exchangerate.devExchangeRate-API vs Open Exchange Rates
Compare ExchangeRate-API and Open Exchange Rates for currency and forex data, free-tier limits, update frequency, and pricing.
Checked 24 July 2026
At a glance
| Feature | ExchangeRate-API | Open Exchange Rates | exchangerate.dev |
|---|---|---|---|
| Free tier | 1,500 requests/month, updates once per day. | Up to 1,000 requests/month, hourly updates, base currency restricted to USD. | 5,000 calls/mo |
| Cheapest paid plan | Pro plan, $10/month ($100/year with the annual discount), for 30,000 requests/month with updates every 60 minutes. | Developer plan, $12/month, for 10,000 requests/month with hourly updates and all base currencies. | Basic, $19/month |
| Update frequency | Once daily on Free; every 60 minutes on Pro ($10/mo); every 5 minutes on Business ($30/mo). | Hourly on Free/Developer; every 30 minutes on Enterprise ($47/mo); every 5 minutes on Unlimited ($97/mo). | 144 currencies ~60s; Free 15m late |
| Data source | Aggregated published sources, per ExchangeRate-API's own documentation. | Aggregated published sources (banks, financial data providers, and others), per Open Exchange Rates' own documentation. | |
| Per-value source + market_session | |||
| MCP server for AI agents |
ExchangeRate-API and Open Exchange Rates facts are from their own product and pricing pages.
Frequently asked questions
Is ExchangeRate-API or Open Exchange Rates free to start?
ExchangeRate-API: 1,500 requests/month, updates once per day. Open Exchange Rates: Up to 1,000 requests/month, hourly updates, base currency restricted to USD.
Which updates more often, ExchangeRate-API or Open Exchange Rates?
ExchangeRate-API updates once daily on Free; every 60 minutes on Pro ($10/mo); every 5 minutes on Business ($30/mo). Open Exchange Rates updates hourly on Free/Developer; every 30 minutes on Enterprise ($47/mo); every 5 minutes on Unlimited ($97/mo). Compare the specific plan you'd actually pay for, not just the headline tier, both vendors gate faster updates behind higher plans.
Does ExchangeRate-API or Open Exchange Rates support MCP for AI agents?
Neither currently does. No MCP integration is listed on ExchangeRate-API's site. No MCP integration is listed on Open Exchange Rates' pricing or signup pages.
Which is cheaper once you outgrow the free tier?
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. Open Exchange Rates's cheapest paid plan is developer plan, $12/month, for 10,000 requests/month with hourly updates and all base currencies. Compare against your actual monthly call volume, not just the sticker price, overage and rate-limit behavior varies by plan.
Start with a free API key
5,000 requests a month on the free plan. No credit card.