Stock market data providers are crucial for making informed trading decisions, offering various data formats and delivery methods to cater to different user needs. Key factors when selecting a provider include the type of data offered, such as real-time or historical, the delivery format compatibility with trading systems, and pricing that suits both retail and enterprise investors. The guide evaluates five leading providers in 2025: Bright Data, Alpha Vantage, Quodd, Polygon.io, and Intrinio, each with unique offerings. Bright Data stands out for its comprehensive toolset and affordability, while Alpha Vantage is ideal for budget-conscious retail traders. Quodd and Intrinio target enterprise clients with extensive data services, whereas Polygon.io is suitable for developers needing low-latency data. These providers offer data in formats like JSON, CSV, and Excel, with various compliance levels and pricing models, emphasizing the importance of matching the provider's offerings with the user's specific trading or analysis needs.