Commodities-API Alternative
Specialized for Oil & Energy
Need deep oil & energy coverage? OilPriceAPI specializes in energy commodities with an official Python SDK. From $19/month.
Comparison: Commodities-API vs OilPriceAPI
| Feature | Commodities-API | OilPriceAPI |
|---|---|---|
| Focus | General commodities | Oil & energy |
| Oil Benchmarks | ||
| Marine Fuels | ||
| Official Python SDK | ||
| Precious Metals |
Official Python SDK
pip install oilpriceapi
from oilpriceapi import OilPriceAPI
client = OilPriceAPI("your_api_key")
price = client.get_price("BRENT_CRUDE_USD")OilPriceAPI vs Commodities-API: feature-by-feature
| Dimension | OilPriceAPI | Commodities-API |
|---|---|---|
| Focus | Energy specialist — oil, gas, fuels, marine, drilling | Broad commodity/FX rates (metals, ag, FX-leaning) |
| Energy benchmark depth | WTI, Brent, Henry Hub, RBOB, gasoil, marine fuels, retail gas/diesel | Headline commodity rates; shallower energy detail |
| Energy-specific data | Drilling intelligence (permits/DUC), per-state retail fuels | Not covered |
| Access model | REST + WebSocket + SDKs (Python/JS/Java/C#/Ruby) | REST (rates-style endpoints) |
| Cost | Free tier; see pricing page | Free tier; usage tiers |
| History | WTI to 1983; daily/weekly/monthly | Historical rates |
When to choose each
Choose OilPriceAPI when…
- Your product is energy/oil-focused and needs benchmark depth + fuels + drilling data.
- You want WebSocket streaming + official SDKs, not just rate lookups.
Choose Commodities-API when…
- You need broad cross-commodity + FX rates (metals, agriculture, currencies) more than energy depth.
- A simple exchange-rate-style endpoint covers your use case.
OilPriceAPI vs Commodities-API: FAQ
How is OilPriceAPI different from Commodities-API?
Commodities-API is a general commodity and FX rates API covering a broad set of commodities and currencies. OilPriceAPI is specialized for oil and energy, with deeper benchmark coverage and energy-specific datasets rather than broad cross-commodity rates.
What energy benchmarks does OilPriceAPI cover?
Global energy benchmarks including WTI crude (WTI_CRUDE_USD), Brent crude (BRENT_CRUDE_USD), Henry Hub and UK natural gas, RBOB gasoline, marine fuels, per-state US retail gasoline and diesel, and drilling intelligence such as well permits and DUC wells.
How often does OilPriceAPI update prices?
Prices update approximately every 5 minutes, with real-time updates also available over WebSocket alongside the REST API.
Does OilPriceAPI provide SDKs and historical data?
Yes. There are official SDKs for Python, JavaScript, Java, C#, and Ruby, plus a REST API and WebSocket streaming. Historical WTI data goes back to 1983, and price codes are human-readable.
How much does OilPriceAPI cost?
OilPriceAPI has a free tier and paid plans listed on our pricing page, with self-serve signup.
When should I choose a general commodities API instead?
If you primarily need broad cross-commodity coverage or FX rates — metals, agriculture, currencies — more than deep energy detail, a general commodity/FX rates API like Commodities-API may fit better. Choose OilPriceAPI when your product is energy-focused and needs benchmark depth, fuels, drilling data, WebSocket streaming, and official SDKs.