Five Key Steps to Integrate FMP APIs Without Writing a Single Line of Code

Ever dreamed of accessing real-time stock data or financial statements without coding? It's easy to do with Financial Modeling Prep's (FMP) APIs. This friendly guide shows you how to integrate FMP's data using no-code tools like cURL, Postman, Google Sheets, Make.com, and Retool.

In five easy steps, you'll grab a free API key, test endpoints, connect data to spreadsheets, build automated workflows or dashboards and pull live financial data in minutes — no programming needed. Get ready to dive into FMP's rich datasets with confidence!

Step 1: Sign Up and Get Your FMP API Key

Get started with Financial Modeling Prep's (FMP) API by grabbing your free API key. Sign up on the FMP website, verify your email, and find your key in the dashboard. This key unlocks FMP's data endpoints, including real-time stock prices, financial statements, market news, forex, and crypto data. The free plan allows 250 daily API requests—perfect for testing or small projects.

Keep your API key secure—just like a password—and include it in your requests using (apikey=YOUR_KEY). To protect your usage quota, avoid sharing the key publicly. Once you have your key, you're ready to explore FMP's data—no coding required.

Let's make your first API call!

Step 2: Try the FMP API Using cURL (Without Any Programming)

Now that you have an API key, let's fetch some data using cURL, a lightweight command-line tool. Using cURL is as simple as copying and pasting a command - you don't need to be a developer to do it. It requires no programming, and it's a great way to see the API in action.

Open a terminal (on Windows, Mac, or Linux) or an online cURL tool, and try a command like this:

curl "https://financialmodelingprep.com/api/v3/quote/AAPL?apikey=YOUR_API_KEY"

This cURL request calls FMP's Stock Quote API for Apple Inc. (AAPL) and should return a small JSON snippet with Apple's latest price, volume, change, etc. For example, a response might look like:

[{

"symbol": "AAPL",

"name": "Apple Inc.",

"price": 150.75,

"change": -1.20,

"changesPercentage": -0.79

}]

As you can see, by hitting a simple URL with your API key, you get structured data back. No code, no library - just a URL and output. You can swap the symbol or endpoint to get different data.

Other useful FMP API endpoints you can try via cURL include:

• Stock Quote API - returns live price and trading data for a given stock symbol.
• Income Statement API - fetches a company's income statements (revenue, profit, etc.) in real-time.
• Market Top Gainers API - lists the day's top gaining stocks (the “market movers”) with their price changes.

Example Endpoint: Apple's Income Statement Example

To get the latest income statement for Apple, you could run:

curl "https://financialmodelingprep.com/api/v3/income-statement/AAPL?apikey=YOUR_API_KEY"

This will return Apple's recent income statement data in JSON format. Similarly, `stock_market/gainers` will return the top gainers list. FMP's documentation notes that every endpoint returns JSON by default, and many also support CSV format if needed.

• Expert Tip: You can even paste FMP API URLs into a web browser to see the JSON response. This is a quick way to verify an endpoint's output without any tools at all. Using cURL, however, is more flexible for testing in a script-like manner or integrating into other no-code platforms.

By experimenting with cURL, you've made real API calls without writing any code. You now know how to retrieve data on-demand - next, let's use a GUI tool to explore the API further.

Step 3: Use Postman for No-Code API Testing and Exploration

While cURL is great, you might prefer a visual interface. Postman is a popular API client that enables you to make requests and see responses through a GUI. It's perfect for exploring FMP's API endpoints interactively.

Here's how you can use Postman to explore FMP APIs.

Create a GET Request

In Postman, create a new request and set the method to GET. In the URL field, enter an FMP endpoint of your choice, including your API key. For example:

https://financialmodelingprep.com/api/v3/quote/MSFT?apikey=YOUR_API_KEY

This would retrieve a real-time quote for Microsoft. (You can try any endpoint - replace it with `/stock_market/losers` to see top losers, etc.)

Send the Request

Click Send. Postman will contact the FMP API and fetch the data. You should see the JSON response displayed in Postman's response pane, nicely formatted.

