Broker setup · Alpaca
Alpaca multi-account orders in TraderDesk
TraderDesk connects to Alpaca with an API Key ID and Secret Key created in the Alpaca dashboard. It can route US stock and ETF orders, plus listed options where your Alpaca account has options approval. Use paper keys for the first test, then switch to live keys when the workflow is right.
What routes
What can you route on Alpaca?
US stocks and options, paper or live. Segments below are the ones the current build shows. Your account still needs the permissions and data subscriptions the broker requires.
- US stocks and ETFs on Alpaca's trading API.
- Listed options where your Alpaca account has the required options level.
- Paper and live environments, kept separate by their own keys.
- Multiple Alpaca accounts, each added as its own connection.
Setup
How to connect Alpaca to TraderDesk
Four steps. The exact labels differ in the broker's dashboard, but the sequence is the same.
- 01
Open the Alpaca dashboard
Sign in at Alpaca and confirm whether you are in the paper or live environment. The keys are not interchangeable.
- 02
Generate an API key
Create a Key ID and Secret Key. Copy the secret when it is shown; Alpaca will not display it again.
- 03
Add the account in TraderDesk
Choose Alpaca, paste the Key ID and Secret Key, and give the account a label you will recognise on the order ticket.
- 04
Send a small test order
Start in paper, confirm the account reports a result, then repeat with live keys only when you are ready.
Before you go live
- Options require options approval on the Alpaca account; multi-leg orders may need a higher level than single-leg orders.
- Alpaca's free market-data feed is limited. A SIP subscription may be needed for consolidated quotes.
- Alpaca does not offer futures or forex through this connection.
Multi-account
Can you trade several Alpaca accounts at once?
Add each account as its own connection, then tick the accounts you want on the order ticket. Each account reports its own result, so a rejection on one does not hide the outcome on another.
- Every account has its own label on the order ticket.
- The send button states how many accounts will receive the order.
- Results are shown per account after the order is sent.
- Risk limits are applied before routing, on your PC.
Alpaca questions
Common Alpaca questions
Where do I find Alpaca API keys?
In the Alpaca dashboard, open the API keys section for the environment you want — paper or live — and generate a Key ID and Secret Key. The secret is shown once, so store it safely.
Can I use Alpaca paper trading with TraderDesk?
Yes. Paper keys are separate from live keys, so add the paper account as its own connection and test the order flow before switching.
Does TraderDesk support Alpaca options?
Alpaca options appear where the account has options approval. Approval levels and permitted strategies are set by Alpaca, not by TraderDesk.
Why is my Alpaca quote delayed?
Market data entitlements are set by Alpaca. The free feed is not a full consolidated tape; a SIP subscription may be required for real-time quotes.
Other connections
Compare the other broker setups
GET STARTED
Try the Alpaca workflow with demo accounts.
Download the Windows build, practise on the demo accounts, then connect a paper or sandbox account before using live credentials.