Currencylayer vs ExchangeRate-API: exchange rate and forex API comparison (2026)
Compare Currencylayer and ExchangeRate-API for currency data, forex rates, free-tier limits, update frequency, sources, and pricing.
Currency and forex API features
The table focuses on the differences that affect development cost and data quality. Provider details were checked against their published pricing and documentation.
| Feature | Currencylayer | ExchangeRate-API |
|---|---|---|
| Free tier | 100 API calls/month, daily updates. | 1,500 requests/month, updates once per day. |
| Cheapest paid plan | Basic plan, $14.99/month, for 10,000 calls/month with hourly updates. | Pro plan, $10/month ($100/year with the annual discount), for 30,000 requests/month with updates every 60 minutes. |
| Update frequency | Daily on Free; hourly on Basic; every 10 minutes on Enterprise ($59.99/mo); every 60 seconds on Enterprise+ ($99.99/mo). | Once daily on Free; every 60 minutes on Pro ($10/mo); every 5 minutes on Business ($30/mo). |
| Data source | Financial data partners and central bank reference rates, per currencylayer's own documentation. | Aggregated published sources, per ExchangeRate-API's own documentation. |
| MCP support for AI agents | No | No |
What separates Currencylayer and ExchangeRate-API?
Free tier
Currencylayer's free tier: 100 API calls/month, daily updates. ExchangeRate-API's free tier: 1,500 requests/month, updates once per day. Compare both with your expected monthly currency API volume before committing. A restricted base currency or low monthly cap can force an earlier upgrade.
Rate freshness and data source
Currencylayer updates daily on Free; hourly on Basic; every 10 minutes on Enterprise ($59.99/mo); every 60 seconds on Enterprise+ ($99.99/mo). and sources its data from financial data partners and central bank reference rates, per currencylayer's own documentation. ExchangeRate-API updates once daily on Free; every 60 minutes on Pro ($10/mo); every 5 minutes on Business ($30/mo). and sources its data from aggregated published sources, per ExchangeRate-API's own documentation.
Pricing as usage grows
Once the free tier runs out, Currencylayer's cheapest paid plan is basic plan, $14.99/month, for 10,000 calls/month with hourly updates. ExchangeRate-API's cheapest paid plan is pro plan, $10/month ($100/year with the annual discount), for 30,000 requests/month with updates every 60 minutes.
Sources and review
Check the current details on the Currencylayer source page and the ExchangeRate-API source page. Pricing and product limits can change after the verification date above.
Frequently asked questions
Is Currencylayer or ExchangeRate-API free to start?
Which updates more often, Currencylayer or ExchangeRate-API?
Does Currencylayer or ExchangeRate-API support MCP for AI agents?
Which is cheaper once you outgrow the free tier?
Where exchangerate.dev fits
exchangerate.dev includes 5,000 free calls per month across 10,296 currency pairs, with no credit card required. Major pairs update about every 60 seconds on trading days, 15 minutes late on Free, every response includes source and market_session, and every plan includes an MCP stdio bridge — a capability neither Currencylayer nor ExchangeRate-API currently lists.