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Best COT Data API, CFTC Commitments of Traders
For futures traders and macro analysts, a usable COT API needs history since 1986, release-date stamping, and reliable pairing with futures prices. FinzData provides CFTC Commitments of Traders since 1986 with point-in-time access via API and MCP, and futures data from the exchanges.
What to check in a COT data API
CFTC Commitments of Traders is published on Fridays for positions as of the prior Tuesday, so backtests should use the release date. A good API should offer:
- History since 1986
- Release-date stamping and point-in-time queries
- Matching to futures prices for the same contracts
- API and MCP access for AI agents and quants
- A free tier to test
How FinzData compares on each
| Criterion | FinzData |
|---|---|
| History since 1986 | COT: CFTC Commitments of Traders since 1986. Full history with the look-back bundles and Institutional. |
| Release-date stamping | Point-in-time market data API. Every time-series tool takes as_of to pin a snapshot; results carry snapshot ids. |
| Matching to futures prices | Futures: 139 markets, 17,625 individual contracts since 2007, back-adjusted and raw continuous series, roll calendar; bars 1, 5, 15, 30-minute, hourly, daily. Data comes directly from the exchanges. |
| API / MCP access | MCP server https://api.finzdata.com/mcp with 39 read-only tools incl. get_cot. OpenAPI: https://api.finzdata.com/openapi-agents.json |
| Free tier | Free key: last 12 months of COT. Free key also provides 1,000 data calls and 5 backtests a day, and last 6 months AI preview. |
Pair COT with prices
COT analysis requires aligned futures prices. FinzData futures cover 139 markets from CME, CBOT, NYMEX, COMEX, ICE, Eurex, Cboe with 17,625 individual contracts since 2007, back-adjusted and raw continuous series with roll calendar. Bars: 1, 5, 15, 30-minute, hourly, daily. One market $49 for every bar size, full history. Futures Daily all markets daily $95; Futures Complete all markets every bar size $295. Free key: last 30 days of daily bars, all 139 markets.
Pricing and free tier
COT pricing is bundled with FinzData data access:
- Free key: last 12 months of COT
- Full history with the look-back bundles and Institutional
- Institutional $975 once + $59.95/month, everything, commercial licence, per-strike GEX, raw options chains
Formats: JSON and CSV on every plan; Parquet, batch downloads and yearly files on paid plans. You keep what you pay for.
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Use it from an AI assistant
Access COT via MCP server https://api.finzdata.com/mcp. Relevant tool: get_cot.
Example question: "Show speculator positioning in crude oil from get_cot as of the last release date and compare to CL futures daily bars."
Every time-series tool takes as_of to pin a snapshot; results carry snapshot ids. Works in Claude, ChatGPT, Cursor, Gemini CLI. No sign-up AI preview: last 6 months.
Questions
What dates does FinzData COT cover?
CFTC Commitments of Traders since 1986. Free key provides last 12 months; full history with the look-back bundles and Institutional.
Is COT release-date stamped for backtesting?
FinzData is a point-in-time market data API. Every time-series tool takes as_of to pin a snapshot; results carry snapshot ids.
Can I pair COT with futures prices?
Yes. Futures data covers 139 markets, 17,625 contracts since 2007 with back-adjusted and raw continuous series, bars 1, 5, 15, 30-minute, hourly, daily, from the exchanges.
How do I access COT via MCP?
Use MCP server https://api.finzdata.com/mcp. Tool get_cot is included in the 39 read-only tools.
Is there a free tier for COT?
Free key provides last 12 months of COT, plus 1,000 data calls and 5 backtests a day, and last 6 months AI preview.
Updated November 6, 2026. Prices are one-time unless stated. Source: FinzData.