XRates API vs Fixer.io
Choosing between XRates API and Fixer.io (Foreign exchange rates and currency conversion JSON API)? 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.
- Fixer.io free plan: 100/month · EUR base only · HTTP only · No SSL.
- Paid entry: XRates Pro $9 / 10,000 req · Fixer.io $14.99/month / 10,000 requests.
- Refresh rate: XRates every 4h on every plan · Fixer.io hourly (free) / 60 seconds (paid).
- Auth: XRates Bearer token (HTTP header) · Fixer.io access_key URL parameter.
Feature-by-Feature Comparison
Last verified: 2026-08-05. Numbers compiled from public pricing and documentation pages.
| Feature | XRates API | Fixer.io |
|---|---|---|
| Free requests / month | 100 | 100/month |
| Paid plans start at | $9/month (10,000 req) | $14.99/month (10,000 requests) |
| Highest tier | $49/month (Unlimited) | $99.99/month (Professional Plus) |
| Refresh rate (free) | Every 4 hours | Hourly |
| Refresh rate (paid) | Every 4 hours | 60 seconds |
| Currencies supported | 45+ (fiat + crypto) | 170 (fiat) |
| Data sources | ECB, CBR, FloatRates, fawazahmed0, IMF | ECB only |
| HTTPS on free plan | Yes | No |
| Any base currency on free plan | Yes | No |
| Historical rates on free plan | Yes | No |
| Conversion endpoint | Free tier | Paid |
| Time-series endpoint | Paid (from $9) | Paid |
| Authentication | Bearer token (HTTP header) | access_key URL parameter |
| 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 Fixer.io 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 |
Fixer.io
| Plan | Price | Requests |
|---|---|---|
| Free | $0 | 100/month |
| Basic | $14.99 | 10,000/month |
| Professional | $59.99 | 100,000/month |
| Professional Plus | $99.99 | 500,000/month |
Source: Fixer.io pricing page · verify.
Where XRates Wins Over Fixer.io
- ✓Multi-source data with priority fallback: rates aggregated from 5 trusted providers (ECB, CBR, FloatRates, fawazahmed0, IMF) with consensus logic. Fixer.io sources: ECB only.
- ✓HTTPS and any base currency on the free plan: no forced EUR or USD base, no HTTP-only endpoints. Fixer.io free plan: EUR base only · HTTP only · No SSL.
- ✓Honest pricing ladder: $9 / $29 / $49 covers everything from 10k to unlimited requests. Fixer.io top tier: $99.99/month (Professional Plus).
- ✓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 Fixer.io?
Replace your existing endpoint with the XRates equivalent. Both APIs return JSON, so most parsing logic carries over. Example with cURL:
Note: Free plan uses EUR base only and HTTP-only endpoints. HTTPS and flexible base require paid plans.
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 Fixer.io 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. Fixer.io free plan limits: EUR base only · HTTP only · No SSL.
How much does Fixer.io cost vs XRates?
Fixer.io paid plans start at $14.99/month for 10,000 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 Fixer.io update rates?
Fixer.io refreshes rates hourly on the free plan and 60 seconds on paid plans. XRates aggregates rates from 5 sources every 4 hours on all plans, free included.
Can I migrate from Fixer.io without changing my code structure?
Both APIs return JSON, so the response shape is similar. Replace the Fixer.io 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.