10 Best Currency Exchange API Options for Developers (2026)

If you are building a financial app, an e-commerce checkout, or an analytics dashboard, you need reliable exchange rate data. Hard-coding rates or scraping them from a website is slow, fragile, and a support nightmare. A currency exchange API solves this by delivering live, accurate FX data to your application on demand.

This guide explains what a currency conversion API is, how it works, which features actually matter, and compares the 10 best currency exchange APIs available to developers in 2026 -- starting with Exchange Rate API , which offers real-time rates from Reuters/Refinitiv, official SDKs, and a generous free tier with no credit card required.

What Is a Currency Conversion API?

A currency conversion API is a web service that returns live or historical exchange rate data over HTTPS in a machine-readable format -- usually JSON. Your application sends a request (e.g. "USD to EUR"), and the API responds with the current mid-market rate pulled from its data feeds.

Instead of maintaining your own pipeline of bank feeds, FX aggregators, and crypto exchanges, you integrate one REST endpoint and let the provider handle the data plumbing.

Why Developers Need a Currency API

• Localized pricing -- display product prices in the visitor's local currency to reduce cart abandonment.
• Multi-currency billing -- invoice SaaS customers in their own currency while reporting in a single base.
• Financial reporting -- convert foreign transactions to the reporting currency at historical rates.
• Trading and analytics -- feed dashboards, screeners, and backtests with live FX and crypto data.
• Cross-border payouts -- calculate accurate settlement amounts for marketplaces and payroll systems.

How a Currency API Works

1. Your application sends an HTTPS request with a source currency, target currencies, and an API key.
2. The provider's server looks up the latest rates from aggregated data sources (banks, interbank feeds, exchanges).
3. The server returns a JSON response with the requested rates and a timestamp.
4. Your application caches or uses the rate to convert amounts.

Common Endpoint Types

• Latest Rates -- the most recent exchange rates for one or many currency pairs.
• Historical Rates -- rates on a specific past date, useful for accounting and charting.
• Time Series -- a range of daily rates between two dates for trend analysis.
• Convert -- a convenience endpoint that does the math for you.
• Fluctuation -- the change, percentage change, and high/low over a period.

What Makes a Great Currency API

• Accurate data sources -- interbank feeds, Reuters/Refinitiv, central banks, or top-tier aggregators.
• Update frequency -- real-time tiers drop to 60 seconds or faster.
• Coverage -- 150+ fiat currencies plus metals and crypto where relevant.
• Transparent pricing -- a real free tier, no hidden fees, no credit-card walls.
• Official SDKs -- so you don't write HTTP plumbing.
• Clean JSON responses and strong documentation.
• Security -- HTTPS, scoped API keys, reasonable rate limits.

The 10 Best Currency Exchange APIs in 2026

1. Exchange Rate API -- The Best Currency Exchange API for Developers

Exchange Rate API delivers real-time mid-market exchange rates for 160+ currencies , sourced from Reuters (Refinitiv) and interbank market feeds. It is purpose-built for developers: a clean REST API, official SDKs for JavaScript, Python, and PHP, and a free plan that does not ask for a credit card.

Highlights: 160+ currencies, 60-second updates, Reuters/Refinitiv sourcing, official SDKs, flat JSON responses, HTTPS-only, free tier with no credit card.

curl -X GET "https://api.exchange-rateapi.com/v1/rates?source=USD⌖=EUR" \
  -H "Authorization: Bearer era_live_your_api_key"

Best for -- fintech apps, SaaS billing, e-commerce localization, and any developer who wants real-time data without signup hoops.

2. CurrencyFreaks

Covers 1,000+ symbols including fiats, metals, and hundreds of cryptocurrencies. Update frequency ranges from 24 hours on the free plan down to 60 seconds on the Professional tier. A solid all-rounder if breadth of crypto coverage matters more than depth of FX sourcing.

3. Fixer

Delivers FX rates through a clean JSON API, with historical data going back to 1999 and sourcing aligned with the European Central Bank. The free plan is capped at 100 calls/month with hourly updates -- suitable mainly for prototypes.

4. ExchangeRate-API

Developer-friendly API with 161 currencies and a 1,500 request/month free tier. Paid plans bring hourly and 5-minute updates. Straightforward to integrate and well-documented.

5. Open Exchange Rates

A long-running provider with 200+ currencies and a large ecosystem of open-source client libraries. The free tier is hourly-updated and capped at 1,000 requests.

6. CurrencyLayer

Part of the APILayer network; 168 currencies and metals with a familiar endpoint structure. Free tier is limited to 100 calls/month.

7. XE

A well-known brand with 30+ years of FX history and 170+ currencies. Pricing is annual and geared toward enterprises rather than indie developers, with plans starting in the high hundreds per year.

8. CurrencyAPI

Straightforward REST API covering 170+ fiat currencies and cryptocurrencies, with sandbox access on paid tiers and 60-second updates at higher plans.

9. Alpha Vantage

Broader market-data API covering stocks, forex, crypto, ETFs, and commodities, plus 60+ technical indicators. Rate limits on the free tier are low but cross-asset coverage is unmatched in this list.

10. ExchangeRate.host

Simple, fast forex and crypto API with 19 years of historical data, 168+ symbols, and a free plan. Paid tiers unlock higher request limits and faster updates.

Comparison Table

How to Choose the Right API

• Real-time trading or pricing -- pick a provider with 60-second updates (Exchange Rate API, CurrencyFreaks Pro, XE).
• Accounting and reporting -- historical endpoints and audit-grade sources matter more than latency.
• Crypto-first apps -- CurrencyFreaks or CurrencyAPI for breadth; Exchange Rate API if you need FX + metals.
• Prototypes and hobby projects -- prefer free tiers without credit-card walls (Exchange Rate API, ExchangeRate.host).
• Multi-asset dashboards -- Alpha Vantage is the clear choice for equities + FX + crypto in one API.

Getting Started with Exchange Rate API

1. Register at exchange-rateapi.com/register -- no credit card required.
2. Copy your API key from the dashboard.

3. Install an SDK or use curl:

   npm install @exchangerateapi/sdk

   import ExchangeRateAPI from '@exchangerateapi/sdk';

   const client = new ExchangeRateAPI('era_live_your_api_key');
   const rate = await client.getRate('USD', 'EUR');
   console.log(1 USD = ${rate} EUR);

That is it -- you have live FX data in your application, sourced from the same feeds Bloomberg and Google Finance use.

FAQs

How do I start with a free currency API?

Sign up for the provider's free plan, get an API key, and send a request to the latest-rates endpoint using curl or your language's HTTP client.

Which languages can I use?

Any language that can make an HTTPS request. Exchange Rate API ships official SDKs for JavaScript/TypeScript, Python, and PHP.

Can I get both real-time and historical rates?

Yes -- quality APIs expose both. Historical endpoints usually accept a YYYY-MM-DD date parameter.

Do free tiers support cryptocurrency?

Some do (CurrencyFreaks, CurrencyAPI). Always check the documentation for supported symbols before committing.

How often are rates updated?

Free tiers typically refresh daily or hourly. Paid tiers drop to 60 seconds or faster. Exchange Rate API updates every 60 seconds.

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