Best Currency & Exchange Rate APIs

Best overall: Twelve Data (Forex API)

███████░░░ 72 / 100 data score

Twelve Data's Forex API delivers real-time and historical foreign exchange rates for 140 fiat currencies, 2,000+ currency pairs, and precious metals, targeting developers building algorithmic trading systems, financial applications, and multi-currency pricing tools. A free tier is available for testing but is prohibited from commercial use; paid plans start at $79 per month and unlock higher rate limits, WebSocket streaming, and access to 84 global exchanges with no daily credit caps. The REST API uses API key authentication and ships with official SDKs for Python, Node.js, Go, Java, R, C#, and a CLI, plus an MCP server. ISO 27001 certification and a published SLA apply; data redistribution requires a separate written agreement.

From $79 month · free tier available.

How it stacks up

• ✓ Twelve Data (Forex API) starts lower at $79 per month vs $450 for OANDA Exchange Rates API.
• ✓ CurrencyFreaks starts lower at $9.99 per month vs $79 for Twelve Data (Forex API).
• ✓ ExchangeRate-API starts lower at $10 per month vs $79 for Twelve Data (Forex API).

Best for: Prototypes and side projects - free to start, no sales call; AI agents and automation - an agent-ready surface (MCP / llms.txt); Teams needing broad API coverage out of the box.

The catch: A full market-data platform (stocks, forex, and crypto) rather than an FX specialist, so forex is one asset class among many and the free tier is non-commercial.

Twelve Data (Forex API) profile → · Twelve Data (Forex API) vs OANDA Exchange Rates API →

At a glance

Quick pick by use case

If you only have thirty seconds, find your situation:

• If you want the strongest all-round pick, pick Twelve Data (Forex API) - our default pick: strongest across pricing, trust and breadth.
• If you want to start free, pick Twelve Data (Forex API) - free tier: Basic (Free) plan: 8 API credits per minute (800 per day cap, resets midnight UTC), 8 tri….
• If you're buying for a regulated or large team, pick Twelve Data (Forex API) - for regulated or large teams: published SLA, enterprise plan.
• If you want the lowest published entry price, pick CurrencyAPI - from $9.99 month to start; compare on your real usage, not the entry price.
• If you're wiring this into coding agents or AI workflows, pick Twelve Data (Forex API) - easiest to wire up programmatically: MCP server.
• If you want the broadest documented surface, pick Twelve Data (Forex API) - 33 documented actions; breadth isn't quality, but it's the most to build on.

The picks in depth

• #1 Twelve Data (Forex API)

  ███████░░░ 72 / 100
  • Best overall
  • Best free pick
  • Best for enterprise
  • Best for agents
  • Broadest surface

  Twelve Data's Forex API delivers real-time and historical foreign exchange rates for 140 fiat currencies, 2,000+ currency pairs, and precious metals, targeting developers building algorithmic trading systems, financial applications, and multi-currency pricing tools. A free tier is available for testing but is prohibited from commercial use; paid plans start at $79 per month and unlock higher rate limits, WebSocket streaming, and access to 84 global exchanges with no daily credit caps. The REST API uses API key authentication and ships with official SDKs for Python, Node.js, Go, Java, R, C#, and a CLI, plus an MCP server. ISO 27001 certification and a published SLA apply; data redistribution requires a separate written agreement.

  PricingSubscription · from $79 month · free tier ✓

  TrustGDPR · ISO 27001

  Does

  • Historical rates
  • Conversion endpoint
  • Time series
  • Precious metals
  • Crypto rates
  • Intraday updates

  Strengthstransparent public pricing · a free tier · self-serve signup

  The catchA full market-data platform (stocks, forex, and crypto) rather than an FX specialist, so forex is one asset class among many and the free tier is non-commercial.

  ScoresAgent 50 · Pricing 100 · Setup 85 · Docs 45 · Procurement 100 · Trust 50

  Twelve Data (Forex API) profile →

• #2 OANDA Exchange Rates API

  █████▓░░░░ 57 / 100

  OANDA Exchange Rates API is a REST-based currency data service covering 200+ fiat currencies, 38,000+ forex pairs, precious metals, and over 32 years of historical data sourced from 20+ interbank participants and 100+ central banks, targeting financial compliance, accounting, ERP integration, and treasury workflows. Subscriptions start at $450 per month with a one-time 7-day unlimited trial, and cryptocurrency data requires the Premium + Crypto plan at $1,680 per month. The service holds SOC 2 Type II, ISO 27001, and GDPR certifications with a published SLA, and counts eBay, Amazon, FedEx, and PwC among its customers.