For instance, a list of objects with fields like “symbol”, “price”, “changesPercentage”, etc., will appear for a quote or gainers request. (This is the same data you would see via cURL, but Postman formats it for you.)

Inspect and Iterate

Use Postman's interface to examine the data. You can easily modify query parameters or path (for example, test different stock symbols or endpoints) and resend. No need to write loops or code - just point and click. Postman even allows you to save requests in a collection, so you can build a suite of FMP API queries to run anytime.

• Expert Tip: Postman can import cURL commands directly. If you have a cURL command (like the ones from Step 2), you can import it into Postman (File → Import → Paste Raw Text) and Postman will set up the request for you. This feature makes transitioning from cURL to Postman a breeze in your no-code workflow.

Postman makes it easy to explore how FMP's API responds. It's a great way to get familiar with the structure of FMP's endpoints and the types of data you'll receive. Once you're comfortable previewing responses, the next step is putting that data to work—like pulling it into Google Sheets for analysis or building live dashboards using FMP's no-code integrations.

Step 4: Connect FMP API to Google Sheets

Imagine updating your financial model or stock tracker with live data at the push of a button - all without manual data entry. With FMP's API, you can do exactly that using Google Sheets' no-code capabilities.

Google Sheets Add-On (Built by FMP) makes integration super easy. After installing the free Financial Modeling Prep add-on, you can use custom formulas in your sheet to fetch data.

For example, you might enter a formula like `=FMP("AAPL", "Price")` or similar (the add-on documentation provides specific functions). The add-on handles API calls in the background, so when you refresh or edit the formula, it pulls the latest data into your spreadsheet. No scripting needed!

• Expert Tip: This method is ideal if you prefer a plug-and-play solution. FMP's add-on can retrieve stock prices, fundamentals, etc., directly in cells.

Using Google Sheets for FMP data is powerful because it lets you analyze and visualize data in a familiar environment. You can set up triggers to refresh data periodically or whenever the document opens (using Sheets' features), turning your sheet into a live dashboard. Startup teams love this because it's quick and low-overhead - no servers or heavy BI tools, just a spreadsheet doing API calls in the background.

Excel users - we see you. FMP also has an Excel add-in, so you can leverage similar no-code integration features for the tool of your choice.

Step 5: Build Workflows and Dashboards with No-Code Platforms

At this stage, you've tapped into FMP data via command line, an API client, and a spreadsheet. The final step is to integrate FMP's API into no-code platforms for automation or app-building.

This can unlock rapid prototyping and deployment of financial data-driven applications. We'll highlight two examples - Make.com and Retool - but many other no-code/low-code platforms can work with FMP's API.

Make.com

Make.com - Make.com is a no-code automation platform that lets you connect apps and APIs in a visual workflow. Using Make, you could create scenarios that pull data from FMP and send it elsewhere, all without code.

For example, you can use an HTTP module in Make to GET data from an FMP endpoint (just plug in the URL with your API key). Once the data is fetched (Make will handle the JSON), you can then add modules to process it or pass it on: store the data in Google Sheets, send a Slack alert with the latest stock price, or update a database.

The beauty is the drag-and-drop interface - you define triggers and actions. For instance, you might schedule Make to run every morning, fetch the Market Movers (gainers/losers) data, and email a summary to your team. All of this logic is configured with visual blocks, no traditional coding. It's a fast way to automate financial data workflows.

Retool

Retool is a platform for building internal tools and dashboards quickly. It allows you to connect to REST APIs like FMP's and then use pre-built components (tables, charts, dropdowns) to assemble a UI. In Retool, you can set up FMP as a resource by providing the base API URL and your API key parameter.

For example, configure a query in Retool for the `/quote` endpoint or an `/income-statement` endpoint. Then drag a Table component onto a dashboard and bind it to that query's data. Suddenly, you have a live-updating dashboard showing, say, real-time stock quotes or financial metrics, without writing any frontend code or backend server - Retool handles the API call and data binding.

