Alpaca Integration
Connect and manage your Alpaca broker account
Connect your Alpaca broker account to RelayDesk
Before connecting your broker, ensure you have an existing account or sign up at alpaca.markets.
Connect your Alpaca account to RelayDesk
- 1
Open Settings
In RelayDesk, click your user avatar and select Settings.
RelayDesk → Avatar → Settings - 2
Go to Broker Connections
In Settings, click Broker Connections.
Settings → Broker Connections - 3
Start Alpaca OAuth
Click Connect with Alpaca. You will be redirected to Alpaca’s login page (alpaca.markets). No API keys are entered manually.
Click: Connect with Alpaca - 4
Log in and authorize
Log in to your Alpaca account, select which environments to authorize (paper, live, or both), then click Allow.
Select: Paper / Live → Allow - 5
Verify the connection
You are returned to RelayDesk. In Broker Connections, locate the new Alpaca entry, open its actions menu, and click Test Connection to confirm it is active.
Broker Connections → ⋯ → Test Connection
Paper vs. live trading in RelayDesk with Alpaca
| Feature | Paper Trading | Live Trading |
|---|---|---|
| Funds & risk | Simulated funds; no real capital at risk. | Uses real funds from your funded Alpaca account. |
| Execution & data | Same market data and execution path as live, but simulated fills. | Real orders routed to the market via Alpaca. |
| Authorization in RelayDesk | Authorized separately via OAuth and appears as its own broker connection. | Authorized separately via OAuth and appears as a distinct broker connection. |
| Recommended use | Best for testing and validating bot configurations before risking capital. | Use once you are confident in your strategy and ready to trade live. |
| Bot assignment | Bots can be run against paper accounts independently. | Bots can be run against live accounts independently. |
Alpaca account requirements for use with RelayDesk
Account requirements summary
• Margin account: $2,000 minimum balance (required for pattern day trading). • Cash account: no minimum, but limited to three day trades per rolling five-day period. • Options trading: requires separate approval from Alpaca; apply in your Alpaca account settings before routing options orders through RelayDesk.
Monitoring and reconnecting your Alpaca connection
• Status indicator: Green means the Alpaca connection is active; red indicates disconnected or invalid authorization. • Where to see it: Status, account balance, and buying power are shown on the broker connection card on your dashboard and in Settings → Broker Connections. • If authorization expires or is revoked: Bots assigned to that connection stop executing. Go to Settings → Broker Connections, locate the Alpaca connection, and use Test Connection or reconnect via OAuth as prompted.
RelayDesk connects to Alpaca exclusively via OAuth. You never enter Alpaca API keys manually. Each Alpaca environment (paper and live) is authorized separately and appears as its own broker connection, allowing you to run and test bots independently on simulated or real capital.
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