Quick answer
CurrencyFreaks - CurrencyFreaks wins for most builders because its free tier gives more monthly calls and a clearer upgrade ladder, while Abstract Exchange Rate API is better if you only need a small free quota and can live with a lower request limit.
How the free tiers compare
These two free tiers solve the same problem, but they are set up for different stages of use. Abstract Exchange Rate API is the smaller starter offer: 500 requests per month, 1 request per second, and both live and historical data in the free tier. It looks like a good fit for lightweight apps, prototypes, or low-traffic internal tools. CurrencyFreaks gives 1,000 calls per month, and its paid ladder is much more granular, with clear jumps at 15K, 150K, and 550K calls. The tradeoff is that the free tier is more constrained on freshness and base currency, so it is less suitable if you need broader coverage or more up-to-date rates. If you expect to grow, CurrencyFreaks gives you more runway before you hit the first paid wall.
Abstract Exchange Rate API vs CurrencyFreaks free tier, side by side
| Abstract Exchange Rate APIFTV 50 | CurrencyFreaksFTV 45 | |
|---|---|---|
| Free monthly requestsCurrencyFreaks gives 2x the free request volume. | 500 requests / month | 1,000 API calls / month |
| Rate limitOnly Abstract’s free tier lists a request-per-second cap. | 1 request / second | Not stated in the provided free-tier data |
| Data freshness on free tierAbstract’s free tier includes live access, while CurrencyFreaks free data updates daily. | Live and historical data access within free tier limits | 24-hour exchange rate updates |
| Card required for free tierBoth inputs explicitly say no credit card is required. | No | No |
After you outgrow the free tier
Abstract’s first paid plan is a flat $99/month Standard tier with 60,000 requests and 3 requests per second, then Enterprise by contact sales. CurrencyFreaks starts much lower at $9.99/month Starter for 15K calls, then $49.99/month Growth for 150K and $99.99/month Professional for 550K, with Enterprise by contact sales. For small teams, CurrencyFreaks is far cheaper to leave the free tier. Abstract only becomes competitive if you specifically want its API shape and can justify jumping straight to a $99 plan.
Cost at real usage
| Usage | Abstract Exchange Rate API | CurrencyFreaks |
|---|---|---|
| 15K API calls / monthAbstract’s first paid tier is already 60,000 requests, so 15K is still within the paid Standard bundle if you need more than free. | ~$99/mo | $9.99/mo |
| 60K API calls / monthCurrencyFreaks Growth at 150K covers this usage; Abstract’s Standard tier is exactly 60K. | $99/mo | $49.99/mo |
| 150K API calls / monthAbstract does not provide a public mid-tier above 60K; CurrencyFreaks Growth includes 150K. | ~$99/mo for 60K, then contact sales for more | $49.99/mo |
| 550K API calls / monthCurrencyFreaks Professional includes 550K; Abstract’s public pricing does not show a matching tier. | contact sales | $99.99/mo |
Estimates, not quotes. Usage-based rates change - verify with the vendor's pricing page before committing.
When to pick each one
Pick Abstract Exchange Rate API when…
- You only need a few hundred exchange-rate lookups per month.
- You want live and historical currency data on the free tier.
- You are building a small prototype or demo with very light traffic.
- You want no-card signup and can stay under a 500 request cap.
Pick CurrencyFreaks when…
- You want the larger free quota at 1,000 calls per month.
- You expect to outgrow the free tier and want a clearer upgrade path.
- You need all base currencies, hourly-or-better updates, or more endpoints later.
- You are comparing paid plans and want a cheaper entry point at $9.99/month.
Bottom line
For the most common builder case, CurrencyFreaks is the better choice because it gives you more free calls and a much smoother path after the free tier ends. Abstract Exchange Rate API is the simpler pick only if you need a very small amount of usage and do not mind that the first paid step jumps straight to $99/month. If you are trying to delay spend while still having room to grow, CurrencyFreaks is the safer default.
Read the full listings: Abstract Exchange Rate API and CurrencyFreaks. Scores use the FTV methodology at /ftv. Browse more head-to-heads on /compare, or see the top-ranked free tiers on /top.