XRates API vs ExchangeRate-API
Deciding between XRates API and ExchangeRate-API (Free exchange rate API with open access endpoint)? This side-by-side comparison covers free tier limits, historical data, source reliability, and what matters most for developers integrating a currency rates API.
Feature-by-Feature Comparison
| Feature | XRates API | ExchangeRate-API |
|---|---|---|
| Free requests/month | 100 | 1500/month |
| HTTPS on free plan | Yes | Yes |
| Any base currency on free plan | Yes | Yes |
| Historical rates on free plan | Yes | No |
| Data sources | ECB, CBR, FloatRates, fawazahmed0, IMF | Mixed (aggregated commercial feed) |
| Currencies supported | 45+ | Varies by plan |
| Conversion endpoint | Free tier | Paid |
| Time-series endpoint | Paid (starting $9) | Paid |
Comparison compiled from public pricing and documentation. Verify ExchangeRate-API details.
Where XRates Wins Over ExchangeRate-API
- ✓Transparent multi-source data: rates aggregated from 5 trusted sources (ECB, CBR, FloatRates, fawazahmed0, IMF) with priority-based fallback. ExchangeRate-API: Mixed (aggregated commercial feed).
- ✓HTTPS and any base currency on the free plan: no forced EUR or USD base, no HTTP-only endpoints.
- ✓Honest pricing: $9/month for 10,000 requests, $29 for 100,000, $49 for unlimited. No hidden tiers.
- ✓Clean OpenAPI spec + Postman collection: integrate in minutes, not hours.
- ✓Developer-friendly details: llms.txt for AI assistants, structured JSON errors, rate-limit headers.
Switching from ExchangeRate-API?
Replace your existing endpoint with the XRates equivalent. Example with cURL:
# Before: ExchangeRate-API
curl "https://www.exchangerate-api.com/..."
# After: XRates API
curl -H "Authorization: Bearer YOUR_API_KEY" \
"https://xratesapi.com/api/v1/latest?base=USD"
Note: Generous free request quota, but historical data and advanced endpoints (conversion, timeseries) are paid.