Alpaca Integration

Alpaca Integration

Last updated: Jan 10, 2026

Connect and manage your Alpaca broker account

Connect your Alpaca broker account to RelayDesk

Getting Your Alpaca API Keys

Sign up or log in at alpaca.markets
Go to your Dashboard
Navigate to "Your API Keys" in the sidebar
Generate Paper Trading keys first (recommended)
Copy both API Key and Secret Key
Store them securely

Connecting to RelayDesk

In RelayDesk, go to Settings → Broker Connections
Click "Add Broker Connection"
Select "Alpaca" as broker
Enter your API Key
Enter your Secret Key
Choose "Paper" or "Live" mode
Click "Test Connection"
Click "Save" once verified

API Key Security

Never share your API keys. RelayDesk encrypts them at rest. You can revoke and regenerate keys in Alpaca at any time.

Paper vs Live Trading

Simulated trading with fake money
Same market data and execution as live
Perfect for testing strategies risk-free
Separate API keys from live trading
No financial risk

Real money, real trades
Requires funded Alpaca account
Different API keys than paper
Start with small position sizes
Monitor closely at first

Best Practice

Test for at least 1-2 weeks in paper mode before switching to live trading.

Account Requirements

Minimum $2,000 for margin account (pattern day trading)
Cash account has no minimum but limited day trades
Options trading requires approval (separate application)
Some symbols require higher account minimums

Monitoring Your Connection

RelayDesk shows your connection status in real-time:

Green indicator = Connected
Red indicator = Disconnected or invalid keys
Yellow indicator = Connection issues
Account balance and buying power shown
Pattern Day Trader (PDT) status tracked