  PricingSubscription · from $450 month · free tier ✗

  TrustSOC 2 Type II · GDPR · ISO 27001

  Does

  • Historical rates
  • Conversion endpoint
  • Time series
  • Precious metals
  • Crypto rates
  • Intraday updates

  Used byeBay, NATO, PwC, FedEx

  Strengthstransparent public pricing · self-serve signup · SOC 2 Type II

  The catchInstitutional-grade rates with 32 years of history plus FIX and streaming, but there is no free tier and pricing starts at $450/month.

  ScoresAgent 20 · Pricing 85 · Setup 60 · Docs 15 · Procurement 85 · Trust 75

  OANDA Exchange Rates API profile →

• #3 CurrencyFreaks

  ██████░░░░ 59 / 100

  CurrencyFreaks is a REST API providing real-time and historical foreign exchange rates for 166 fiat currencies, 4 precious metals, and 850 cryptocurrencies, with data sourced from forex exchanges, cryptocurrency exchanges, and national banks dating back to 1984. It suits developers building currency conversion, financial reporting, or multi-currency pricing features, with a free tier capped at 1,000 requests per month and USD base currency only. Paid plans start at $9.99 per month and unlock additional base currencies, conversion endpoints, time series, and update frequencies as fast as 60 seconds. SDKs are available in nine languages, and customers include HP, Gartner, and Equiti.

  PricingSubscription · from $9.99 month · free tier ✓

  TrustGDPR

  Does

  • Historical rates
  • Conversion endpoint
  • Time series
  • Precious metals
  • Crypto rates
  • Intraday updates

  Used byEquiti, HP, Gartner, University of Georgia

  Strengthstransparent public pricing · a free tier · self-serve signup

  Avoid ifYou have strict compliance requirements

  ScoresAgent 20 · Pricing 100 · Setup 85 · Docs 15 · Procurement 100 · Trust 35

  CurrencyFreaks profile →

• #4 ExchangeRate-API

  ██████░░░░ 62 / 100

  ExchangeRate-API is a REST currency conversion service covering 161 fiat currencies sourced from 30-plus central banks and commercial forex marketplaces, suited for e-commerce pricing displays, financial dashboards, and multi-currency reporting. Pricing starts at $10 per month with a free tier of 1,500 requests per month, plus an unauthenticated open-access endpoint that requires attribution and updates daily. Higher plans unlock 5-minute rate refreshes and historical data back to 1990. Customers include Mastercard, Salesforce, and Zoho, and SDKs are available for PHP, Python, Java, Ruby, C#, and others.

  PricingSubscription · from $10 month · free tier ✓

  TrustGDPR

  Does

  • Historical rates
  • Conversion endpoint

  Used byMastercard, Salesforce, Accenture, PwC

  Strengthstransparent public pricing · a free tier · self-serve signup

  The catchThe most generous free tier (open access, no key required), but free updates are only once daily and you may not redistribute the rate data.

  ScoresAgent 35 · Pricing 100 · Setup 85 · Docs 35 · Procurement 100 · Trust 15

  ExchangeRate-API profile →

• #5 CurrencyAPI

  ██████░░░░ 59 / 100
  • Cheapest to start

  CurrencyAPI is a REST-based exchange rate service covering 170+ currencies including fiat, precious metals, and major cryptocurrencies, suited for e-commerce multi-currency pricing, SaaS billing, and financial analytics. Subscriptions start at $9.99 per month with a free tier of 300 requests per month limited to daily rate updates and private use only; real-time rates updating every 60 seconds require a Medium plan or higher. Official SDKs are available for eight languages including JavaScript, Python, PHP, Go, and Rust, and GDPR compliance is confirmed. An SLA is available on Large and Custom plans only.

