Alpaca's Official MCP Server

by alpacahq

498 downloads

Not rated

GitHub

About

Alpaca’s official MCP Server lets you trade stocks, ETFs, crypto, and options, run data analysis, and build strategies in plain English directly from your favorite LLM tools and IDEs

Details

Author: alpacahq
Downloads: 498
Categories: Finance, Other

- Real-time and historical market data for stocks, crypto, and options
- Account balance, buying power, and position inspection
- Place and cancel market, limit, stop, and trailing-stop orders
- Single-leg and multi-leg options trading (spreads, straddles)
- Crypto market, limit, and stop-limit order support
- Market status and corporate actions data

Setting up with Highlight

This MCP is not yet compatible with Highlight’s one-click setup. However, you can still use it with Highlight by following these steps:

Download and install Highlight from highlightai.com/download
Navigate to the plugins tab and select "Add Custom Plugin"
Configure the plugin with the settings below

Plugin Name Alpaca's Official MCP Server

Command (node, npx, python, etc.)

Please refer to the README for specific instructions on how to obtain API keys or other required environment variables.
Enable "Start Automatically" if you want the plugin to start when Highlight launches

Setting up with Cursor

Open Cursor's settings
Navigate to the MCP section
Click "Add new Global MCP server"
Copy and paste the configuration below based on your operating system

JSON

{
    "mcpServers": {
        "alpaca's official mcp server": {
            "alpaca": {
                "command": "uvx",
                "args": [
                    "alpaca-mcp-server",
                    "serve"
                ],
                "env": {
                    "ALPACA_API_KEY": "your_alpaca_api_key",
                    "ALPACA_SECRET_KEY": "your_alpaca_secret_key"
                }
            }
        }
    }
}

JSON

{
    "mcpServers": {
        "alpaca's official mcp server": {
            "alpaca": {
                "command": "uvx",
                "args": [
                    "alpaca-mcp-server",
                    "serve"
                ],
                "env": {
                    "ALPACA_API_KEY": "your_alpaca_api_key",
                    "ALPACA_SECRET_KEY": "your_alpaca_secret_key"
                }
            }
        }
    }
}

JSON

{
    "mcpServers": {
        "alpaca's official mcp server": {
            "alpaca": {
                "command": "uvx",
                "args": [
                    "alpaca-mcp-server",
                    "serve"
                ],
                "env": {
                    "ALPACA_API_KEY": "your_alpaca_api_key",
                    "ALPACA_SECRET_KEY": "your_alpaca_secret_key"
                }
            }
        }
    }
}

Setting up with Claude Desktop

Open Claude Desktop's settings
Go to the Integrations tab
Click "Add MCP Server"
Use the configuration below based on your operating system

Note: Make sure Claude Desktop is running before attempting to connect.

JSON

{
    "mcpServers": {
        "alpaca's official mcp server": {
            "alpaca": {
                "command": "uvx",
                "args": [
                    "alpaca-mcp-server",
                    "serve"
                ],
                "env": {
                    "ALPACA_API_KEY": "your_alpaca_api_key",
                    "ALPACA_SECRET_KEY": "your_alpaca_secret_key"
                }
            }
        }
    }
}

JSON

{
    "mcpServers": {
        "alpaca's official mcp server": {
            "alpaca": {
                "command": "uvx",
                "args": [
                    "alpaca-mcp-server",
                    "serve"
                ],
                "env": {
                    "ALPACA_API_KEY": "your_alpaca_api_key",
                    "ALPACA_SECRET_KEY": "your_alpaca_secret_key"
                }
            }
        }
    }
}

JSON

{
    "mcpServers": {
        "alpaca's official mcp server": {
            "alpaca": {
                "command": "uvx",
                "args": [
                    "alpaca-mcp-server",
                    "serve"
                ],
                "env": {
                    "ALPACA_API_KEY": "your_alpaca_api_key",
                    "ALPACA_SECRET_KEY": "your_alpaca_secret_key"
                }
            }
        }
    }
}

Setting up with Windsurf

Open Windsurf's preferences
Go to the Integrations section
Click "Add MCP Integration"
Use the configuration below based on your operating system

