CoinGecko API offers three ways to access crypto market data, each designed for different use cases. Pick the one that fits how your application consumes data — or combine them for maximum flexibility.Documentation Index
Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.coingecko.com/llms.txt
Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.
REST API — You ask, we answer
The classic request-response model. Your application sends an HTTP request, and the API returns the data you need. How it works: Send a GET request to an endpoint → receive a JSON response.- Pro API
- Demo API
Best for
- Fetching data on demand (prices, coin info, historical data)
- Periodic polling on a schedule (e.g. every 60 seconds)
- Backfilling or one-time data pulls
- Prototyping and quick integrations
Available endpoints
- 50+ endpoints on Demo & Basic plans
- 80+ endpoints on Analyst plan & above
- Covers prices, market data, exchanges, NFTs, onchain DEX data, and more
REST API is available on all plans, including the free Demo plan. View endpoints →
WebSocket — Stay connected, stream live
A persistent, two-way connection that pushes data to your application in real time. No repeated requests needed — once you subscribe, updates flow to you automatically. How it works: Open a WebSocket connection → subscribe to channels → receive continuous updates.Best for
- Live price tickers and trading dashboards
- Real-time trade monitoring
- Streaming OHLCV chart data
- Any app where milliseconds matter
Available channels
C1— CoinGecko price updatesG1— Onchain token price updatesG2— Onchain trade updatesG3— Onchain OHLCV data
WebSocket is available on Analyst plan & above. View WebSocket docs →
Webhooks — We notify you when things change
Event-driven HTTP callbacks that push notifications to your server whenever specific data changes occur on CoinGecko — no polling required. How it works: Register a webhook URL → CoinGecko sends a POST request to your server when an event fires.Best for
- Keeping your database in sync with CoinGecko
- Reacting to coin metadata changes (rebrands, new chains, alerts)
- Compliance and risk monitoring
- Replacing cron jobs with event-driven updates
Supported events
cg.coin.info.updated— triggers when coin info changes across all active coins- More event types coming soon
Webhooks are available on Analyst plan & above. View Webhook docs →
Quick comparison
| REST API | WebSocket | Webhook | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Communication | Request → Response | Persistent connection | Event-driven callback |
| Data flow | You pull data | Data pushed to you | Data pushed to you |
| Latency | Per-request | Ultra-low (real-time) | Near real-time |
| Use case | On-demand queries, periodic polling | Live streaming, trading | Reacting to data changes |
| Credit charge | 1 credit per call | 0.1 credit per response | 10 credits per notification |
Plan access and pricing
| REST API | WebSocket BETA | Webhook NEW | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Free Demo | ✅ (50+ endpoints) | — | — |
| Basic | ✅ (50+ endpoints) | — | — |
| Analyst & above | ✅ (80+ endpoints) | ✅ | ✅ |
| Enterprise | ✅ (80+ endpoints) | ✅ | ✅ |
| Credit charge | 1 credit per call | 0.1 credit per response | 10 credits per notification |
Which method should you use?
I want to build a portfolio tracker
I want to build a portfolio tracker
Use REST API to fetch current prices and historical data on a schedule. If you need live price updates on a dashboard, add WebSocket for real-time streaming.
I'm building a trading bot
I'm building a trading bot
Use WebSocket for real-time price feeds and trade data. Supplement with REST API for reference data like coin metadata, market cap rankings, or historical OHLC.
I need to keep my database in sync with CoinGecko
I need to keep my database in sync with CoinGecko
Use Webhooks to receive push notifications when coin data changes, so you don’t need to poll the API constantly. Use REST API to backfill or fetch full records on demand.
I'm just getting started / prototyping
I'm just getting started / prototyping
Start with REST API — it’s available on all plans (including the free Demo plan) and covers the widest range of data. You can add WebSocket or Webhooks later as your needs grow.