Connect Alpaca to TensorTrader: APCA key id + secret, paper first

Alpaca and TensorTrader

Alpaca is a commission-free API broker for US stocks and ETFs, with crypto spot and a full paper-trading environment.

This guide shows exactly what Alpaca needs from you, how to create it without withdrawal permission, how to save it in TensorTrader on paper first, and what TensorTrader can do on Alpaca today. Once connected, TradingView alerts can size, place and protect spot orders on your own Alpaca account.

At a glance

status

Live-ready, paper first

type

CEX

markets

spot

venue max leverage

1x

credential

APCA key id + secret (paper)

Create a trade-only Alpaca key

1. 1Sign in to the Alpaca paper dashboard (paper-api, not live).
2. 2Open API Keys and generate a paper key pair.
3. 3Paste APCA key id and secret below. Paper first — live needs a later opt-in.

allow

Paper trading API

never

Live key until you explicitly opt in later · Withdrawals · Transfers / internal sends · Your login password or 2FA codes

• Alpaca API page ↗

Save the Alpaca key in TensorTrader

Verification is a real call to the exchange, not a format check. A key that verifies but reads a zero balance usually points at the wrong wallet (spot instead of futures) or an unfunded demo account.

1. 1Sign in and open Settings (the tab on the right edge), then the Exchange Auth tab.
2. 2Pick Alpaca from the venue list.
3. 3Leave the key marked as testnet / paper. New keys always start there; live is a separate opt-in after preflight.
4. 4Paste the API key and the API secret.
5. 5On a live-ready venue, testnet credentials save and verify on their own a moment after you stop typing ("Paper/testnet credentials save automatically"). Elsewhere, press Save & Verify. The status turns green and your balance appears when the key works.
6. 6If the venue offers more than one wallet or account, pick the one TensorTrader should trade from in the wallet picker.

What works on Alpaca today

Alpaca passed TensorTrader's parity checklist: balances, margin, fills, reconcile and fill-based profit booking all verified on paper before the venue was switched on.

key storage + verification

Yes: the key is checked with a real call to the exchange.

TradingView alert execution

Yes, paper first.

live-ready (paper-first parity checklist)

Yes.

paper / testnet path

Alpaca paper trading (paper-api.alpaca.markets). Live needs an explicit opt-in.

If the Alpaca key does not verify

TensorTrader treats authentication errors as errors and stops. It never reads a dead Alpaca key as an empty account.

invalid key

Usually a live key saved as testnet, or the reverse. Match the key to the environment.

IP restricted

The key is locked to other IP addresses; clear the allow-list or add the server’s outbound IP.

zero balance

The key works but the account or wallet it trades is empty, for example funds in spot instead of futures.

permission denied

Trade permission is off; edit the key on the exchange and enable trading (never withdrawals).

Your first Alpaca order from the Chrome extension

Orders reach Alpaca through TradingView alerts. The TensorTrader extension builds those alerts for you: open TradingView, open the extension side panel, and use the Batch Create tab. Pick this Alpaca key in step 1 · Exchanges, type your tokens, choose an indicator or strategy from your TradingView favorites, review the plan and press Create.

When an alert fires, TensorTrader sizes the order, clamps leverage to the lower of your policy and the venue maximum, places it on your key and shows the fill on your dashboard.

• Step-by-step: creating orders with the Chrome extension →
• Batch Create strategies and indicators explained →

Beta Pioneer: 90 days, plus seats to share

A verified trade-only Alpaca key makes you a Beta Pioneer: your free beta runs 90 days instead of 30, and you get an invite code with 90-day seats for other traders. The code has 5 seats while we are still finishing a venue, and 2 once it is complete.

Find the code under Settings → Community and use "Copy invite link". Each seat gives a new account the same 90-day beta.

Frequently asked questions

Does TensorTrader need withdrawal permission on Alpaca?

No. Leave withdrawals and transfers off. TensorTrader only needs to trade and read your account.

Can I test Alpaca without real money?

Alpaca paper trading (paper-api.alpaca.markets). Live needs an explicit opt-in.

Keep reading

• TradingView webhook automation: from alert to exchange order

  Everything about automating TradingView: alert types, webhook JSON, plan limits, building hundreds of alerts with the Chrome extension, managing them, and executing on 30 exchanges and brokers, paper first.

• Trade-only API keys: which permissions to enable, and which never to enable

  A plain guide to exchange API key permissions for trading bots: what trade, read, transfer and withdraw mean, the passphrase exchanges, IP allow-lists and DEX agent keys.

• Paper trading and testnets on every exchange TensorTrader supports

  Which crypto exchanges and brokers offer a testnet, demo or paper environment, how TensorTrader uses each one, and which venues have no paper path at all.