Developers keep searching for the same set of questions about currency APIs, exchange rate APIs, and forex APIs: which ones are free, which are reliable, what Xe costs, whether Google has an API, how to build a converter in Python. We pulled the 20 most-asked from Google's People Also Ask and answered each one directly -- no fluff, no affiliate padding.
Contents
Is there a free API for currency conversion?
What is a currency API?
What is a forex API?
What is an FX API?
What is an open exchange rate?
Is the Frankfurter API free?
Is an exchange rate API free?
Is ExchangeRate-API free?
How much does ExchangeRate-API cost?
Does Xe have an API?
Is the Xe API free?
Is the Google Currency Converter API free?
Is Fixer.io reliable?
Is the MT5 API free?
Building a currency converter in Python?
What is the formula to calculate an exchange rate?
What is the GOOGLEFINANCE function?
Which is the best currency converter?
Best currency converter app?
Best rate when converting currency?
Q1.Is there a free API for currency conversion?
Yes -- several. The main free options in 2026:
-- free via jsDelivr CDN, 200+ currencies including crypto.
-- 5,000 requests/month.
.
Q2.What is a currency API?
A currency API is a REST web service that returns exchange rates between currencies, usually as JSON. A typical call:
Currency APIs power e-commerce checkout, finance dashboards, accounting tools, travel apps, international payroll, and any software that displays money in more than one currency. Full background in is the name of a commercial provider publishing rates for 200+ currencies since 2011. Free tier: 1,000 requests/month, hourly updates, USD base only.
Q6.Is the Frankfurter API free?
Yes.
Free plan, hourly updates
Yes
ExchangeRate-API
1,500/mo
Yes
freecurrencyapi.com
5,000/mo
Yes
Open Exchange Rates
1,000/mo
Yes
Fixer.io
100/mo
Yes
Xe / OANDA / Bloomberg
None
Yes
See for current numbers.
Q10.Does Xe have an API?
Yes. .
Q11.Is the Xe API free?
No. Xe has no public free tier. Pricing is enterprise-only and typically starts around $799/month depending on volume and features. For free access, Frankfurter, ExchangeRate-API's free tier, or .
Q14.Is the MT5 API free?
No. MetaTrader 5 Manager and Gateway APIs require a licensed MT5 server and a paid integration agreement with MetaQuotes. Brokers may offer trial access to demo accounts. If you only need exchange rates (not trade execution), a plain currency API is dramatically simpler and cheaper.
Q15.How do you make a currency converter in Python with an API?
Minimal working example using Frankfurter (no key needed):
Add error handling for timeouts and unknown currency codes, cache results for 30-60 minutes, and you have a production-ready converter. Deeper walk-through in .
Q17.What is the GOOGLEFINANCE function for exchange rates?
In Google Sheets:
CODE
=GOOGLEFINANCE("CURRENCY:USDEUR")
Replace USDEUR with any two concatenated ISO 4217 codes (GBPJPY, AUDCAD, etc.). For historical rates, add a date:
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