JSON

{
    "mcpServers": {
        "alpaca's official mcp server": {
            "alpaca": {
                "command": "uvx",
                "args": [
                    "alpaca-mcp-server",
                    "serve"
                ],
                "env": {
                    "ALPACA_API_KEY": "your_alpaca_api_key",
                    "ALPACA_SECRET_KEY": "your_alpaca_secret_key"
                }
            }
        }
    }
}

JSON

{
    "mcpServers": {
        "alpaca's official mcp server": {
            "alpaca": {
                "command": "uvx",
                "args": [
                    "alpaca-mcp-server",
                    "serve"
                ],
                "env": {
                    "ALPACA_API_KEY": "your_alpaca_api_key",
                    "ALPACA_SECRET_KEY": "your_alpaca_secret_key"
                }
            }
        }
    }
}

JSON

{
    "mcpServers": {
        "alpaca's official mcp server": {
            "alpaca": {
                "command": "uvx",
                "args": [
                    "alpaca-mcp-server",
                    "serve"
                ],
                "env": {
                    "ALPACA_API_KEY": "your_alpaca_api_key",
                    "ALPACA_SECRET_KEY": "your_alpaca_secret_key"
                }
            }
        }
    }
}

Setting up with Cline

Open Cline's settings
Navigate to the Integrations section
Click "Add MCP Server"
Copy and paste the configuration below based on your operating system

Note: Make sure to restart Cline after adding the configuration.

JSON

{
    "mcpServers": {
        "alpaca's official mcp server": {
            "alpaca": {
                "command": "uvx",
                "args": [
                    "alpaca-mcp-server",
                    "serve"
                ],
                "env": {
                    "ALPACA_API_KEY": "your_alpaca_api_key",
                    "ALPACA_SECRET_KEY": "your_alpaca_secret_key"
                }
            }
        }
    }
}

JSON

{
    "mcpServers": {
        "alpaca's official mcp server": {
            "alpaca": {
                "command": "uvx",
                "args": [
                    "alpaca-mcp-server",
                    "serve"
                ],
                "env": {
                    "ALPACA_API_KEY": "your_alpaca_api_key",
                    "ALPACA_SECRET_KEY": "your_alpaca_secret_key"
                }
            }
        }
    }
}

JSON

{
    "mcpServers": {
        "alpaca's official mcp server": {
            "alpaca": {
                "command": "uvx",
                "args": [
                    "alpaca-mcp-server",
                    "serve"
                ],
                "env": {
                    "ALPACA_API_KEY": "your_alpaca_api_key",
                    "ALPACA_SECRET_KEY": "your_alpaca_secret_key"
                }
            }
        }
    }
}

Setting up with Goose

Open Goose's preferences
Go to the Integrations tab
Select "MCP Servers"
Click "Add New Server"
Use the configuration below based on your operating system

JSON

{
    "mcpServers": {
        "alpaca's official mcp server": {
            "alpaca": {
                "command": "uvx",
                "args": [
                    "alpaca-mcp-server",
                    "serve"
                ],
                "env": {
                    "ALPACA_API_KEY": "your_alpaca_api_key",
                    "ALPACA_SECRET_KEY": "your_alpaca_secret_key"
                }
            }
        }
    }
}

JSON

{
    "mcpServers": {
        "alpaca's official mcp server": {
            "alpaca": {
                "command": "uvx",
                "args": [
                    "alpaca-mcp-server",
                    "serve"
                ],
                "env": {
                    "ALPACA_API_KEY": "your_alpaca_api_key",
                    "ALPACA_SECRET_KEY": "your_alpaca_secret_key"
                }
            }
        }
    }
}

JSON

{
    "mcpServers": {
        "alpaca's official mcp server": {
            "alpaca": {
                "command": "uvx",
                "args": [
                    "alpaca-mcp-server",
                    "serve"
                ],
                "env": {
                    "ALPACA_API_KEY": "your_alpaca_api_key",
                    "ALPACA_SECRET_KEY": "your_alpaca_secret_key"
                }
            }
        }
    }
}

From the repository

Install prerequisites (Python 3.10+, uv, Alpaca API keys, an MCP client) and run uvx alpaca-mcp-server init or python3 install.py. Then configure your MCP client by adding the server to its JSON config file with your API keys in the env section.

