TrueLayer Data API

Overview

TrueLayer Data API is a bank-data integration service for businesses building financial products. It suits teams that need identity, account, card and transaction data across integrated banks; production access requires a commercial agreement and KYB/KYC.

Its range of data and connection methods make it a practical foundation for account verification, aggregation and related services. The free Sandbox is useful for mock-data testing, but it cannot provide production access.

Key features

Bank and card data

The API covers identity, account, credit card, transaction, balance, standing-order and direct-debit data, returned in JSON with a real-time refresh frequency. Account details can include the account holder’s name, account number and IBAN. Card-level data can include the network, last four digits and name on the card, as well as balances and transactions. This breadth can support affordability checks, rewards, insights and money management, but the API supplies data to products built by its customers rather than offering a consumer finance app itself.

Connection and authentication

Connection options include redirect, embedded, app-to-app and API-only/custom UI flows. Teams can use TrueLayer’s customizable user journey; regulated customers can also build a custom authentication flow. Non-regulated customers and agents of TrueLayer customers must use TrueLayer’s flow, which limits control over the authentication experience for those teams.

Developer and security provisions

Client libraries are available for Node.js, Python, Java and .NET, alongside a Web SDK, mobile SDKs and hosted payment-page options. TrueLayer requires HTTPS for API connections and says data is encrypted at rest and in transit using protocols such as TLS 1.2. Its stated credentials include ISO 27001 certification, SOC 2 Type 2 coverage for 1 February 2023 to 31 January 2024, and Cyber Essentials and Cyber Essentials Plus accreditation. TrueLayer states it is regulated by the UK Financial Conduct Authority, and that TrueLayer (Ireland) Ltd is authorised by the Central Bank of Ireland.

Identical Data API requests are cached for one hour, and persistently unreasonable request volumes may be throttled or blocked. That makes the real-time refresh designation subject to a meaningful constraint for repeat requests. Support runs Monday to Friday, 8 AM to 8 PM GMT, via Help Centre chat and tickets.

Pricing

The Sandbox is the right starting point for integration work that can use mock data. Businesses moving beyond testing need a commercial agreement and verification, with production pricing based on volume and use case rather than a fixed public rate. This is a poor fit for teams that need a free production tier or a predictable published price before engaging commercially.

Platforms

TrueLayer lists Android, iOS, web and API support. The API is the core integration route, with web and mobile SDKs and hosted payment-page options for front-end work.

Who it's for

TrueLayer Data API is best for businesses building financial services that need bank and card data across integrated banks, including verification, aggregation, affordability and money-management use cases. It is less suited to individual consumers seeking a ready-made personal finance app, or to non-regulated teams that require a fully custom authentication journey.

Pros and cons

• Broad financial-data coverage: Identity, account, card, transaction and payment-account data can support several kinds of financial products through one API.
• Multiple integration paths: Redirect, embedded, app-to-app and API-only/custom UI options accommodate different connection designs.
• Developer choices: Four client-library languages plus web and mobile SDKs give engineering teams several integration starting points.
• Sandbox has a hard boundary: It supports mock-data testing only, so validating real production behavior requires moving to a commercial arrangement.
• Authentication flexibility is conditional: Only regulated customers may use a custom flow; non-regulated customers and agents must use TrueLayer’s customizable journey.
• Repeat requests are constrained: A one-hour cache for identical requests and possible throttling for unreasonable volumes matter to systems expecting unrestricted refreshes.

Alternatives

Trustly is another paid option across Android, API, iOS and web; choose it for merchant Trustly products if that product focus suits your needs, though merchant pricing is also unpublished and requires contacting sales.

Volt is a paid option for Android, API, iOS and web; consider it when comparing another broad-platform service with custom pricing.

Brite Payments is a paid alternative for Android, iOS and web.

Noda is a paid API and web option with transaction-based pricing tailored to business needs, so it may suit buyers who prefer that pricing basis to TrueLayer’s volume- and use-case-based production pricing.

Salt Edge Payment Initiation is a paid API and web option with pricing available through sales.

Tarabut Gateway Account Information is a paid web option.

Fire Payments API is a paid Android, API, iOS and web option without a free plan; consider it if you do not need a free mock-data sandbox.

Lean Payments is a paid web option.

For broader comparisons, browse Open Banking Payment Platforms or Bank Connectivity Software.

Verdict

Choose TrueLayer Data API if you are building a financial product that needs varied bank and card data, multiple integration routes and developer libraries. Its main advantage is the breadth of data and implementation options; its main drawback is that production access depends on commercial approval and KYB/KYC, with pricing tied to volume and use case. Teams that need only mock-data development can start free, while those needing production without a commercial commitment should look elsewhere.