CurrencyFreaks is the XE Currency Data API alternative for developers and small teams who want to start free and stay under $100 a year. It has a free plan of 1,000 calls a month with no credit card, paid plans from $9.99 a month or $99.99 a year (XE's cheapest plan, Lite, costs $799 a year), and 1,000+ currencies including crypto and precious metals, with daily history back to 28 November 1984 for major fiat currencies. XE is the better fit for finance teams that need central bank rates, monthly averages and built-in rate margins from a provider with more than 30 years in FX data.
XE has no free plan. You get API credentials for a 7-day trial, and after that every plan is billed annually.
XE figures below were checked against the XE Currency Data API page and the XE API reference on 15 October 2026. CurrencyFreaks figures come from our pricing page.
CurrencyFreaks vs XE: Key Numbers
| CurrencyFreaks | XE Currency Data API | |
|---|---|---|
| Free calls per month | 1,000 | None (7-day free trial) |
| Base currency on free plan | USD only | No free plan. Any base on paid plans |
| Update interval, cheapest plan | Every 24 hours (free), hourly (Starter) | Daily (Lite) |
| Fastest update interval | Every 60 seconds (Professional, $99.99/month) | Every 15 minutes (Prime, $4,499/year). Minutely is a paid add-on |
| Cheapest paid plan | $9.99/month or $99.99/year (Starter, 15,000 calls) | $799/year (Lite, 10,000 requests a month) |
| History starts | 28 November 1984 for major fiat (Starter and up) | 16 November 1995 in the API reference. The product page says 1998 |
| Currencies | 1,000+ (fiat, crypto and precious metals) | 170+ on the plan cards, 220+ elsewhere on the same page |
| Crypto | Yes | Yes, 23 coins with crypto=true |
| Precious metals | Yes | Yes, on all plans |
| Response formats | JSON and XML | JSON, XML and CSV |
| Accurate exchange rates | ✔ | ✔ |
| User interface | User-friendly | User-friendly |
| Availability | API | API, app (iOS, Android), website |
| Support | Email support | FAQs, email support, customer service |
| Security | SSL encryption on all plans | SSL encryption |
| Authorization | API key | Account ID and API key (HTTP Basic) or Bearer token |
| Sample code | Shell, Java, NodeJS, Ruby, JavaScript, Python, C#, Go, PHP, Swift, C | Python, NodeJS, Java, PHP |
| Latest rates | ✔ | ✔ |
| Desired currencies only | ✔ (symbols) | ✔ (to) |
| Change base currency | ✔ (Starter and up) | ✔ |
| Historical rates | ✔ (Starter and up) | ✔ |
| Latest rates conversion | ✔ | ✔ |
| Historical rates conversion | ✔ | ✔ (amount on historic_rate) |
| Historical data limits per currency | ✔ | ✔ (rates_from in /v2/currencies) |
| Currency symbols | ✔ | ✔ (additionalInfo=symbol) |
| Time series | ✔ (Professional) | ✔ (historic_rate/period) |
| Fluctuation | ✔ (Professional) | ✔ (stats: average, standard deviation, volatility) |
| IP to currency | ✔ (Growth and up) | ❌ |
Why Many Developers Look for XE API Alternatives
XE is trusted in the currency data space, but its lack of a free plan and high starting price can be challenging for startups and small projects. Many developers, therefore, explore alternatives that better align with modern development needs.
Common reasons include:
-
Access to a free plan for testing and prototyping
-
Lower starting prices for budget-conscious projects
-
Flexible scaling as applications grow
-
Reliable and developer-friendly APIs
CurrencyFreaks
CurrencyFreaks API provides real-time and historical exchange rate data for 1000+ global currencies, including 166 fiat currencies, 4 metals, and 874 cryptocurrencies. CurrencyFreaks sources its exchange rate data from trusted forex exchanges, cryptocurrency exchanges, and financial institutions to ensure accuracy and reliability.
Unlike XE, CurrencyFreaks also includes advanced endpoints such as Fluctuation, Time Series, IP-to-currency detection, Historical Rates Conversion, and support for specific currency symbols. These are the features not available in XE’s API
CurrencyFreaks was created to give developers a simple, affordable, and scalable currency data solution. The API is designed for easy integration and supports multiple programming languages through detailed documentation and sample code.
One major advantage of CurrencyFreaks is its developer-friendly pricing model. It offers a free plan with 1,000 monthly API requests, making it accessible for startups, small projects, and developers who want to test integrations before upgrading to paid plans.
XE
The XE Currency Data API is a trusted solution for enterprise-level currency data. It provides real-time, accurate exchange rates sourced from banks, financial institutions, and global market providers. XE supports 130 currencies, primarily focusing on major global fiat currencies.
Developers using XE get access to historical rates, monthly averages, currency volatility data, and customizable rate margins. The API integrates with many systems and comes with extensive documentation.
However, XE has a major limitation for developers: there is no free plan. Pricing starts at $799 per year, billed annually, which can be a barrier for startups, small businesses, or developers testing integrations.
Despite its high cost, XE remains reliable and widely used for large-scale projects that require enterprise-grade data. XE is typically best suited for financial institutions, payment platforms, and high-volume applications that require enterprise SLAs, dedicated support, and highly reliable exchange rate data.
Conclusion
Choosing the right currency API depends on your project requirements, budget, and scalability needs. The XE Currency Data API is a trusted enterprise solution that provides reliable exchange rate data sourced from financial institutions and global market providers.
However, XE does not offer a free plan, and pricing starts at $799 per year. This pricing model may work well for large organizations, financial institutions, or high-volume platforms that require enterprise-grade currency data and dedicated support.
For startups, small businesses, and developers building new projects, CurrencyFreaks provides a more accessible option. It offers coverage for 1000+ global currencies, a free plan with 1,000 monthly API requests, and paid plans starting at $9.99 per month, making it easier for teams to test integrations and scale as their applications grow.
Ultimately, developers looking for a flexible and budget-friendly alternative to the XE API often consider CurrencyFreaks as a practical starting point.
FAQs
Does XE API Offer A Free Plan?
No, the XE Currency Data API does not offer a permanent free plan. Developers can typically access a limited 7-day trial, but continued usage requires a paid subscription.
How Much Does The XE Currency Data API Cost?
XE API pricing starts at $799 per year for the Lite plan, which includes 10,000 requests per month with daily rates. The Intermediate plan is $1,799 per year (50,000 requests per month, hourly and daily rates) and Prime is $4,499 per year (150,000 requests per month, 15-minute rates). Enterprise pricing is custom. Live minutely rates and alternative source rates are paid add-ons.
What Is The Best Free Alternative To XE API?
CurrencyFreaks is a popular alternative that offers a free plan with 1,000 monthly API requests. Paid plans start at $9.99 per month, making it accessible for startups, developers, and small projects.
Can I Switch From XE API To CurrencyFreaks Easily?
Yes. Both services provide REST APIs that return JSON data, which allows developers to integrate them into applications with minimal changes.
How Many Currencies Does XE API Support?
The XE Currency Data API supports 130 currencies, primarily focusing on major global fiat currencies.
Sign up for free at CurrencyFreaks - Get the Best Exchange Rates API Today!
