Setup Guide

API Key Setup

To look up live share prices in mulga, you'll need a free API key from Finnhub (US stocks) and Alpha Vantage (ASX & other exchanges). Both are free — setup takes about 2 minutes each.

✓ Both services are 100% free
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Your keys stay on your device
API keys you enter in mulga are stored in your browser only — they're never uploaded to mulga's servers or included in cloud sync. They are sent directly from your browser to Finnhub and Alpha Vantage when you look up a stock price, and nowhere else.
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Finnhub
Used for: NASDAQ, NYSE, and most US-listed stocks
1
Go to finnhub.io and create a free account
Click "Get free API key" on their homepage. You only need an email address — no credit card required.
Go to Finnhub →
2
Verify your email
Check your inbox for a verification email from Finnhub and click the confirmation link.
3
Copy your API key
Once logged in, your API key is shown on the dashboard. It looks something like cqvtk3hr01qhb5...
4
Paste into mulga Settings
In mulga, go to Settings → Investments API → Finnhub Key, paste your key, and click Save.
Free tier limits: 60 API calls per minute — more than enough for normal use. mulga only calls the API when you look up a ticker, not in the background.
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Alpha Vantage
Used for: ASX (Australian), LSE (UK), and many global exchanges
1
Get your free key from Alpha Vantage
Visit their API key page — just enter your email and you'll get a key instantly. No account setup required.
Get Alpha Vantage key →
2
Copy your key from the confirmation page
Your key is shown immediately on screen and emailed to you. It looks something like ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOP
3
Paste into mulga Settings
In mulga, go to Settings → Investments API → Alpha Vantage Key, paste your key, and click Save.
ASX ticker format: For Australian stocks, enter the ticker followed by .AX — for example, VAS.AX for Vanguard Australian Shares ETF or CBA.AX for Commonwealth Bank.

Free tier limits: 25 requests per day on the free plan. This is fine for occasional lookups — if you have many holdings you may want to space out your refreshes.

Common questions

Do I need both keys?
Only if you have holdings on both exchanges. If you only hold ASX stocks, you just need Alpha Vantage. If you only hold US stocks, just Finnhub.
Can I use mulga without API keys?
Yes — you can add holdings manually by entering the price yourself. The API keys just enable the "Look Up" button to auto-fetch the current market price so you don't have to type it in.
Are these services safe?
Finnhub and Alpha Vantage are established financial data providers used by thousands of developers. Your key gives read-only access to public market data — there's no way for anyone to access your brokerage account or make trades through these APIs.
Something not working?
Drop us a note at ryan@mulga.app and we'll help you get it sorted.
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