Quick answer
FXRatesAPI - FXRatesAPI wins for most builders because its free tier is less generous on raw requests but gives broader endpoint coverage and a clearer upgrade path if you expect to scale past a small prototype.
How the free tiers compare
These two free tiers are close on paper, but they favor different builder shapes. ExchangeRate-API gives you more breathing room on the free plan with 1.5K requests per month, plus relaxed quota enforcement, email support, historical data, and richer service commitments. Its tradeoff is slower data freshness and a simpler product shape. FXRatesAPI is tighter on volume at 1,000 requests per month, but it offers a more explicit multi-tier ladder and broader endpoint-oriented packaging, which matters if you need conversion or timeseries work later. Both start at $10/month, so the difference is less about entry price and more about how quickly each free tier runs out and what you get when it does.
ExchangeRate-API vs FXRatesAPI free tier, side by side
| ExchangeRate-APIFTV 52 | FXRatesAPIFTV 52 | |
|---|---|---|
| Free requests per monthExchangeRate-API gives the larger free monthly allowance. | 1.5K | 1,000 |
| Free update frequencyFXRatesAPI is fresher on the free plan for latest rates. | Once per day | Hourly updates for latest data |
| Free endpoint coverageFXRatesAPI is more explicitly endpoint-driven in the plan text. | Core currency conversion API with historical data | Access to latest, currencies, and historical/conversion/timeseries listed under the free plan |
| First paid request quotaBoth first paid tiers are $10/month, but ExchangeRate-API includes more volume at that level. | 30,000 requests/month | 10k requests/month |
| Highest plan shownFXRatesAPI extends to an unlimited flat plan; ExchangeRate-API tops out at the Business tier in the provided data. | Business - 125k requests/month | Unlimited - unlimited requests/month |
After you outgrow the free tier
Both products use flat monthly pricing after the free tier. The first paid tier is $10/month for each, but ExchangeRate-API gives 30k requests at that level while FXRatesAPI gives 10k. At the next tier, both are $30/month, but FXRatesAPI jumps to 500k requests and then adds an $80 unlimited plan. ExchangeRate-API’s provided pricing stops at $30/month for 125k requests, so FXRatesAPI is the one with the clearer path for heavier usage. Small teams will usually find the $10 tiers comparable in cost, but not in capacity.
Cost at real usage
| Usage | ExchangeRate-API | FXRatesAPI |
|---|---|---|
| 30k requests/moExchangeRate-API includes 30k requests on Pro. FXRatesAPI Standard is 10k/month, but no usage-based overage rate is provided. | $10/mo | Above free tier; no exact overage pricing provided |
| 125k requests/moExchangeRate-API Business includes 125k requests/month. FXRatesAPI Professional includes 500k requests/month at $30/mo. | $30/mo | At least $30/mo, likely higher depending on plan fit |
| 500k requests/moFXRatesAPI Professional includes 500k requests/month. ExchangeRate-API has no plan in the provided data that reaches 500k. | No exact pricing provided | $30/mo |
| Unlimited requests/moFXRatesAPI Unlimited is the only unlimited plan shown. | No exact pricing provided | $80/mo |
Estimates, not quotes. Usage-based rates change - verify with the vendor's pricing page before committing.
When to pick each one
Pick ExchangeRate-API when…
- You want the larger free request cap for a small app, demo, or internal tool.
- You care more about daily-updated rates than finer endpoint variety.
- You want a free tier with historical data and email support included without moving up right away.
- You expect light usage and prefer to delay the first upgrade as long as possible.
Pick FXRatesAPI when…
- You need a currency API with a broader endpoint set and a cleaner path from latest data to conversion and timeseries.
- You are building with the expectation that you may outgrow the free tier quickly and want straightforward $10, $30, and $80 options.
- You need faster update frequency on paid plans, especially 10-minute or 60-second refreshes.
- You want an option that can go all the way to unlimited requests on a flat monthly plan.
Bottom line
For most builders choosing a free tier, ExchangeRate-API is the better starter because it gives you more free requests and slightly more room before you have to pay. Pick FXRatesAPI if you care more about endpoint breadth and a cleaner scale-up path, especially if you expect to move beyond a small prototype. If your goal is to squeeze the most out of free usage, A wins. If your goal is to avoid re-evaluating vendors later, B is easier to grow into.
Read the full listings: ExchangeRate-API and FXRatesAPI. Scores use the FTV methodology at /ftv. Browse more head-to-heads on /compare, or see the top-ranked free tiers on /top.