exchangerate.dev
All 144 currencies update about every 60 seconds on trading days, 15 minutes late on Free. Every response includes source and market_session fields. MCP is included on every plan.
From $0 · free tier, 5,000 calls/mo, no card
Fixer
Mature REST FX API (APILayer). ECB + partner data served as daily snapshots; the free tier restricts base currencies.
Free → paid tiers
Where exchangerate.dev wins
exchangerate.dev includes 5,000 free calls per month, 30 days of daily history, and MCP on every plan. All 144 currencies update about every 60 seconds on trading days, 15 minutes late on Free. Every response includes source and market_session fields. No credit card is required.
Where Fixer leads
Fixer is long-established with a large integration ecosystem and broad documentation. If you are slotting into an existing Fixer integration or need its specific endpoints, it is proven and well-trodden. exchangerate.dev leads on intraday ~60s freshness, per-value source + market_session, an MCP bridge, and an unrestricted free tier.
Verdict
Choose exchangerate.dev when intraday freshness, per-value provenance, MCP-native access, and free-tier headroom matter. Keep Fixer if you already run a Fixer integration and daily snapshots are enough.