CoinGecko API - Complete Developer Guide
API Provider: CoinGecko
Website: coingecko.com
Overview
CoinGecko is one of the largest independent cryptocurrency data aggregators, tracking over 18,000 cryptocurrencies across 1,400+ exchanges. Their API is popular for being free for basic use while offering comprehensive data.
Pricing Plans
| Plan | Price | Calls/minute |
|---|---|---|
| Free | $0 | 10-30 |
| Developer | $49/mo | 150 |
| Business | $199/mo | 600 |
| Enterprise | Custom | Unlimited |
Key Features
- 18,000+ Cryptocurrencies: Largest coin coverage in the industry
- 1,400+ Exchanges: Comprehensive exchange data
- Historical Data: Price history up to historical highs
- Market Metrics: Market cap, volume, liquidity
- Coin Metadata: Descriptions, logos, social links
- Global Data: Global market cap, dominance
API Endpoints
GET https://api.coingecko.com/api/v3/coins/markets
GET https://api.coingecko.com/api/v3/coins/{id}
GET https://api.coingecko.com/api/v3/simple/price
GET https://api.coingecko.com/api/v3/coins/{id}/market_chart
GET https://api.coingecko.com/api/v3/exchanges
GET https://api.coingecko.com/api/v3/globalFree API Example
curl "https://api.coingecko.com/api/v3/simple/price?ids=bitcoin,ethereum&vs_currencies=usd"Response Example
{
"bitcoin": {
"usd": 97500
},
"ethereum": {
"usd": 3250
}
}Pros & Cons
Pros
- Free tier is genuinely usable
- Best coin coverage (18K+)
- No credit system like CMC
- Clean, simple API
Cons
- Rate limits on free tier
- Sometimes slower than paid APIs
- Limited historical data on free
- Latency can be ~500ms
Best Use Cases
- Cryptocurrency dashboards
- Price tracking widgets
- Portfolio trackers (free tier OK)
- Crypto news sites
- Educational platforms