionsEdge (FMV Real-Time) ✅ ✅ Real-time derived options prices, implied volatility, and Greeks.
15-Min Delayed CBOE Data ✅ ✅ Delayed US equity quotes and trades.
Tick-Level Market Data ✅ ✅ Historical tick data and real-time streaming trades and quotes.
US Fundamentals ✅ — SEC financial statements, standardized financials, ratios, ownership, and insider transactions.
US EOD & Historical Stock Prices ✅ — End-of-day and historical stock prices.
US EOD & Historical Options Prices ✅ — Historical options prices, Greeks, implied volatility, and open interest.

Choosing Between REST and WebSocket

Use REST APIs when you need:

  • Historical data
  • End-of-day prices
  • Company fundamentals
  • Financial statements
  • Reference data
  • On-demand snapshots
  • Screening and analytics

REST is request/response based—you request data whenever your application needs it.

Use WebSockets when you need:

  • Streaming market prices
  • Live quote updates
  • Real-time option values
  • Low-latency market applications
  • Continuously updating dashboards

With WebSockets, your application maintains a persistent connection and receives updates automatically as market data changes.

Can I Use Both?

Yes. Many applications use both interfaces together.

For example:

  • Load historical prices and company information through the REST API.
  • Open a WebSocket connection to receive live price updates.
  • Continue using REST for occasional lookups or historical requests while streaming current market activity.

This hybrid approach provides the best combination of historical access and real-time performance.

WebSocket Capacity

Most customers stream far fewer symbols than the platform supports.

The standard Startup configuration includes:

  • 3 concurrent WebSocket connections
  • Support for approximately 500 simultaneous symbol subscriptions per connection

For example, streaming 50–100 symbols simultaneously is well within the normal supported range. Actual limits may vary depending on your subscription or contract.

Learn More

To see which API endpoints are available for your subscription:

  1. Log in to your Intrinio account.
  2. Navigate to Account → Access or Account → Subscription.
  3. Select a data feed.
  4. Click View API Documentation.

The API documentation will automatically filter to the endpoints available for that product. You can also switch between My Endpoints and All Endpoints to explore additional capabilities.

For developers using AI tools, we also recommend the Intrinio MCP Server, which understands your account entitlements and can recommend the appropriate datasets, endpoints, and implementation workflow for your subscription.

Note: Product availability and supported access methods are determined by your Intrinio plan and the products included with your subscription. The REST/WebSocket support shown above reflects the current plan packaging.