  PricingSubscription · from $9.99 month · free tier ✓

  TrustGDPR

  Does

  • Historical rates
  • Conversion endpoint
  • Time series
  • Precious metals
  • Crypto rates
  • Intraday updates

  Used byBreatheilo GmbH

  Strengthstransparent public pricing · a free tier · self-serve signup

  Avoid ifYou have strict compliance requirements

  ScoresAgent 20 · Pricing 100 · Setup 85 · Docs 15 · Procurement 100 · Trust 35

  CurrencyAPI profile →

• #6 Abstract Exchange Rates API

  ███████░░░ 73 / 100

  Abstract Exchange Rates API provides live and historical exchange rate data for 80+ fiat currencies, 7 cryptocurrencies, and commodities like gold and silver, sourced from the European Central Bank, Bank of Japan, and trusted partners. It targets developers building currency conversion, multi-currency pricing, and financial reporting features, with a free tier capped at 500 requests per month and paid subscriptions starting at $99 per month that refresh rates every 60 seconds. The REST API uses API key authentication, offers SDKs for Python, JavaScript, and PHP, and is SOC 2 Type 2 certified and GDPR compliant, with a published SLA.

  PricingSubscription · from $99 month · free tier ✓

  TrustSOC 2 Type II · GDPR

  Does

  • Historical rates
  • Conversion endpoint
  • Precious metals
  • Crypto rates
  • Intraday updates

  Used bySalesforce, Google, PepsiCo, Wells Fargo

  Strengthstransparent public pricing · a free tier · self-serve signup

  ScoresAgent 45 · Pricing 100 · Setup 85 · Docs 45 · Procurement 100 · Trust 60

  Abstract Exchange Rates API profile →

• #7 FreeCurrencyAPI

  █████░░░░░ 50 / 100

  FreeCurrencyAPI is a REST API providing daily exchange rates and historical data back to 1999 for 34 fiat currencies, aimed at hobby projects and developers building currency conversion or display features. The free tier allows 1,000 requests per month with no commercial use permitted; paid plans on the related currencyapi.com unlock commercial use and additional features. Self-serve signup requires only an API key, and official SDKs are available for JavaScript, Python, PHP, Go, Ruby, Rust, C#, and R. The service is GDPR compliant, though no SLA is published.

  PricingSubscription · free tier ✓

  TrustGDPR

  Does

  • Historical rates

  Strengthstransparent public pricing · a free tier · self-serve signup

  The catchGenuinely free for hobby projects, but the free tier bars commercial use; going commercial means upgrading to its sibling CurrencyAPI.

  ScoresAgent 20 · Pricing 75 · Setup 85 · Docs 15 · Procurement 90 · Trust 15

  FreeCurrencyAPI profile →

• #8 XE Currency Data API

  █████░░░░░ 50 / 100

  XE Currency Data API is a REST-based exchange rate service covering 220+ world currencies, precious metals, and selected cryptocurrencies, with data sourced from 100+ financial institutions and central banks and rates updated as often as every 60 seconds. Historical data reaches back to 1995, making it suited for financial reporting, ERP/CRM integration, and volatility analysis. Plans start at $799/year (Lite, 10,000 requests/month) with a 7-day free trial, scaling to enterprise tiers with unlimited requests. Official SDKs are available for Java, PHP, Python, and Node.js, and the API uses HTTP Basic authentication.

  PricingSubscription · from $799 year · free tier ✗

  TrustGDPR

  Does

  • Historical rates
  • Conversion endpoint
  • Time series
  • Precious metals
  • Crypto rates
  • Intraday updates

  Strengthstransparent public pricing · self-serve signup · GDPR

  The catchThe trusted XE brand sourcing from 100+ providers and central banks, but there is no free tier (7-day trial only) and pricing starts at $799/year.

  ScoresAgent 45 · Pricing 85 · Setup 60 · Docs 10 · Procurement 85 · Trust 15

  XE Currency Data API profile →

See all 14 Currency & Exchange Rate APIs compared →

How we rank

The headline score is the average of six 0-100 axes computed only from each API’s published, sourced fields: agent-friendliness, pricing transparency, setup speed, docs quality, procurement ease, and trust readiness. An unknown signal scores 0 for its axis - we credit what’s confirmed, never guess. The score is one input, not the verdict: we lead with each pick’s trade-off, and where a job has only one real option we say so rather than crown it. Full method on the methodology page.

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• ✓ Public audit log. Every change to this data is recorded per field, with who changed it and why.
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