Quick answer
Currencyapi.com - Currencyapi.com wins for most builders because its free tier gives more requests, no-card signup, and a cleaner path to paid usage if you need low-cost commercial access.
How the free tiers compare
These two free tiers serve the same basic job, but they diverge on how quickly you outgrow them. Currencyapi.com gives you 300 requests per month, 1 API key, private use, and no credit card requirement, so it is the better fit for small prototypes, personal tools, and early testing. Currencylayer is stricter at 100 API calls and does not clearly waive card entry, but it has a more explicit commercial path and paid plans that add support, source currency switching, conversion features, and higher update frequencies. In practice, Currencyapi is the easier free tier to start with, while Currencylayer is more of a narrow trial that is designed to push you into paid usage sooner. If you are building something that may stay tiny, Currencyapi is the safer default. If you need the paid feature set sooner, Currencylayer is the more feature-rich ladder.
Currencyapi.com vs Currencylayer free tier, side by side
| Currencyapi.comFTV 49 | CurrencylayerFTV 39 | |
|---|---|---|
| Free requestsCurrencyapi.com gives 3x the free request volume. | 300 requests/month | 100 API calls |
| API keysCurrencyapi.com explicitly includes one key. | 1 | Not specified in free tier |
| Commercial use on free tierOnly Currencyapi.com clearly states the free tier is private use only. | No, private use only | Not specified |
| Rate limit on free tierCurrencyapi.com publishes a free-tier per-minute cap. | 10 requests/minute | Not specified |
| Update frequency on free tierBoth free tiers are on daily refresh. | Daily updates | Daily updates |
| Historical rates on free tierBoth include historical access. | Included | Included |
| Credit card required for free tierCurrencyapi.com explicitly says no card is required; Currencylayer does not state this. | No | Unknown |
After you outgrow the free tier
Both products use flat-priced paid tiers with custom enterprise options at the top. Currencyapi.com starts cheaper at $9.99/mo for 15,000 requests, then moves to $39.99/mo and $79.99/mo, with custom pricing beyond that. Currencylayer starts higher at $14.99/mo for 10,000 requests, then $59.99/mo and $99.99/mo, with per-request overage listed on each plan. For small teams, Currencyapi is cheaper at entry and gives more free volume before you pay. Currencylayer costs more sooner, but its ladder is clearer if you need commercial use and feature upgrades.
Cost at real usage
| Usage | Currencyapi.com | Currencylayer |
|---|---|---|
| 300 requests/moBoth stay within free allowances, though Currencyapi.com has more headroom. | Free (within tier) | Free (within tier) |
| 10,000 requests/moCurrencyapi.com’s Small plan includes 15,000 requests; Currencylayer’s Basic includes 10,000 requests. | $9.99/mo | $14.99/mo |
| 100,000 requests/moCurrencyapi.com’s Medium plan includes 600,000 requests. Currencylayer’s Enterprise includes 100,000 requests, with overage charged at +0.0023996 each if you go past it. | $39.99/mo | $59.99/mo |
| 500,000 requests/moCurrencyapi.com’s Medium plan covers this volume. Currencylayer’s Enterprise+ includes 500,000 requests, with overage charged at +0.00079992 each if you exceed it. | $39.99/mo | $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 Currencyapi.com when…
- You are testing a personal app, script, or dashboard and want the most free requests before paying.
- You want to start without entering a credit card.
- You only need private, non-commercial use while you validate the idea.
- You need a simple REST API with latest rates and historical rates on the free tier.
- You expect to upgrade gradually and want a low-cost Small paid plan at $9.99/mo.
Pick Currencylayer when…
- You are okay with a smaller free allowance if you expect to move to paid quickly.
- You need commercial use as soon as you leave the free tier.
- You want paid-plan features like source currency switch and currency conversion.
- You care about support on the paid side, since the free plan includes no support.
- You expect to hit higher request volumes and want a ladder up to 100,000 or 500,000 requests before custom pricing.
Bottom line
For the most common builder case, Currencyapi.com is the better free-tier choice: you get three times the free request volume, no card requirement, and a cheaper first paid step. Currencylayer becomes the better fit if you expect to need commercial use and richer paid features quickly, but its free tier is tighter and its entry price is higher. If you are validating an idea or shipping a small internal tool, Currencyapi.com is the easier place to start and the cheaper one to outgrow.
Read the full listings: Currencyapi.com and Currencylayer. Scores use the FTV methodology at /ftv. Browse more head-to-heads on /compare, or see the top-ranked free tiers on /top.