You can add input fields to change the stock symbol, buttons to refresh data, even combine multiple FMP endpoints (e.g. a form that takes a stock ticker and displays both a price chart and key financial ratios). This empowers non-engineers to create powerful internal tools in hours.

From Quick Wins to Scalable No-Code Solutions

By leveraging these no-code tools, you can go beyond one-off data pulls and create dynamic, automated solutions. Whether it's an alert system for market moves, a live portfolio tracker, or an internal analytics dashboard, you can build it without writing code. This is rapid prototyping at its finest - you get results quickly, and you can always refine or scale up (perhaps moving to code or deeper integration) as needed.

• Expert Tip: FMP provides an interactive API Viewer (Playground) that lets you explore endpoints without writing any code. Simply visit the Playground, enter a stock ticker symbol (e.g., AAPL), and instantly view financial ratios, stock prices, income statements, balance sheets, and more. You can switch between different endpoints in the viewer interface, preview results, and even export data in CSV, JSON, or Excel formats. It's a fantastic tool for prototyping or decision-making. Use it to explore FMP endpoints quickly or refine which API call you'll integrate in your workflow system.

Why FMP Is the Ideal API for No-Code Finance Projects

Integrating Financial Modeling Prep's API without writing code is not only possible - it's straightforward and efficient. We've covered how to get your free API key and make basic requests, then explored cURL and Postman for quick tests, pulled data into Google Sheets for analysis, and even built automated workflows and dashboards using no-code platforms.

These steps open up FMP's rich financial data to anyone. By removing the need for programming, you shorten development cycles and gain the freedom to experiment, prototype, and solve problems in real time.

In today's fast-moving environment, the ability to fetch stock quotes or financial statements with just a URL or a click is a serious advantage for startup teams and analysts alike. No more waiting on engineering—you can access the data you need, when you need it. So go ahead: give it a try and start building with FMP's API.

FAQs

Do I need to know how to program to use the FMP API?

No, you don't. FMP's API can be used through many no-code methods. As we discussed, you can use tools like Postman or cURL to test endpoints without writing any code, or pull data into Google Sheets with built-in functions. There's even an official Google Sheets add-on for FMP that requires zero coding. So while having programming skills can be helpful for advanced projects, you can absolutely use the FMP API without any coding knowledge.

How can I use the FMP API in Google Sheets without coding?

Install the Financial Modeling Prep Google Sheets add-on, which lets you use simple formulas to retrieve data (for example, entering a formula to get a stock price). This is the most user-friendly option.

What data can I get from FMP's API for free, and are there limits?

FMP provides a wide range of data: real-time stock quotes, historical prices, company financial statements (income statement, balance sheet, cash flow), stock market movers (gainers/losers), forex and crypto prices, news feeds, and more. Most of these endpoints are available on the free plan. The free API key gives you 250 requests per day, which is often enough for personal or small-scale use. This resets daily. If you need more data or higher frequency, FMP offers paid plans with larger limits and additional premium data sets. But many users find the free tier sufficient to start with.

How do I get started with FMP API integration on a no-code platform like Make, or Retool?

The general process is: use the platform's feature to make an HTTP request (GET) to the FMP API. For example, in Make.com, you configure the URL and the platform will fetch the JSON. Then you can use subsequent steps to handle that data (e.g., filter it, send emails, update a spreadsheet).

In Retool or similar app builders, you'd add an API resource (point it to `https://financialmodelingprep.com/api/v3` and include your apikey), then you can drag UI components and bind them to that resource's outputs. The specifics vary by platform, but none require writing code - you fill out forms and use graphical interfaces. FMP's API is RESTful and JSON-based, so any tool that can make web requests can integrate with it.

In summary, anything that involves financial data retrieval can likely be streamlined with FMP's API in a no-code fashion - from research reports to trading tools - you are limited only by your creativity. The best part is you can build and iterate quickly without getting bogged down in code syntax or deployment. So, start experimenting and enjoy the flexibility of no-code integration!