Metals-API vs metals.dev

Metals-API 2 min read
Metals-API vs metals.dev

metals.dev is a compact REST API: spot, bid/ask, an authority call for LBMA / LME / MCX / IBJA, and a unit parameter. Metals-API is the catalog: 618+ symbols, 185+ currencies, Indian city gold and silver, hosted MCP with 8 tools, and intraday candles. If you only need a short list of metals and gram units in the query string, metals.dev is enough. If you need MCP, intraday, or the long tail, that is Metals-API.

A small catalog is their thing

  • Gold, silver, platinum, palladium, plus a handful of industrials.
  • Authority endpoint: LBMA, LME, MCX, IBJA.
  • Timeseries capped at 30 days per request. No public MCP. No intraday candles.

Where Metals-API wins

  • 618+ symbols and 185+ currencies. India city series (Mumbai, Delhi, Chennai, Kolkata, and more), not only IBJA/MCX prints.
  • Hosted MCP with eight tools, including metals.intraday. MCP setup.
  • Intraday, fluctuation, convert, carat — routes a compact catalog typically does not ship.
  • Historical LME and historical LBMA as dedicated endpoints, plus timeseries windows that grow with the plan (past a 30-day cap). Same REST+MCP quota.

Head-to-head

  • Coverage
    metals.dev: Precious + short industrial set · 170+ FX
    Metals-API: 618+ symbols · 185+ currencies · LBMA / LME / India cities
  • MCP
    metals.dev: None on public docs
    Metals-API: Hosted · metals-api.com/mcp
  • Intraday & timeseries
    metals.dev: Daily timeseries · 30 days per call
    Metals-API: Intraday candles (1m–1d) · longer timeseries on higher plans
  • India
    metals.dev: IBJA / MCX authority prints
    Metals-API: Per-city symbols (Mumbai, Delhi, Chennai, Kolkata, …)
  • Integration
    metals.dev: REST + unit parameter
    Metals-API: REST + hosted MCP + WordPress · same quota

Who should pick which

  • Pick metals.dev if a small metal list and unit=g are the whole product.
  • Pick Metals-API if you need the full catalog, Indian cities, MCP, or intraday.

FAQ

  • Does metals.dev have MCP? No public MCP server. Metals-API does: metals-api.com/mcp.
  • Can I get Indian city gold from metals.dev? They expose IBJA/MCX authority prints. Metals-API exposes per-city symbols — Symbols → India.
  • How long can a timeseries request be? metals.dev: 30 days, then another call. Metals-API: longer windows on higher plans — see docs and pricing.

Get started

Get an API key · MCP setup · Docs · Symbols · Pricing

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