Short answer: For live prices across the whole market, Coinranking is one of the strongest options. It is the only aggregated price API here with streaming on its free plan, and it streams over both WebSocket and SSE. CoinGecko and CoinMarketCap only stream on paid plans. Binance, Coinbase and Kraken offer free WebSocket feeds, but only for their own markets.
Disclosure: This guide is published by Coinranking, and we list our own API first. The others follow in alphabetical order. All details come from each provider’s own pricing pages and docs, checked on November 2, 2026. Prices and limits change, so check the provider’s page before you build.
A WebSocket keeps one connection open, and the server pushes new prices to you. You don’t need to ask again every few seconds. That saves calls and makes your app feel live.
Two kinds of crypto WebSocket API
Aggregated price APIs
One price per coin, combined from many exchanges. Best for wallets, portfolio apps, price tickers and dashboards. Coinranking, CoinGecko, CoinMarketCap, CoinCap and Massive work this way.
Exchange WebSocket APIs
Trades, order books and prices from one exchange. They are free, but they only cover that exchange’s own markets. Binance, Coinbase and Kraken are examples. CoinAPI and Mobula sit in between, with exchange-level and on-chain data.
At a glance
| API | Coverage | Free streaming | Cheapest plan with streaming | Streaming cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Coinranking | Aggregated prices | Yes: 1 connection, updates every 60 seconds | Free | 0.0025 to 0.05 credits per message |
| Binance | Binance markets only | Yes | Free | None |
| CoinAPI | Exchange-level data | $25 in trial credits | $79 a month | Not stated |
| Coinbase | Coinbase markets only | Yes | Free | None |
| CoinCap | Aggregated prices | No | Growth, $64 a month billed yearly | Not stated |
| CoinGecko | Aggregated and on-chain | No | Basic, $35 a month | 0.1 credit per response |
| CoinMarketCap | Aggregated prices | No | Startup, $79 a month | 0.025 credits per message |
| Kraken | Kraken markets only | Yes | Free | None |
| Massive | Prices from 4 exchanges | No | Currencies Starter, $49 a month | Unlimited calls |
| Mobula | On-chain and DEX | No | Growth, $400 a month | 1 credit per minute open |
1. Coinranking
The Coinranking API streams live prices over WebSocket and Server-Sent Events (SSE). Every plan includes streaming, including Free.
| Plan | Price | Connections | Fastest updates | Credits per message |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Free | $0 | 1 | Every 60 seconds | 0.05 |
| Basic | $24 | 2 | Every 10 seconds | 0.025 |
| Startup | $49 | 5 | Every 5 seconds | 0.01 |
| Growth | $99 | 10 | Every second | 0.005 |
| Professional | $199 | 20 | Every second | 0.0025 |
- Coins: up to 100 coins per connection
- Free control messages: connecting, heartbeats and errors cost 0 credits
- One balance: REST calls and streaming share the same monthly credits
- Trial: 30 days free on every paid plan
Best for: apps that need live prices for many coins, from a free prototype to production. See the Coinranking API plans.
2. Binance
Binance’s WebSocket streams are free and push Binance market data.
- Limits: up to 1,024 streams per connection and 5 incoming messages per second
- Connections: each one is valid for 24 hours, then you must reconnect
- Speed: the ticker updates every 1,000 ms, and trades arrive in real time
Best for: trading tools that only need Binance prices.
3. CoinAPI
CoinAPI streams exchange-level trades, quotes and order books over WebSocket, plus FIX on higher plans.
- Free: $25 in credits for testing REST and WebSocket
- Paid: Startup at $79 a month, Streamer at $249 and Pro at $599
Best for: trading and research tools that need order books from many exchanges.
4. Coinbase
Coinbase Advanced Trade has a free WebSocket for its own markets. Ticker, order book and trade channels need no login.
- Limits: 8 connections and 8 unauthenticated messages per second per IP
- Rule: you must subscribe within 5 seconds of connecting
Best for: apps built around Coinbase markets.
5. CoinCap
CoinCap streams prices for the top coins over WebSocket.
- Free and Builder plans: REST only
- Streaming: from the Growth plan, $64 a month billed yearly
Best for: small apps that only track major coins.
6. CoinGecko
CoinGecko’s WebSocket is in beta and is not covered by its uptime promise.
- Demo, free: no streaming
- Basic, $35 a month: 5 sockets, with 100 subscriptions per channel per socket
- Cost: 0.1 credit per response
Best for: projects that also need CoinGecko’s on-chain DEX data.
7. CoinMarketCap
CoinMarketCap lists WebSocket from its Startup plan at $79 a month. Its docs mark it as beta, and its pricing FAQ still says WebSocket push is under development.
- Limits: 10 connections and 100 subscriptions per connection
- Cost: 0.025 credits per message received
- Free and Builder plans: no streaming
Best for: teams that already use CoinMarketCap data.
8. Kraken
Kraken’s WebSocket v2 streams public market data for free.
- Limits: about 150 connection attempts per 10 minutes per IP
- Idle connections: closed after about one minute
Best for: apps that trade or track Kraken markets.
9. Massive
Massive, formerly Polygon.io, combines crypto data from Coinbase, Bitfinex, Bitstamp and Kraken into one WebSocket feed.
- Free plan: no WebSockets
- Paid: Currencies Starter at $49 a month, with unlimited API calls
Best for: apps that also need stock or forex data from the same provider.
10. Mobula
Mobula streams on-chain and DEX data.
- Streaming: from the Growth plan at $400 a month
- Cost: 1 credit per minute a stream stays open, plus endpoint credits
Best for: wallets and DEX tools that need on-chain token prices.
How to choose
Decide what you need to stream
For prices across thousands of coins, use an aggregated API. For one exchange’s order book, use that exchange’s own WebSocket.
Count the real cost
Some providers charge per message, some per minute and some not at all. Estimate your message volume first. Our crypto API pricing comparison shows how plans compare.
Check the free plan
Test streaming before you pay. Coinranking is the only aggregated price API here with streaming on a free plan.
Consider SSE
If your app only receives prices, Server-Sent Events can be simpler than WebSockets. Read SSE vs WebSockets and REST vs WebSocket.
FAQ
What is the best free crypto WebSocket API?
For prices across the market, Coinranking includes streaming on its free plan. For a single exchange, Binance, Coinbase and Kraken offer free WebSocket feeds.
Does CoinGecko have a WebSocket API?
Yes, but it is in beta and starts on the paid Basic plan at $35 a month. Each response costs 0.1 credit.
How do I stream crypto prices in JavaScript?
Open a WebSocket, subscribe to the coins you need, and update your page on each message. Our guide to streaming live crypto prices in JavaScript has working code.
Are WebSocket messages free?
It depends on the provider. Exchange feeds are free. Coinranking, CoinGecko and CoinMarketCap charge a small number of credits per message.
Start streaming for free
Get a free Coinranking API key and stream live prices today. Paid plans add faster updates and more connections, with a 30-day free trial.
