API Key vs x402 — which is right for you?
Both access the same data. The difference is how you pay and how you connect.
API Key — Track 1
Human-directed AI queries
or developer / power user
You chat with Claude, Cursor, or another AI assistant and ask it financial questions. CDS becomes a native tool the AI calls on your behalf. Also the right choice if you're building pipelines or screening the full 8,500+ company universe programmatically.
- ✓Asking Claude to screen companies or analyze a filing
- ✓Building a financial model or data pipeline
- ✓Querying financial statements in bulk
- ✓Want predictable cost, not per-call surprises
- ✓Want to try CDS free before committing
x402 — Track 2
Autonomous agents & scripts
or pay-as-you-go access
Your code or agent calls the REST API directly — no MCP server, no account. The agent funds itself from a pre-loaded USDC wallet and pays per call automatically. No quota limits, no monthly commitment, no human approval in the loop.
- ✓Autonomous agent running without human oversight
- ✓One-off script — pay only for what you run
- ✓No account or subscription wanted
- ✓Light-to-moderate use where x402 beats Pro on cost
- ✓Building an agent that self-funds its own data access
Side-by-side comparison
| API KeyFree | API KeyPro | x402 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | $0/mo | $9.99/mo | per call |
| Monthly calls included | 100 | 3,000 | unlimited |
| Account required | none | ||
| Credit card | ✕ | ✓ | ✕ |
| MCP tool in Claude / Cursor | ✓ | ✓ | ✕direct HTTP |
| Direct REST API access | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Predictable monthly cost | ✓ | ✓ | ✕ |
| Agent self-payment (no quota) | ✕ | ✕ | ✓ |
| Financial data — 3K calls | over quota | $9.99 ✓ | $15 |
| Search & discovery — 3K calls | over quota | $9.99 | $3.00 ✓ |
Financial data = statements, XBRL timeseries ($0.005/call x402). Search & discovery = company search, metadata, filing search ($0.001/call x402). Pro plan: $0.00333/call blended across all endpoint types.
Pricing math
x402 rates depend on endpoint type. The Pro plan averages out to $0.00333/call across the board.
Search & Discovery — $0.001/call x402
| Calls/mo | Free | Pro | x402 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 100 | $0 | $9.99 | $0.10 |
| 1,000 | over quota | $9.99 | $1.00 |
| 3,000 | over quota | $9.99 | $3.00 |
| 5,000 | over quota | over quota | $5.00 |
| 10,000 | over quota | over quota | $10.00 |
x402 wins at any volume above the free tier — Pro's flat rate never catches up for search-only workloads within its 3K cap.
Financial Data — $0.005/call x402
| Calls/mo | Free | Pro | x402 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 100 | $0 | $9.99 | $0.50 |
| 1,000 | over quota | $9.99 | $5.00 |
| 2,000 | over quota | $9.99 | $10.00 |
| 3,000 | over quota | $9.99 | $15.00 |
| 5,000 | over quota | over quota | $25.00 |
Pro wins from ~2,000 calls up to its 3K cap; beyond that, x402 or a higher tier.
Quick decision guide
I want to ask Claude questions about companies and markets
API Key → API Key (Track 1) — add CDS as an MCP tool, Claude calls it on your behalf.
I'm running an autonomous research agent 24/7
x402 → x402 — agent self-funds from a pre-loaded wallet, no quota ceiling, no human in the loop.
I'm screening thousands of companies on a schedule
API Key → API Key Pro — $0.0029/call blended vs $0.010 x402 for screening; predictable billing.
I'm writing a one-off Python script to pull 10-K data
x402 → x402 Python client — no account, pay only for this run, no monthly commit.
I'm building a product that pulls financial statements for users
API Key → API Key Pro — single credential, wholesale rate, no per-user wallets needed.
I want to explore CDS before committing to anything
API Key → Free API Key — 100 calls/month, no credit card, works immediately in Claude.