Claude Desktop / Cursor

Paste into your MCP client config file to install this server.

{
    "mcpServers": {
        "alpaca's official mcp server": {
            "alpaca": {
                "command": "uvx",
                "args": [
                    "alpaca-mcp-server",
                    "serve"
                ],
                "env": {
                    "ALPACA_API_KEY": "your_alpaca_api_key",
                    "ALPACA_SECRET_KEY": "your_alpaca_secret_key"
                }
            }
        }
    }
}

McpServers

{
    "alpaca": {
        "command": "uvx",
        "args": [
            "alpaca-mcp-server",
            "serve"
        ],
        "env": {
            "ALPACA_API_KEY": "your_alpaca_api_key",
            "ALPACA_SECRET_KEY": "your_alpaca_secret_key"
        }
    }
}

<p align="center">

</p>

<div align="center">

<a href="https://x.com/alpacahq?lang=en" target="_blank"></a>
<a href="https://www.reddit.com/r/alpacamarkets/" target="_blank"></a>
<a href="https://alpaca.markets/slack" target="_blank"></a>
<a href="https://www.linkedin.com/company/alpacamarkets/" target="_blank"></a>
<a href="https://forum.alpaca.markets/" target="_blank"></a>
<a href="https://docs.alpaca.markets/docs/getting-started" target="_blank"></a>
<a href="https://alpaca.markets/sdks/python/" target="_blank"></a>

</div>

<p align="center">
A comprehensive Model Context Protocol (MCP) server for Alpaca's Trading API. Enable natural language trading operations through AI assistants like Claude, Cursor, and VS Code. Supports stocks, options, crypto, portfolio management, and real-time market data.
</p>

- Prerequisites
- Start here
- Getting Your API Keys
- Switching API Keys for Live Trading
- Quick Local Installation for MCP Server
- Features
- Example Prompts
- Example Outputs
- Available Tools
- MCP Client Configuration
- OAuth Bearer Token Support
- HTTP Transport for Remote Usage
- Disclosure

Prerequisites

You need the following prerequisites to configure and run the Alpaca MCP Server.
- Terminal (macOS/Linux) | Command Prompt or PowerShell (Windows)
- Python 3.10+ (Check the official installation guide and confirm the version by typing the following command: python3 --version in Terminal)
- uv (Install using the official guide)\
Tip: uv can be installed either through a package manager (like Homebrew) or directly using curl | sh.
- Alpaca Trading API keys (free paper trading account available)
- MCP client (Claude Desktop, Cursor, VS Code, etc.)

Note: Using an MCP server requires installation and configuration of both the MCP server and MCP client.

Start here

Note: These steps assume all Prerequisites have been installed.
- Claude Desktop
- Local: Use uvx or install.py → see Claude Desktop Configuration
- Claude Mobile
- Remote Hosting: Deploy to cloud service → see Claude Mobile Configuration
- ChatGPT
- Remote Hosting: Deploy to cloud service → see ChatGPT Configuration
- Cursor
- Local (Cursor Directory): Use the Cursor Directory entry and connect in a few clicks → see Cursor Configuration
- Local (install.py): Use install.py to set up and auto-configure Cursor → see Cursor Configuration
- VS Code
- Local: Use uvx → see VS Code Configuration
- PyCharm
- Local: Use uvx → see PyCharm Configuration
- Claude Code
- Local: Use uvx or Docker → see Claude Code Configuration
- Gemini CLI
- Local: Use uvx → see Gemini CLI Configuration

Note: How to show hidden files
- macOS Finder: Command + Shift + .
- Linux file managers: Ctrl + H
- Windows File Explorer: Alt, V, H
- Terminal (macOS/Linux): ls -a

Getting Your API Keys

1. Visit Alpaca Trading API Account Dashboard
2. Create a free paper trading account
3. Generate API keys from the dashboard

Switching API Keys for Live Trading

To enable live trading with real funds or switch between different accounts, update API credentials in two places:

1. .env file (used by MCP server)
2. MCP client config JSON (used by MCP client like Claude Desktop, Cursor, etc.)

Important: The MCP client configuration overrides the .env file. When using an MCP client, the credentials in the client's JSON config take precedence.

