OilPriceAPI vs Quandl (Nasdaq Data Link)

Looking for a Quandl alternative for oil and commodity price data? This guide compares OilPriceAPI with Quandl (now Nasdaq Data Link) to help you choose the right solution for your oil and energy data needs. See how companies use OilPriceAPI for commodities trading, aviation fuel management, and fleet cost tracking.

Overview

Quandl was acquired by Nasdaq in 2018 and rebranded as Nasdaq Data Link. While it remains a comprehensive financial data platform covering stocks, futures, and economic indicators, its commodity data offerings have become more complex to navigate and increasingly enterprise-focused. OilPriceAPI provides a focused, developer-friendly alternative specifically designed for oil and commodity price data.

Feature Comparison

Why Developers Switch from Quandl to OilPriceAPI

1. Simpler API Design

Quandl requires navigating multiple dataset codes and understanding different data structures for each source. OilPriceAPI provides a unified endpoint structure:

Quandl approach:

# Different endpoints and formats for different oil datasets
curl "https://data.nasdaq.com/api/v3/datasets/OPEC/ORB.json?api_key=YOUR_KEY"
curl "https://data.nasdaq.com/api/v3/datasets/CHRIS/CME_CL1.json?api_key=YOUR_KEY"

OilPriceAPI approach:

# Consistent endpoint for all oil prices
curl "https://api.oilpriceapi.com/v1/prices/latest" \
  -H "Authorization: Token YOUR_API_KEY"

2. Real-Time Data Access

OilPriceAPI provides near real-time price updates throughout the trading day. Quandl's commodity data is predominantly end-of-day, requiring additional data sources for intraday applications.

3. Transparent, Affordable Pricing

Quandl's transition to Nasdaq Data Link brought enterprise-focused pricing that can be opaque and expensive for smaller projects. OilPriceAPI offers clear, tiered pricing starting at $9/month.

4. Oil-Specific Focus

While Quandl covers thousands of financial datasets, OilPriceAPI focuses exclusively on oil and related commodities. This specialization means:

• Curated data sources for oil market accuracy
• Purpose-built endpoints for common oil data use cases
• Expert support familiar with oil industry terminology
• Faster feature development for oil-specific needs

Data Coverage Comparison

OilPriceAPI Coverage

• Brent Crude Oil
• WTI Crude Oil
• OPEC Basket
• Natural Gas
• Heating Oil
• Gasoline (RBOB)
• Related energy commodities

Quandl Coverage

• Broader financial markets (stocks, bonds, futures)
• Oil data scattered across multiple datasets
• Historical prices often separate from real-time

Migration Guide: Quandl to OilPriceAPI

Migrating from Quandl to OilPriceAPI is straightforward. Here's how to update your code:

Step 1: Get Your API Key

1. Sign up at oilpriceapi.com/signup
2. Navigate to Dashboard > API Keys
3. Create a new API key

Step 2: Update Your API Calls

Python Migration:

# Before (Quandl)
import quandl
quandl.ApiConfig.api_key = "YOUR_QUANDL_KEY"
data = quandl.get("OPEC/ORB")

# After (OilPriceAPI)
import requests

response = requests.get(
    'https://api.oilpriceapi.com/v1/prices/latest',
    headers={'Authorization': 'Token YOUR_OILPRICE_KEY'},
    params={'by_code': 'OPEC_BASKET'}
)
data = response.json()

JavaScript Migration:

// Before (Quandl)
const response = await fetch(
  `https://data.nasdaq.com/api/v3/datasets/OPEC/ORB.json?api_key=${QUANDL_KEY}`
);

// After (OilPriceAPI)
const response = await fetch('https://api.oilpriceapi.com/v1/prices/latest', {
  headers: { 'Authorization': `Token ${OILPRICE_API_KEY}` }
});

Step 3: Map Dataset Codes

Step 4: Adjust Response Handling

OilPriceAPI returns consistent JSON with a predictable structure:

{
  "status": "success",
  "data": {
    "price": 78.45,
    "currency": "USD",
    "code": "BRENT",
    "created_at": "2024-01-15T14:30:00Z"
  }
}

When to Choose Each Option

Choose OilPriceAPI if:

• You primarily need oil and energy commodity prices
• Real-time or near real-time data is important
• You want simple, predictable pricing
• Developer experience and quick integration matter
• You're building a startup or mid-size application
• You need integrations with Power BI, Tableau, or Google Sheets

Choose Quandl/Nasdaq Data Link if:

• You need data across many asset classes (stocks, bonds, options)
• Your organization already has an enterprise Nasdaq agreement
• You require specific historical datasets unique to Quandl
• Data breadth is more important than oil-specific depth

Technical Support Comparison

Get Started Today

Ready to try OilPriceAPI as your Quandl alternative? Start with our free tier to test the API:

1. Create a free account
2. Get your API key instantly
3. Make your first request in minutes

curl "https://api.oilpriceapi.com/v1/prices/latest" \
  -H "Authorization: Token YOUR_API_KEY"

Our team is available to help with migration questions and can assist with mapping your existing Quandl integration to OilPriceAPI endpoints.

Related Resources

• Commodities Trading API - Trading and analytics data
• Aviation Jet Fuel API - Jet fuel pricing
• Fleet Management API - Fleet fuel costs
• Power BI Integration - Build analytics dashboards
• Tableau Integration - Visual analytics
• Google Sheets Integration - Spreadsheet data import
• Python Developer Guide - Python integration
• R Developer Guide - R integration for analytics
• Alpha Vantage Alternative - Compare with Alpha Vantage
• EIA Alternative - Compare with EIA data
• API Authentication - Secure API access

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I migrate from Quandl to OilPriceAPI?

Migration from Quandl (Nasdaq Data Link) is straightforward:

1. Sign up at oilpriceapi.com/signup and get your API key
2. Map your dataset codes using the table in our migration guide above (e.g., OPEC/ORB becomes OPEC_BASKET)
3. Update your API calls to use OilPriceAPI's consistent endpoint structure with header-based authentication
4. Adjust response parsing to use our standardized JSON format with numeric types and ISO timestamps

Most migrations can be completed in under an hour. Our support team can help map any Quandl datasets not listed in the guide.

What's the pricing difference between OilPriceAPI and Quandl?

OilPriceAPI starts at $0/month (free tier with 1,000 requests) compared to Quandl's enterprise-focused pricing which often starts at $500+/month for commodity data access. Paid plans start at $9/month for 10,000 requests. You only pay for what you need, with no annual contracts required for self-service tiers.

Does OilPriceAPI have the same data coverage as Quandl?

OilPriceAPI focuses specifically on oil and energy commodities, providing deeper coverage in this domain including Brent, WTI, OPEC Basket, natural gas, and refined products. Quandl covers a broader range of financial data (stocks, bonds, futures), but its oil data is scattered across multiple datasets with varying formats. If you primarily need oil prices, OilPriceAPI offers more consistent, curated data.

Can I try OilPriceAPI before committing?

Yes, our free tier includes 1,000 API requests per month with no credit card required. Test all endpoints before upgrading. This is enough to thoroughly validate that OilPriceAPI meets your needs before migrating from Quandl.