XRates API vs ExchangeRate-API
Choosing between XRates API and ExchangeRate-API (Free exchange rate API with open access endpoint)? This page compares pricing tiers, free-plan limits, refresh rates, currencies, authentication and developer tooling — with hard numbers, not marketing copy.
TL;DR
- XRates free plan: 100 requests/month · HTTPS · any base currency · historical data · multi-source aggregation.
- ExchangeRate-API free plan: 1,500/month · Once-per-day refresh · No historical · No timeseries.
- Paid entry: XRates Pro $9 / 10,000 req · ExchangeRate-API $9/month / 30,000 requests.
- Refresh rate: XRates every 4h on every plan · ExchangeRate-API every 24 hours (free) / every 60 minutes (paid).
- Auth: XRates Bearer token (HTTP header) · ExchangeRate-API API key in URL path.
Feature-by-Feature Comparison
Last verified: 2026-08-05. Numbers compiled from public pricing and documentation pages.
| Feature | XRates API | ExchangeRate-API |
|---|---|---|
| Free requests / month | 100 | 1,500/month |
| Paid plans start at | $9/month (10,000 req) | $9/month (30,000 requests) |
| Highest tier | $49/month (Unlimited) | $229/month (Volume) |
| Refresh rate (free) | Every 4 hours | Every 24 hours |
| Refresh rate (paid) | Every 4 hours | Every 60 minutes |
| Currencies supported | 45+ (fiat + crypto) | 161 (fiat) |
| Data sources | ECB, CBR, FloatRates, fawazahmed0, IMF | Mixed (aggregated commercial feed) |
| HTTPS on free plan | Yes | Yes |
| Any base currency on free plan | Yes | Yes |
| Historical rates on free plan | Yes | No |
| Conversion endpoint | Free tier | Paid |
| Time-series endpoint | Paid (from $9) | Paid |
| Authentication | Bearer token (HTTP header) | API key in URL path |
| OpenAPI 3.0 spec | Yes | No |
| Postman collection | Yes | No |
| llms.txt for AI assistants | Yes | No |
Comparison compiled from public pricing and documentation. Verify ExchangeRate-API details.
Pricing Tiers Side-by-Side
XRates API
Recommended| Plan | Price | Requests |
|---|---|---|
| Free | $0 | 100/month |
| Pro | $9 | 10,000/month |
| Business | $29 | 100,000/month |
| Unlimited | $49 | Unlimited |
ExchangeRate-API
| Plan | Price | Requests |
|---|---|---|
| Free | $0 | 1,500/month |
| Pro | $9 | 30,000/month |
| Business | $29 | 100,000/month |
| Volume | $229 | 1,500,000/month |
Source: ExchangeRate-API pricing page · verify.
Where XRates Wins Over ExchangeRate-API
- ✓Multi-source data with priority fallback: rates aggregated from 5 trusted providers (ECB, CBR, FloatRates, fawazahmed0, IMF) with consensus logic. ExchangeRate-API sources: Mixed (aggregated commercial feed).
- ✓HTTPS and any base currency on the free plan: no forced EUR or USD base, no HTTP-only endpoints. ExchangeRate-API free plan: Once-per-day refresh · No historical · No timeseries.
- ✓Honest pricing ladder: $9 / $29 / $49 covers everything from 10k to unlimited requests. ExchangeRate-API top tier: $229/month (Volume).
- ✓OpenAPI 3.0 spec + Postman collection: import the entire API into your tooling in seconds.
- ✓Bearer-token auth via HTTP header: safer than passing keys in URLs (which leak into server logs and browser history).
- ✓llms.txt for AI assistants: Cursor, Claude and other coding agents can discover and use XRates without reading marketing copy.
Switching from ExchangeRate-API?
Replace your existing endpoint with the XRates equivalent. Both APIs return JSON, so most parsing logic carries over. Example with cURL:
Note: Generous free request quota, but historical data and advanced endpoints (conversion, timeseries) are paid.
See the full API documentation, the free exchange rate API overview or the FX rates API use cases.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is XRates a good ExchangeRate-API alternative?
Yes — XRates offers HTTPS and any base currency on the free plan, multi-source data aggregation, an OpenAPI 3.0 spec and a Postman collection. ExchangeRate-API free plan limits: Once-per-day refresh · No historical · No timeseries.
How much does ExchangeRate-API cost vs XRates?
ExchangeRate-API paid plans start at $9/month for 30,000 requests. XRates Pro starts at $9/month for 10,000 requests, Business at $29/month for 100,000, and Unlimited at $49/month.
How often does ExchangeRate-API update rates?
ExchangeRate-API refreshes rates every 24 hours on the free plan and every 60 minutes on paid plans. XRates aggregates rates from 5 sources every 4 hours on all plans, free included.
Can I migrate from ExchangeRate-API without changing my code structure?
Both APIs return JSON, so the response shape is similar. Replace the ExchangeRate-API base URL with https://xratesapi.com/api/v1/, switch authentication to a Bearer token (sent via the Authorization header), and the existing parsing logic should mostly carry over. See the migration snippet above.