Fintech App Development: Navigating Market Data Integration

By Intrinio
February 18, 2025

Building a fintech app from the ground up? 

Whether you're creating a trading platform, an investment tool, or a next-gen financial analytics app, one thing is certain: you need reliable, real-time market data. But here’s the catch—integrating market data isn’t as simple as it sounds. Data licensing, API selection, scalability, and cost management can all make or break your fintech product.

In this article, we’ll walk you through:

  • How to choose the right market data APIs for your fintech app.
  • The biggest challenges fintech founders face when integrating data.
  • Best practices to scale your app efficiently.
  • And how Intrinio’s APIs can help you get started—fast.

Types of Market Data Fintech Apps Need to Include

If you’re building a fintech app, odds are you need market data. It powers everything from stock tickers and portfolio tracking to algorithmic trading and AI-driven insights.

The most common types of market data fintech apps need include:

  • Real-Time Stock Prices – Essential for trading platforms & live analytics

  • Historical Market Data – Typically used for backtesting and data modeling

  • Fundamentals & Earnings Data – Key for investment research apps

  • Options & ETF Data – Critical for derivatives trading and portfolio management

  • And lastly,  Crypto & Forex – For global fintech products and multi-asset platforms

The problem? Getting reliable, affordable, and properly licensed market data is one of the biggest hurdles fintech developers face.

Common Challenges of Market Data Integration

So what makes market data integration so tricky? Here are the three biggest challenges fintech startups run into:

Licensing Complexities

Many data vendors have restrictive or expensive licensing agreements. You need to make sure you can legally use the data in your app before you launch.

Scalability Issues

As your user base grows, so do your data needs. If your API provider can’t handle real-time requests at scale, your app performance will suffer.

High Costs & Hidden Fees

Traditional data providers charge per user, per API call, or per dataset—making it tough for startups to predict costs and scale affordably.

If you’re building a fintech app, navigating these challenges early will save you time, money, and a ton of frustration in the long run.

Finding a Market Data API Provider

Not all market data APIs are created equal. When choosing a provider, look for these three key factors:

  • Ease of Integration – Does the API have clear documentation, SDKs, and support? Can you test it quickly?

  • Scalability – Will the API perform well when your user base grows? Does it offer real-time data at low latency?

  • Flexible Licensing & Pricing – Does the provider offer startup-friendly licensing with predictable pricing models?

This is where Intrinio’s APIs shine.

Introducing Intrinio’s Market Data APIs

At Intrinio, we’ve built market data APIs specifically for fintech companies.

  • Easy-to-Use APIs – With REST and WebSocket options, clean documentation, and direct developer support.

  • Scalable Infrastructure – Our APIs power everything from small startups to enterprise trading platforms.

  • Startup-Friendly Licensing – Transparent pricing, predictable costs, and no hidden fees.

Getting Started with Intrinio

If you’re building a fintech app, we make it easy to get started. Ready to integrate real-time market data into your fintech app? 

Here’s how to get started today:

  • Step 1: Head to our website and explore our datasets.

  • Step 2: Sign up for a free trial to test our APIs in your app.

  • Step 3: Connect with our team to discuss licensing options that fit your needs.

  • Step 4: Launch and scale your fintech app with confidence.

Building a fintech app? Don’t waste time on unreliable, overpriced data. Try Intrinio’s market data for free and see how easy it is to integrate real-time and historical data into your app.

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