CoinMarketCap vs CoinGecko vs Bitquery - Crypto Price API Comparison
Choosing the right crypto price API is critical. Here's a detailed comparison of the top 3 price data providers in 2026.
| Feature | CoinMarketCap | CoinGecko | Bitquery |
|---|---|---|---|
| Coins Supported | 10,000+ | 18,000+ | 8,000+ |
| Exchanges | 300+ | 1,400+ | 50+ DEX |
| Free Tier | 10K/mo | 10-30/min | Limited |
| Starting Price | $29/mo | $49/mo | $99/mo |
| Latency | ~200ms | ~500ms | ~150ms |
| WebSocket Support | Yes (paid) | No | Yes |
| Historical Data | Yes | Yes | Yes (on-chain) |
| On-Chain Data | No | No | Yes |
| REST API | Yes | Yes | GraphQL |
| API Type | Price Aggregator | Price Aggregator | On-Chain + DEX |
Detailed Comparison
CoinMarketCap
Industry standard with high trust. Best for teams that need reliable, well-documented APIs with extensive historical data.
- Best for: Portfolio trackers, exchanges
- Weakness: Credit system confusing
- Rating: ★★★★☆
CoinGecko
Best free tier in the industry. Great for startups and hobby projects that need broad coin coverage.
- Best for: Free projects, dashboards
- Weakness: Rate limits
- Rating: ★★★★☆
Bitquery
Specialized in DEX and on-chain data. Best for DeFi applications that need trading data.
- Best for: DeFi, DEX analytics
- Weakness: Higher price point
- Rating: ★★★★☆
When to Use Each
Choose CoinMarketCap if:
- You need industry-standard, reliable data
- You need extensive historical OHLCV data
- Your app targets institutional users
- You don't mind the credit-based pricing
Choose CoinGecko if:
- You're building a free/hobby project
- You need the widest coin coverage
- You want simple, predictable pricing
- You don't need real-time WebSocket feeds
Choose Bitquery if:
- You're building DeFi or trading applications
- You need on-chain DEX data
- You prefer GraphQL over REST
- You need cross-chain analytics
Quick Recommendation
Startup/MVP: Start with CoinGecko free tier, upgrade to CMC as you scale.
DeFi Project: Use Bitquery for DEX data, supplement with CoinGecko for price.
Enterprise: CMC or combination based on specific needs.