Yes, there are a few brokers in India and globally that offer free or low-cost APIs for trading, but with limitations. Here's a quick guide:
🇮🇳 Free/Low-Cost API Brokers in India
Broker | API Charges | Notes |
---|---|---|
🟩 Finvasia (Shoonya) | ✅ Free API | 100% zero brokerage, great for algos. No charges for API access. |
🟨 Fyers | ✅ Free | API is free, but it needs approval. Some rate limits. |
🟥 Zerodha (Kite) | ❌ ₹2000 one-time | Most stable, but not free. |
🟨 Alice Blue | ✅ Free | Basic access is free. The broker needs API activation. |
🟩 Angel One | ✅ Free | Free SmartAPI with order and data access. Popular for beginners. |
🟧 5paisa | ✅ Free | Free API access with their developer account. |
🔍 Top 2 Free API Brokers to Consider
1. 🚀 Finvasia Shoonya
✅ Truly free API
🟢 Zero brokerage even for intraday and delivery
🛠️ Good for advanced algo traders
⚠️ Requires coding with REST API (no web interface)
2. 📡 Angel One SmartAPI
✅ Free
🧑💻 Python SDK available
🧠 Good community support
🌍 Global Free Broker APIs
Broker | Market | API |
🟢 Alpaca | US Stocks | ✅ Free for paper & live trading |
🟢 Interactive Brokers (IBKR) | Global | Free API, powerful but complex |
🟢 TradingView Webhooks | Any | Indirect via broker API or webhook bridge |
⚠️ Things to Keep in Mind
Most free APIs have rate limits
Need basic Python or Node.js skills
For NSE/BSE access, prefer Angel One, Finvasia, or Fyers
🧰 Want Help Setting Up Free Algo Bot?
I can help you:
Set up the Finvasia or Angel One bot
Provide a Python code template
Configure it for the 44 Moving Average strategy
Let me know which broker you'd like to start with:
🟢 Finvasia, 🟠 Angel One, or 🟡 Fyers?