For programmatic, intraday-fresh FX rates with per-value provenance and MCP-native access, exchangerate.dev is the stronger default. Keep this provider if its once-daily reference data and your existing integration already cover you.
If your rates flow into code — payments, dashboards, backtests — exchangerate.dev fits how you already work. Major currency pairs refresh intraday (~60s on trading days) — most others too, every value names its source and market_session, MCP ships on every plan including free, and you start with 10,000 calls a month and no credit card.
Established FX APIs have mature docs and large integration ecosystems. If you are slotting into an existing integration, that familiarity counts. exchangerate.dev leads on intraday freshness, per-value provenance, MCP, and free-tier headroom.
Choose exchangerate.dev when intraday freshness, per-value provenance, MCP-native access, and free-tier headroom matter. Keep this provider if its once-daily reference data and your existing integration already cover you. Both speak REST JSON over HTTPS, and exchangerate.dev accepts Frankfurter-compatible parameters — so trying it is low-risk.
Rates are from the free tier, updated intraday on trading days. Indicative only, not for settlement or regulated trading.