<details>
<summary><b>Step 1: Update MCP Server Config .env file</b></summary>

Method 1: Run the init command again to update your .env file
``

bash

Follow the prompts to update your keys and toggle paper/live trading



uvx alpaca-mcp-server init



Method 2: Manually Update



ALPACA_API_KEY = "your_alpaca_api_key_for_live_account"

ALPACA_SECRET_KEY = "your_alpaca_secret_key_for_live_account"

ALPACA_PAPER_TRADE = False

TRADE_API_URL = None

TRADE_API_WSS = None

DATA_API_URL = None

STREAM_DATA_WSS = None



</details>



<details>

<summary><b>Step 2: Update MCP Client Config Json file</b></summary>



Step 2-1: Edit your MCP client configuration file:

   - Claude Desktop:

~/Library/Application Support/Claude/claude_desktop_config.json (Mac) or %APPDATA%\Claude\claude_desktop_config.json

 (Windows)

   - Cursor:

~/.cursor/mcp.json



   - VS Code:

.vscode/mcp.json (workspace) or user settings.json





Step 2-2: Update the API keys in the

env

 section:



   For uvx installations:

json

   {

     "mcpServers": {

       "alpaca": {

         "command": "uvx",

         "args": ["alpaca-mcp-server", "serve"],

         "env": {

           "ALPACA_API_KEY": "your_alpaca_api_key_for_live_account",

           "ALPACA_SECRET_KEY": "your_alpaca_secret_key_for_live_account"

         }

       }

     }

   }



Then, restart your MCP client (Claude Desktop, Cursor, etc.)

</details>



Quick Local Installation for MCP Server



<details>

<summary><b>Method 1: One-click installation with uvx from PyPI</b></summary>



Note: Using an MCP server requires installation and configuration of both the MCP server and MCP client.

bash

Install and configure



uvx alpaca-mcp-server init





Note: If you don't have

uv yet, install it first and then restart your terminal so uv/uvx

 are recognized. See the official guide: https://docs.astral.sh/uv/getting-started/installation/



Then add to your MCP client config :



Config file locations:

- Claude Desktop:

~/Library/Application Support/Claude/claude_desktop_config.json (Mac) or %APPDATA%\Claude\claude_desktop_config.json

 (Windows)

- Cursor:

~/.cursor/mcp.json (Mac/Linux) or %USERPROFILE%\.cursor\mcp.json

 (Windows)

json

{

  "mcpServers": {

    "alpaca": {

      "command": "uvx",

      "args": ["alpaca-mcp-server", "serve"],

      "env": {

        "ALPACA_API_KEY": "your_alpaca_api_key",

        "ALPACA_SECRET_KEY": "your_alpaca_secret_key"

      }

    }

  }

}





</details>



<details>

<summary><b>Method 2: Install.py for Cursor or Claude Desktop</b></summary>



  Clone the repository and navigate to the directory:

bash

  git clone https://github.com/alpacahq/alpaca-mcp-server.git

  cd alpaca-mcp-server

``
Execute the following commands in your termina

…

No reviews yet — be the first

Use Google, GitHub, or an email account so ratings stay tied to real people.

Email sign in

No reviews posted yet.

Alpaca's Official MCP Server

About

Details

Jump to

Setting up with Highlight

Setting up with Cursor

JSON

JSON

JSON

Setting up with Claude Desktop

JSON

JSON

JSON

Setting up with Windsurf

JSON

JSON

JSON

Setting up with Cline

JSON

JSON

JSON

Setting up with Goose

JSON

JSON

JSON

From the repository

Claude Desktop / Cursor

McpServers

Table of Contents

Prerequisites

Start here

Getting Your API Keys

Switching API Keys for Live Trading

Follow the prompts to update your keys and toggle paper/live trading

Quick Local Installation for MCP Server

Install and configure

Install

About

Details

Jump to

Setting up with Highlight

From the repository

Claude Desktop / Cursor

McpServers

Table of Contents

Prerequisites

Start here

Getting Your API Keys

Switching API Keys for Live Trading

Follow the prompts to update your keys and toggle paper/live trading

Quick Local Installation for MCP Server

Install and configure

Install

More like this

Sequential Thinking

Filesystem

EverArt

Google Drive

Reactive Resume

FastMCP v2 🚀